Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-09-03

Z u .aI
the love / would have felt for her II
she had but been tender and
patient. But / must be just
found the lady so changed in her
personal appearance that | did not
know her at first, and doubtless my
manners seemed cold to her, for l
was mourning for my beautiful lit
tie Etsy. and could not believe tins
cold. pale woman was she. we
were married within the hour OF
nv arrival and though at first my
soul sickened, / did strive, before
God. TO give her my love, but l
verify believe she hated me, for she
grew more and more cold and dis
dainful every day, till, mad with
sorrow and regret, left my home
to wander. disconsoIate and sad, all
over the earth. Twice, remember
ing she was my wife, wrote. beg
ging her to join me, for L could not
bear to return to the Oranges where
all knew my sad history but she
.haughtily refused, saying In her
last letter that she fancied our paths
would be happier far apart. You,
too, have known sorrow, Mrs. VIII
lis. but it is better to mourn for the /
dead than the living" " Ag q
Lionel Peyton loved Mrs. Willis,
and it required all his honor ana
manhood, all his self-control, to
keep from taking her in his arms
and telling her so. He did not, but
continued: m m
slI,ater / met with one who, be-
fore was aware of it, had crept In,
to my heart-a beautiful, regal
woman, with passionate, troplcal
nature. entirely suited to mine. |
loved that woman, but dared not
tell her so my honor forbade II,
and vet / love her! oh, my God
thou knowest it ALL"
AS the white lips grew calmer ne
said: "To-night, fer all my battling,
this wild love is clamoring to be
heard; all the anguish and regret,
all the harder to bear because url-
spoken. ] thought / must speak or
die. but when the storm was at lis
height a great calm came over my
spirit. and something ''like Gods
GREAT pity, fell upon my tempted
soul. and once more it was able TO
overcome. / have come TO say
goodbye, Essie. There is only one
course for me to pursue. 1 must re-
ioin my poor wife, and II she is VIII
ling to receive the prodigal, try to
make her happy"
"Did you love her so much-this
beautiful woman of whom you
snoke-better than any beauty OF
Italy or Spain, or any one you met
in. your wanderings ?.
Iiis face flushed and then paied.
ssBetter than any woman on eafth
better than anything but my
honor and my Cod" and he held
with an iron grasp the small white
hand he had taken in his. Love
her ah, it would be heaven TO pc
always at her side; to watch the
flash and CLEAN of those proud eyes
and the sweet trembling of the red
Inns. and the shining dark hair, ana
the proud throat, white as snow:
eft must have. been very hard TO
give her up 2"
"It was hard. What. would you
have done so circumStanced e
81 would have been true to my
honor and my God, as you were.
"God bless you, Essie; and now
we must part" -,
Essie had been merciless, but her
starving heart craved all she could
hear of the love he bore her.
But the strain had been too great;
and when she rose to goshe faltereu
and would have fallen had ne not
caught her in his arms. He seated
her again and brought goblet OF
water.
ssVou know who the woman if',
F7ssIe. that is so dear to me ?'
81 have known it from the first!'
"And you still advise me to re-
turn to my wife %
II do"
"And if she will not receive
me?"
"Then return to Europe and work
for the good of others and for God's
He drew her close to his heart.
tsThis once let me hold you here
and now farewell J"
A moment more and she wa
alone, and Lionel Peyton was wild
lv pacing his chamber floor with
broken words of prayer upon hl
lips. - to,,nf
Etsv at the Grange, where sh'
found a letter awaiting her, an
nouncing the arrival of her husband
on the following night.
"Oh, Etsy, if you only could low
Lionel" said the greatly dlsap
pointed mother.
"Perhaps | may, mother; per
hans he NAV find me more worthy
to be loved" r,,
long drawing-room was lighted vi
in honor of his coming, ana Tn
servants, at least, all with brlgh
new suits and shining faces, shoWe'
, 10Y at his return.
He was shown into the reception
room, while servant went 10 al
prise 'tMiss Etsy."
He returned in moment, sayln
she would see him in the drawing
' Lionel bit his lip and fOllowe
/ the old servant with proud steI
: "At least she might have bee
here to welcome me-" he though
s Under the brilliant gas-llgf
$ stood that beautiful Essie ne Wa
). trying to forget. ,.,4
f gain-must he again battle Wit
e the Spirit to keep down that ma
e love which now haunted him ever
/. hour? What could have brougl
l. her to the Grange?
t She sprang to meet MN.
0 "Oh, Lionel, / am so glad. An
Y bending back her beautiful hea
h held up her lips for kiss.
0T cannot, Essie-I dare not.
n am glad and yet sorry that we hay
e met here" "a, :,
r: little white arms, and drew his ia
IS closer to hers.
i ssLionel, if you will take me
n am vours-for II am Etsy Pc
y tOn.7 :,
The strong man staggered al
1t certainly would have fallen had 8
r. NOT SUPPORTED him. Need we
k scribe the joy of the wanderer,
at can YOU Imagine it for yourselVe
How the past seemed like hldeo
ne dream, whose memory he was u
lie ing to forget; and the future SO II
i'd with unreasonable hope, ana ne
IT. two souls came out from the he
is. crucibie, purified.
"Twice loved! !" Etsy whisper
ot softly TO herself. at was a trlum
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