Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-01-17

eS, but am not"
She turned from the rank patch
of thistles.and slowly resumed her
walk homeward.
When we came to the lane where
our paths separated she put up her
little arms to be kissed before leav-
ing me, as she said, 'to come back
no more"
tBe good to yourself, Eddie, and
next winter, if any little Adelinas
come cold and frightened to the old
red school-hoGse, be to them as you
were to me-"
Something chOaked in my throat,
and ] could not say a word; but
kissed her more than once; and
after she had slipped from my arms
and was twenty rods away, / sat
down and cried like a baby, because
| was never to see Adelina again.
1t was not long ere the rumor was
rife in the neighborhood that Mrs.
Lagrange had married a middle
aged city millionaire, and that the
young widow and her child had
found a new protector in the one
death had taken from them.
Years fitted by; | was "a had
fought through the great rebellion
entered the army private and
came out of it a captain, shattered
in health and utterly. depleted in
pocket, to find myself at home
again, i'll and altogether distrustful
of fortunes smile.
In my frequent walks to the viii
lage postoffice often passed by the
old red schoOl-house, and never
without a sigh of regret for the
many happy, care-free days spent
within its battered walls.
Among the letters handed me
one morning was one postmarked
New York, which informed me of
the agreeable fact that, through the
fundamentally of friend of mine
whom he was anxious to serve, the
undersigned, FIR. Maxwell, had
been induced to extend me a COM
rnercial opening atthe liberal salary
of thousand year, to be increased
if merited. There was fortune for
me in the offer, and l accepted it
with alacrity.
Mr.. Maxwell, a rich New York
merchant, from the first took a
lively interest in my advancement.
The unknown friend / could not
account for any other way than by
suppOsing it to be some soldier COM
rade whom / had befriended in the
past.
Within a month / was fairly
established at my new post of duty,
and succeeded in pleasing Mr.. Max
well so well that in the beginning
of the second year he sent me to
Europe in the interest of the house.
When / returned l was given a
weeks vacation, which / spent
among the breezy hills of my old
country home, passing the pleasant
September days in tramping through
the woods and fields by ways that
were the chosen haunts of my boy
hood.
] was Just turning the curve in
the road where the Canada thistle
grew, and so lost in my walking
reverie that / was almost opposite a
lady standing in their midst before
was aware of her presence.
81 am glad you still love the old
scenes, Mr.. Durand," she said,
without expressing the least sur
prise.
l was astonished. Here was a
lady whom, to the best of my
knowledge, | had never seen before,
addressing me as familiarity as if we
had known each other all our lives.
"Names are treacherous things,
and if were so fortunate as to have
known yours, / am guilty of having
forgotten it, replied.
"Men forget easily, l am told !;
but had hoped to find you an ex-
ceptiOn to the rule.n
A very awkward silence on my
part ensued. She took pity on my
evident Embarrassment, and con-
tinped:
"Has your battle with the world
entirely driven from your recOllec-
ton dU the old school faces ?"
Her voice dropped to its old,
sweet, clear, winning cadence,
thrilling my whole being with de-
"Adelina :"
l caught her hand, and before /
knew what / was doing had carried
it to my lips and kissed it.
"E,XcuSe me, =" Stammered "but
II am so glad to see you, and you
seem just the same little girl /
kissed here years ago-nOt a bit
taller, not bit Older-Only Adelina,
always lovely and always loved"
Then l told her all about myself,
how prosperous l was, and the
strange manner in which | had
been brought to the notice of my
kind employer. When / had fin
ished she merely said in her simple
way:
81 know it."
"You appear to know everything.
Do you know Mr.. MAXWELL"
"He is my father"
"And my unknown friend"
"Adelina."
l staggered back, in my soul
ashamed that I should owe every
good in -eVerything-to
woman who owed me nothing but
the poor favor of once having united
for her a wretched black and white
WOrsted hood.
L turned away cut to the heart,
but she put out OBTAINING hand.
Don't go, Mr.. Durand-that is,
don't go feeling hurt; for it would
make me feel very unhappy if you
were to go away angry with me-"
Unhappy What am /, that a
pain to me should render you I'M
happy ?" / answered bitterly.
~ know no other way in which
to express my gratitude"
"Gratitude for what ?"
The question was rudely abrupt,
but she took no notice of my ungra-
ciOus speech.
Gratitude for the kindness given
me long ago, and which / have
missed ever since the day we parted
here on the roadside"
"Are you conscious of what it is
you are saying, Adelina ,"
Perfectly"
GLOW am | to understand your
words ?"
''That leave to your good Judg-
ment," she smiled, lowering her |
eyes.
She had an instant illustration of |
my "gOOd Judgment" in the way l |
imprisoned her two little hands in |
both of mine, and kissed the sweet |
mouth for its shyly whispered prom
Use.
l walked home with Adelina-
oh, so happy! and when l asked |
her hand of Mr.. Maxwell, he said: !
81 have anticipated your request |
L. Il r