Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-06-12
OUT OF FATE's LABYRINTH.


Julian CroSleigh laid his cigar down
carefully.and looked seriously straight
" in Melville Vests grave face.
ADO YOU love her, MelviIle?"
While Mr.. West returned tho
straight, serious look with all his
heart in his blue eyes.
with all my soul, Julian"
"Does she love you?'
And such look of passionate pride
accompanied his prompt answer:
My little darling! [ am sure of
her."
Chen" said Mr.. Creslei@h. slowly,
ponderously, as if his question was
unanswerable. except in one matter
Of-fact way. "if that is the case, YOU
and pretty little May Warren are in
love with each other, why don't you
marry hcr"'
You naturally wonder why" Mel
Vile said, eravely, almost Wistfullv;
"and when tell You my little May
has refused to marry me for three
years. and sorrowfuIIy resolute as ever,
you will wonder all the more, know
ing. as l have just now told you. how
truly we love each other"
Il confess | do not understand such
q cOnundrum," he said. Of loved q
woman, and she loved me, not all the
powers on earth could keep us apart"
Melville smiled grayeIy.
My little May is not like other
women" he remarked, tenderly, rever-
emily, 'She is all that is noble. and
conscientious, and honorable; and,
while | realize she is spelling both our
lives by her rigid adherence to what
she believes her duty, yet can but
admit its honor and nobleness.
The froWn on Chcsleigh's handsome
forehead dCcpeneu into positive Wrin-
klcs.
Il give it up" he said, with a sigh.
I14et ne tell you, in Il dozen words,
my darling'S story: When she was 10
she is % now-she spent summer
with friends i'll the country, and while
there-childrcn will be foolish always
she permitted the attentions Of a
Young farmer, more from a spirit OF
girlish fun and coquetry than aught
else, and became engaged to him
IN the same spirit OF hecdlessness
which she did not realize until she had
returned home and Thought the mat
ter seriously over, and comtided the at
fair to her friends. Every effort has
been made to break the eng cement,
except Il pubic attempt, that would
be infinitely disLrlCc i'll for my little
girl to endure. But Morgan Fletcher
that's his namc-Will not give heI
mp. He declares she promised 10 nave
him. AMI he sWcars he VIII have her.
lie is rich ami decent enough fellow
but May Warrcn's husband! lie
writes her once II week, and has fol
several years. although she has per-
siStcntlv refused to see him. And
there the matter rests"
''llumph!" CrcsIcl5n CALCULATED, for
CID,Y,
20 course May will never marry
him; but she thinks SO long rs she ac-
ceplcd his offer she is not morally free
10 marry any one else"
And 50 both your happiness AMI
hers are to be ruined bccause of one
mistake III chlids lie"
such look OF tcnuercst love, an |
ply, ana faith shown out of Me.vILIc's
lace.
Don't say ruined, Julian; for, not
outstanding the stran &c barrier be-
tween us, we are very happy i'll eaci
others love : and May is Il woman tC
worship with all the strength o. ones
life"
Nor could Julian Crcsleigh un ler-
stand how such relation could be
maintained, when there were 50 many
wise.
Melville West went from Cres-
iel9hS Office to the unpretouiino- III q
cottage Where May and her ei,lrrl Y
sister lived, all his heart stirred NV
his recital OF their romance.
''To-day Is one OF the day Whom
feel | cannot accept the fate in s,,,.
for me-" he said 10 her, passiona1cI\
WistiuiIy, as he took her iii his stron
arms. 40 see you here, 50 patient, 5
gentle, so sweet and loyal to Inc, am
know | may not have you for my vii
to know YOU work for your dali
bread. while L have riches to spare
May, May! be pittul, and break you
word TO that Otner.'
She looked at him with such brave
sweet eyes.
"Iow can ], dear? | am penniless
and am only reapiny the reward OF
girlish Jolly, repenteI of as soon a.
committed"
While hundred or so miles ava,
from the little suburban cottage wber
May lived, Morgan Fletcher paced til,
sunny, western piazza Ofhis farm hons
that sclf-sane aftcrnoon-a tail. robins
coarse-teaturcd man OF nearly 40. will
shaggy, auburn beard and hair, ant
bright brown eyes, that were almos
cruelty positive i'll their glances.
lie had just been handed two letter
by farm boy returned from the vii
lage post-otfice; and one, in Ma,
WarreIfs delicate nd-writing. La'
been early read, while an eager aImost