Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-01-15
CHOSEN.
A southern FaIe of Magnolia and
Love.

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CHOSEN.
: A Southern TATE of Magnolia amd
Love.
Geraldine Spencer was the only
daughter of the we'll known Col
Spencer, one of the wealthiest plant
ers of Mississippi. The colonel was
FLOODED gentleman, of the
old school, in those days, "before
: the war" of which we are speak
, ing. His grandfather was an init
f mate and trusted friend of Wash
ington. His father was brigadier
general in the last war with Great
Britain. and the colonel himself was
a graduate of West Point, and one
of the most dashing and daring
officers under old Trough and
Ready" in the picnic of war
which we had with Mexico a gem
Grafton ago.
Col. Spencer was the leader in
some of the most daring exploits
of the Rio Grande. He was
cOmplimented more than once in
the official dispatches, and brill
liant military career-that is as the
state of the country permitted-was
before him, had he chosen to adopt
the military profession; but, though
the colonel would have prefer
red fighting to eating, he re-
signed his position in the army
and went nome to his planta-
ton in Mississippi. He knew
what horde of hungry young
officers were cIamoring and chatter
claWing for positions in the army,
and he preferred they should have
them, especially as he saw pros
pect of lengthy peace before the
country-a period Of idleness for
the army, which would fret such
! high souls as his to death.
He perceived all this, we say, and
went back to his plantation on the
Mississippi, and devoted himself to
his family.
The latter consisted of his only
son and daughter. Hubert, named
of course, after himself, was in his
second year at West Point; the wife
was dead long ago; and Geraldine
presided over his household.
One reason why, perhaps, there
was strong affection between father
and daughter was because they were
so much alike. She was high-Spirit-
ed, as independent and proud as he.
She was as beautiful as an hOuri,
with her wealth ofjet black, waving
hair, her brilliant complexion, her
marvellous eyes, her matches fig I!
ure, her patrician features, and her
wonderful grace of voice and man. !
ner.
Geraldine had numberless adj |
mirers and devOtees. Many from |
the north, where she had spent a
couple of years, and her own sunny |
south produced myriadS, but she |
seemed to care for none OF them.
The colonel used to chide her at /
times for the repeated snubbings che
gave her callers, without regard to
their social position and standing.
She would leave them at any time
and 90 with her father on tramp
through the woods or fishing in the
river.
After all, there is nothing so cap
tivating in a pretty woman-0r any
woman. for that matter-as an alb
solute independence of character, an
independence which preserves ones
self-respect atall times, and humbles
the pride of the prOudest of the
lords of creation. 1t is just that sort
of woman thatall are the most anXi-
Gus to secure for prize.
One summer afternoon Geraldine
and her father were sitting in the
shade of the long, low porch which
extended in front of their house.
The colonel was smoking his cigar
and his daughter, who was richly
dressed, was gently rocking back
and forth, and looking off at the
yellow Mississippi, along which
high-decked steamer was labOrious-
ly blowing its way.
A close observer would have seen
that the beautiful daughter had
some trouble on her mind. She was
uneasy and restless. The swaying
of her chair was fitful and uneven.
she smelled the fragrant
sprig of magnolia in her hand in q
nervous way, and her lustrous eyes
seemed to be brighter and more
flashing than usual.
But the colonel noticed nothing;
for he knew the superb poise of his
daughter so well that he did not
believe anything short of an earth :
quake could disturb it.
So he continued placidly smoking ;
his cigar, while his paper rested idly 1
in his lap, and he looked off toward
the Mississippi.
Suddenly he rose up.
"Where is Sidney?' he abruptly
asked
81 left him a while ago, and he
has not gone home yet. | thought |
would like to sit down a few min
utes with YOU"
81 am glad to have you, my
daughter; but it does seem to me,
that you treat some of your callers
with rudeness." il
"Then if | were they, said the
proud girl, touching the magnolia
TO her nose, 81 wouldn't make call
ers of myself"
II should think not, commented
the colonel, with a little sniff at the
curious expression she flung at him;
81 have very high regard for Sid
ney, Geraldine"
"Have your" she asked with an
indifference, which, in reality, was
assumed, though her father did not
perceive it. "What is there about
him for you to admire?n
''Well, he is the only surviving
son of my intimate deceased friend,
Capt. Williams, of the army. The
captain was one of the bravest and
noblest men who ever trod this foot
stool, and Sydney's looks and man
ner make me feel sure he is simply i
another edition of his father. He
has fine education, is manly look
ing, and is going to make his mark
in the world. He has praeticed law