Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-01-15


am satisfied to have you here as Ions
as you will stay"
And the colonellooked with pride
upon his beautiful daughter, who
recalled so WILDLY the mother WheT
she was bride, more than a score
of years before.
cit was just like the proud young
woman, who, without any appear
ance of excitement or agitation o.
manner, came to the momentous
subject which was really the. cause
of her being there.
"You say, father, that you adj
mire, or rather respect, Sydney very
much?''
"That is substantially what /
said"
''As much as any young gentle
man of your acquaintance?p
REALLY, more"
"How would you like him FOR a
son-in-law?"
The colonel turned as if struck by
a pistol shot, and looked keenly at
his daughter without speaking for a
full minute. Geraldine herself SEEM
ed to be picking the sprigs of mag
nolia, while she looked down at i'll
| but, for all her forced comp0sure,
the crimson blood crept up under
! the rich skin of her coantenance,
and strive as much as she might,
she could not hide the fact from her
father that her heart was throbbing
more unanimously than ever be-
fore.
Guddonlv hp avcIaiood-
"What!'
81 think you heard me, father"
said Geraldine, in Il low voice, with
out trusting herself as yet to look
up.
care you in earnest, my daugh-
ter?''
This was uttered in the same low,
but firm voice.
"Come here, my child!v
The colonel kept his seat, while
Geraldiue, standing beside him,
touchdown in his face. He took
her hand atfectionately, while he
asked:
''Has he proposed to you?"
''He has,"
"Have you accepted him?'
81 could not do that until | had
first received your permission.
''DOe> he love yOu?"
Geraldine laughed in spite of
herself.
Il have strong impression that
he would scarcely ask me TO marry
him unless he thought pretty well
of me"
"Of course-of course; but do you
love him?''
"With my whole heart and SOUL"
There was fervency, a depth of
feeling in this exclamation, accom-
panied by the flushed cheeks, the
sparkling eye and the tremulOus
hand that rested i'll the palm of her
father, which spoke hersoulful earn
"Well, if that's the case" said |
Col. Spencer, throwing away his
both cUnfounded simpletonS if you
don't get married-there!'
This was a consent with consider
able emphasis.
Poor Geraldine! The proud,
brave girl broke down at last. She
knew it would be "a terrible sacrifice
for her father to yield her to an
other, and she had the graVest
doubts of ever receiving his consent,
but he gave it so promptly and will
ingly that she could only throw her
arms about his neck and murmur
between her sobs:
"You're the best father that ever
lived, and / hate to leave YOU"
"NeVer mind about that" he re-
piled, sOothingly; 81 know twill
be your happiness to do so. / could
never forgive myself if | stood in
your way. | shall fix you in a house
to suit myself, and then | shall live
with you about fourtifths of the
time. If either or both undertake
to interfere with me, shall put you
both out Of the house,"
The happy Geraldine gave her
father another hug, and seemed 10th
to leave him: but he said:
"Come, daughter; sydney | Know
s waiting for your answer. Go and
,ell him. l hope he will feel BETTER"
81 know he WILL" was the laugh
ng utterance of Geraldine, as she
ripped away.
Sydney Williams was but short
distance off. AS the father turned
MS head to follow his daughter, he
Jaw the mans head, covered with
is huge, curly wig, resting upon his
arms, as though he were asleep
though that was hardly possible
lnder the circumstances.
As Geraldine passed beyond she
,aught sight of her lover, and turn
I'd abruptly and approached him so
softly that he did not hear her.
He had thrown his head forward
On his arms, resting on the stand,
md he formed strange figure in
MS English suit of a former genera
ion.
Geraldine stood a moment, with
.hrobbing heart, looking down upon
and admiring him; then seized by
sudden fancy, she stepped closer,
and leaning over, gently touched
MS hand with the sprigOf magnolia
which she still held.
Sydney moved as though it were
4 fly, and then she laughedin low:
soft, merry way, which caused him
to raise his head and look longingly
up in the beautiful face.
.'Oh, speakpp she gasped.s elias
ne consented?'
The poor fellows whole soul was
IN the question, and she saw how
cruel it was to keep him in sus-
Dense.
"He says he thinks we will be
if we don't marry each
1ther."
Sydney caught her in his arms,
and it may be said the contract was
sealed then and there.
The young man was always par
tial to the sweet perfume of the
but now, since it is as
sociated so intimately with his
winning fhe love of his heart there