The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1881-12-22

IONe~ AtCN'
Vivian Severn laughed, showing hi
handsome teeth-a good humored, joy
GUS laugh-in no wise affected by his
uncle's sharp ungraciousness, for he haC
not been acquainted with Mr.. Somerse
twenty-five years for nothing.
"Is it so very alarming, Uncle Dan
iel g. he asked promptly.
81 think so. Alarming-yes, beyond
question. You are an extravagant
Young dandy, with not an idea to your
noodle, beyond the cut OF your clothes
or the com position OF button-hole bou-
quet in February, with no Judgment
greater than that required to decide the
flavor OF the soup at the club dinner
And you want to get married"
Vivian was used to it, and he knew
the irrascible old bachelors bark was
worse than his bite. lie leaned back in
his chair and listened to the perpetual
TRADE.
"That may be so, Uncle Daniel; all
the same, | think Birtie and L will risk
it,
"Berte? BERTHE who!'
"Miss Ethelbertha Gray, uncle"
"Why didn't you say so, then! A
very beautiful, accom- plished girl-after
you because she supposes you are my
heiF."
"Uncle DAMP
Vivian Strengthened up In his chair, a
sudden little fire in his blue eyes.
"Uncle Daniel, that is not true"
81 lie, do L? Very well, sir; Pm
used to such accusations from you. Go
| ahead make u consummate idiot of your
self, if you want to-but mark my word,
you will rue the day you eyer married
| BERTHE Gray. / know the way of the
worId-I have been taught its treach-
cry, its policy, it's utter want of human
kindness before you were out of your
dresses"
"But with all due respect for your
opinion, uncle, you don't know BERTHE
Gray as | know her. Wait"
Mr.. Somerset jumped up from his
chair in a passion.
"pon't speak to me about it. Mind,
not another word, unless you wish to
be disinherited.p
Then Vivian looked angry and rose
from his chair.
81 would not hesitate a moment be-
tween your money and the woman L
love. Do as you please; shall,'
And after he was gone Mr.. Somerset
walked uneasily up and down the ele-
CANT library, his forehead all puckered
up, his mouth contracted In a savage
pOut, his bright, little gray eyes snap
ping and flashing.
ssThe fool! Not to see it is his money
only and solely his properly that has
won the girl. l know her. Pretty
picture, great dark eyes and a complex
ion like lily leaf, little red mouth
and yellow hair--a girl brought up to
paint on velvet and bet on races, flirt
through summer at Newport and a
winter in the city. A pretty VAssar
College finished girl, whose sole end and
aim of life is to make a good match. And
that young idiot imagines she is in love
with him."
Twenty-four hours later, just as Wv
ian was taking his dinner at Delmon-
ico's, a waiter handed him note from
his uncle, in which that gentleman, al
ways very erratic in his habits, briefly
stated that he was off on a trip to YOse-
mite Valley, to be gone two or three
months, and advised Vivian to consider
what had been said to him on a certain |
subject.
He folded up the note and went on
with his stuffed egg plant and roast |
turkey in undiscomtitted composure.
Il wish he knew BERTHE better" he |
thought, with glad thrill of fond pride.
But it was destined that Mr.. Daniel |
Somerset should never know BERTHE |
Gray any better-decreed by fate that
he should never see her again, for six |
weeks later, as she sat in her elegant |
little boudoir, sewing some foaming lace |
in the neck and sleeves of black velvet |
evening costume, Vivian made his APP
pearance, pale and grave, as she had
never seen him before.
81 thought you were not coming till
evening, Vivian,'' she said in a sweet
81, k011 hn
lie took q seat beside her little low
chair, and gently, authoritatively, took
the lace from her lap.
Il have bad news for you, my darling,
and l want to break it to you at once"
BERTHE nestled her little dimpled hand
in his, cOnfidingly, alphabetically.
Tell me, Vivian, at once, Only
with you alive and we'll here beside me,
no news could be very dreadful, besides
| know father and mother are both tafe. |
l saw them a minute ago. What is it,
dear?'
Vivian looked at her, wonderful
grave Tenderness in his eyes.
''My uncle is dead, BERTHE, in CalifOr- |
mia, where he has been travelling for !
several weeks. / always supposed L was
heir to his three million dollars, but"
and his strong, brave voice quiVered
SllHnllH1 TlOT your SdhG L dIu dppdllGu |
to be notified that he has left his fortune
to a charitable institution. l am beg
gar, BERTHE"
ooh, Vivlanl A beggar! 1t sounds
awfulr
eyes, it docs. But wouldn't care il |
1t wasn't for you, darling. 1t means
that must give you up, for l am not |
coward enough to ask you TO share pow |
erty with me on a clerkship OF a thous- !
and year."
She looked at him with rich crimson
flush surging into her cheeks, and the |
tears rushed into her eyes as she released
her hands from his and flung her arms
about his neck.
"Vivian" she said passionately, "dO
you think L will let you give me up? /
love you too well for that. a beggar or
a prince, you are the same to me-my
king, my lover"
And he folded her to his heart with q
great, almost speechless tenderness and
Joy,
pered.
Three months later, on a golden De-
cember afternoon with a blue sky as i'm
June, and in air balmy and salubrious
and in DelmOnicO's restaurant, a
couple of gentlemen engaged in con-
versattOn that was carried on almost as
IL by purpose by the elder, hand
someiy dressed, sharp-eyed old gentle
man.
Married, ehp You know that to be
fact, do you ?"
81 do, for l witnessed the ceremony"
81 can hardly realize that Vivian Sew
ern is married. Who toe"
"Peter Grav's daughter-I think her
name was Ethelbertha-a remarkably
Beautiful girl, and just the wife you
know, and old Gray cut up rough when
his daughter persisted in keeping her
engagement--cutting her of with n
shilling, they say"
"Humphl Quite a pretty romance.
What do the young folks do for a iiv-I
ing ?"
"Vivian is head book-keeper in Nc
Walter & Tunis', and they seem to get
along as happy as can be. You are ac-
Quainted with them, | should iudge?"
"Well, slightly. 1 should like to
know where they live"
"I'hat can't say. But an inquiry at
Severn's place of business would be no
trouble"