Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-03-27

A crown of tiny rosebuds lies upo
my dusky hair; a faint, delicat
perfume clings to my laees. Istan
/ in front of the long pier glass. Eve
, my critical eyes are satisfied, for
vision of perfect beauty greets me-
a face whose creamy satin skin
wide brown eyes, with long silke
lashes, and rose-red lips, is like
foreign flower in its marvellou
loveliness. A low, triumphan
laugh rises to my lips, and 1 sa.
softly to my image in the mirror
II know he will love me; he viii
be willing to die for my sake or ;
kiss from my lips" and with thi
exultant feeling at my heart, de
scend the stairs to find Oscar wait
ing for me. We enter ballroom
amidst a stir of admiration. My
companion bends his handsome
head to whisper, "My darling, you
are the loveliest girl in the room.'
My waltz list is speedily filled, and
I dance until l grow weary. Sud.
denly L hear my name called, and
turning, see my escort and a strange
gentleman desiring an introduction.
A few words, and I hear Rex Con-
wer's voice speaking my name for
the second time tonight. We bow
coldly; he asks dance; I decline
a cool "as you please" and he is
gone. Later, 1 look across the
dancers and see his splendid blonde
head bent over Lillian Vane's fair
face. A jealous pang shoots through
my heart. Turning, / say to the
young cadet with whom / have
been waltzing, 'Please bring me an
ice,'' and the poor young fellow hur-
ries off to find one Immediately.
This / know will be a quest of a
lengthy duration so l slip through
the throng and find my way out
upon the moonlit piazza, where the
fresh sea-breeze fans my cheek. Am
weary and heart-sick, and long to
escape TO my room. The light and
glare of the room beyond dazes me; !;
so with a long sigh of relief | drink
in the pure air. A step sounds at
my side, and turning I expect to
see my little cadet. / face Rex
Conwer, of all men in the world.
"Ah, Miss Duprez, "says he in that
polished, easy way of his, "can it be
that the belle of the ball is so cruel
as to hide herself from her admir-
ers' eyes for this length of time
without conscientious scruples p"
Then, with a light laugh, "But
Miss Duprez is one of the favored
fair ones, and any caprice in her is
charming
/ could have struck the man, I
hated him so, but only said:
"Excuse me you forget to
whom you are speaking. Stand out
of my way, if you please. When I
came out here to breathe and think
of things higher than what lies in
there, / did not expect to be followed
and taunted with covert sarcasms."
Instantly he was at my side, a
great change in his voice, look and
manner.
ga thousand pardons!" cried he;
81 forgot myself and acted like a
brute. Can you forgive me?"
"Nevers neyer!' cry hotly, and
leave him.
A week goes by we meet and
pass without word or look. Oscar
demonstrates with me, and wonders
aghY / don't like his friend.
"Because he has dared to SANDER
me to you, to call me that most con-
temptible of all things, a fiirt," l
say angrily to him at last, and then
he opens his brown eyes with a long
stare, and laughs,
"Did you hear him say that pa
he calculated at length.
"Of course / did. How could /
help it, when I was just outside the
window that night? / did not mean
to, but I could not help it, when he
spoke in such loud tones"
Oscar gives a long whistle, and
says
s'Poor Rex! he is done for. He
really is not so much to blame after
all, Viva, for you know you did
throw me over, as we'll as Gorden
and Give. A fellow does feel sore
over such an experience, and Give
was awfully cut up just then. Rex
had heard the fellows in the billiard
rooms talking of it, and naturally
concluded that you were playing
with us all.o
s'But he had no right to sag so in
the manner in which he did, unless
he had known it to be so" l an
swer wrathfulIy, and Oscar gives it
up as a hopeless case.
Next day our party is going for a
ride. A laughing group is standing
on the hotel piazza as 1 come swiftly
down the stairs, in a trailing habit
of dark blue velvet with gold but
tons. A little cap, with long, curl
ing feather, is jauntily set in my
curls, and as pass Rex COnwer on
my way to my horse, see a look
of involuntary admiration in his
eyes. Then / hear him say to Os-
car, in an undertone:
"Isn't she beautiful ?''
The groom holds a fiery black
horse. He chafes impatiently at
his bit. He belongs to Oscar, who
is my escort for to-day and as |
wait for him to mount me, he begs
me to take Lilian's pony, which is
very gentle, instead of my beautiful
black.
mo-" say defiantly, "I will not
90 at all if / do not ride "Black
Hawk"
So he is obliged to yield, and off
we move. Lillian has declined go
ing until the last moment, when
cha cuddnnlv cries.