Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-10-01
LIRE Is wHAr WE WAKE IT.
In The family record Of old Ear

LIFE Is WHAT WE make 1T.
In the family record of old Fal
mer Mallows' Bible was registers
in the farmers quaint old-fashioneI
handwriting, born February |
1910. That was the sauey, indie
pendent body whom everybod.
! called Betty Marlows, and who six
teen years after the registry in th'
family Bible, came bounding int,
William Macy's presence with ]
skip and start and sudden confusion
The skip was her natural way 0
propulsion, the start was her usua
way of expressing surprise, and he
sudden confusion was Oocasioned bS
the sight of a dark1y bearded gen
tleman tete-a-tete with Wilb1l
Macy, and engaged with him in 1
game of euchre.
With a snuttered beg pardon, ,
she was. about making hasfy re
treat, but Wilbur Macy smiled, laid
down his cards, and taking hel
hand, said
SCENE in, Bouncing Bette,
want You to make the acquaintance
of my young friend, Paul Weston =
'sIs he easily frightened ?" ques-
toned the maiden, with an arch
glance, surveying her soiled dress
with \ deprecating look.
II have no fear of anything but
witches and their craft, answered
Paul Weston, rising and bowling in
his own eourtly way.
tThen gird on your armor forth
with" said Wilbur Macy, ''for be-
hold in Betty MalIows the veriest
witch ever knew, using her craft
lawlessly, and rendering heart and
body powerless meath her Witcher-
ies."
"Oh, Wilbur Macy! And this is
the interesting wherefore of the un-
fulfilled engagement to meet our
party at the lakes, u month ago"
said. Paul Weston, reprovingly.
"And, oh, Miss Mallows, have you
no fear Of the fate of Salem witches
before your eyes ? | know some
friends who would visit you with
punishment scarcely less than
Salem tortures for the practice of
your secret arts. Guilty or not
guilty ?"
"Not guilty." she answered,
blushing, and looking at Wilbur
Macy with eyes that were full of
tenderness, despite their shyness.
Paul Weston's brow clouded, and
all the more when Wilbur Macy
s.nOothed the curls from Bette
Mallows' forehead, and sat down
by her side with Il lovers interest
and fondness, looking at the wild
flowers, the search for which had
cost her a Soiled and disordered
dress. There was Il vast contrast
between that simple but beautiful
country girl and the two gentlemen
whose complaisant and dignified
bearing betokened familiarity with
the beau monde. 1t may have been
this contrast that Paul Weston was
as he watched Bette NAL
lows face, with its changing color
and piquant beauty. There was a
sad, regretful look mingling with
his admiration. and he shuffied
the cards with a restless, uneasy
motion.
"WelI, Ethel Stone is al the
lakes" he said, at length.
"Ah ~ was the rejoinder, queen
Iy as ever ?n
eyes. Queen of diamonds" re-
piled Paul Weston, beating little
angry tattoo on the table with his
cards, which arrested Wilbur
Macy's attention.
"You are impatient, Paul." he
said. "Are you thinking of our
game?"
81 am thinking of the game of
life," he answered, meditatively.
81 don't like the strange hand you
are llaying in this game. Miss
do you understand the
of cards ?'' he inquired,
turning abruptly to her.
II do not know one card from
was the candid response.
"Excuse me, then, if we finish
our little game" he said, politely
drawing his chair to the table. tI
have but a short time to remain.
Sc WILL" he continued looking
into the face of his
friend, ''by this lesser game l hope
to understand a greater. This is
the trump will you play it ?'
He pointed to the queen of hearts,
but his eye turned to Betty Mall
lows, looking on with wondering
curiosity.
Wilbur Macy leaned his head
upon his hand and sighed heavily.
'I would not answer if you had
not proved yourself my best
he said at length, moodily.
81 dare not risk it; l must pass" !"
"Will you make it?" asked Paul
Weston.
''Life is what we make it," sOliIi-
quized Wilbur Macy, dreamily. 81
will make it diamonds"
He threw down the king of
spades. "It cannot be that" he
said. 81 have thrown it away"
The next trick he took with the
knave of diamonds, saying:
"The trump to win in this game
of life is diamonds"
Two tricks now, each winning,
and Wilbur Macy laid down the
deuce of hearts, remarking: "Of
course you have no hearts ?''
"Lost I" You are euchered %
Paul Weston, as he de-
posted the ace of hearts.
"What d miserable mistake
madei" exclaimed Wilbur Macy.
''Is this token of my failure in the
greater game""
He turned to Betty Mallows, but
her wondering eyes only expressed
perplexity and mystery. and Paul
Weston said, sternly:
@Wilbur Macy, if this be your de-
cision, by every principle of man
hood and justice, you should leave
this place. advise you to accom-
pany me to the lakes. In this seri-
Gus game i shall order up the first
hand, or you must play the last.
Will you go or stay ?"
Wilbur Macy paced to and fro
with restless agitation, and then
said, shortly:
81 will join you at the lakes to-
That evening Betty Mallows,
with sad, longing eyes and aching
heart, stood looking in the dim
twilight. She was alone, grieved,
and perplexed. She was
of the happy summer
months and Wilbur Macey's lover
like attentions, all embittered now
with the thoughts of his abrupt,
departure. What did it
mean?
Her eyes fell on the pack of cards
they had left and slipping them
into her pocket she threw her shawl
her and glided out into the
soft moonlight. across her fathers