Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-03-12
LOVE AND LUXURY.

used to say, half in jest, half in
earnest-stif ever l marry, the hap
py manor the unhappy one, if you
please-ha! hal-shall be a person
possessing these three qualifications :
First, fortune.
Second, good looks.
'sAnd thirdly, common sense.
81 mention fortune first, because
/ think it the most needful and de-
sirable qualification Of the three.
Although | could never think of
marrying a fool, or a man whose
ugliness / could be ashamed of; still
/ think to talk sense for the one and
shine for the other, with plenty of
money, would preferabletO living
obscurely with a handsome, intel
leetual man to whom economy
might be necessary"
/ do not know how much of this
sentiment came from Katie's heart.
She undoubtedly indulged in lofty
ideas of station and style, for her
education in the duties and aims of
life had been deficient, or, rather,
erroneous; but that she was capable
of deeper, better feelings, none
doubted who had ever obtained
even a partial glimpse of her true
WOman'S nature.
And the time arrived at length
when Katie was to take that all.
important step of which she had
often spoken so lightly; when she
was to demonstrate to her friends
how much of her heart was in the
words we have quoted.
At the enchanting age of eighteen
she had many suitors; but, as she
never gave a serious thought to more
than two. we will follow her exam
pie, discarding all except those fa-
vored ones, and consider their rela-
tive claims.
If this were any other than a true
story, / should certainly use an
artists privilege, and aim to produce
an effect by making a strong con-
trast between these two favored in !
dividuals. If / could have my way
one should be a poor genius and
somewhat of hero; the other
wealthy fool and somewhat of a
knave
But the truth is, our poor genius
was not much of genius, not very |
poor, either. He was by profession
teacher of music, and he could |
live very comfortably in exercise I
thereof without the most distant /
hope, however, of ever attaining to I
wealth. Moreover, Francis Minot /
possessed excellent qualities, which I
entitled him to be called by discreet
elderly people Il "fine character -
by his champions ''noble, good |
fellow :" and by the ladies generally
a "darling."
Katie could not help loving Mr..
Frank, and he knew it. He was
certain she preferred his society
even to that of Mr.. Wellington,
whom alone he saw fit to honor with
the appellation of rival.
This Mr.. Wellington (his compan-
ions called him the tDuke'') was
no idiot or hump-back, as l could
have wished him to be, in order to
make a good story. On the contra
ry, he was a man of sense, educa-
ton, good looks and fine manners,
and there was nothing ofthe knave
about him, that / could ever ascer-
tain.
Beside this, his income was suffi-
cient to enable him to live superbly.
Also, he was considered two or
three degrees handsomer than Mr..
F. Minot.
Therefore the only thing on which
Frank had to depend was the power
he possessed over Katie's sympa-
thies and affections. The "Duke"
he was just the man for
her in every other sense. being
blessed with a fortune, good looks
and common sense-had never been
able to draw these out, and the ami
ably conceited Mr.. Frank was not
to believe that she would
suffer mere worldly considerations
to control the aspirations of her
heart.
However, she said to him, one
lay, when he pressed her to decide
MS fate-shesaid to him with sigh:
"Oh, Frank, am sorry that we
nave ever met"
"Sorry ?"
eyes, for we must part now"
part ?'' repeated Frank, turning s
pale.
1t was evident he had not ex-
)ected this.
"Yes-yes,' said Katie, casting
lown her eyes with another piteous I !
Ugh. :
Frank sat by her side; he placed
lis arm around her waist, without $
leeding her feeble resistance he
owered his voice, and talked to her
Until she-the proud Katie-wept-
pept bitterly.
"Katie," said he, then, with {
'urst of passion, 81 know you love
ne! But you are proud, ambitious, I
eltish! Now If you would have
ne leave you, say the word-and / f
.op \
Cop murmured Katie very |
eebly-"go /
"Aou have decided ?" whispered {
frank. /
81 have!"
''Then, love, farewell!" r
He took her hand, gazed a mo- '
nent tenderly and sorrowfully upon 5
Ter beautiful, fearful face, then t
lasped her to his bosom.
She permitted the embrace. She a
ven gave way to the impulse of the d
Instant, and tWined her arms about n
is neck. But in a moment her
came to her aid, and she v
ushed him from her with sigh.
"Shall ] go ?'' he asked. il
A feeble Eyes" fell from her quiv-
ring lips. b
And an instant later she was lying 4
pom the sofa, sobbing and weeping
assionately-alOne. k
To tear the tenacious root of love
ut of her heart had cost her more n
han she could have anticipated h
nd the certainty of a golden life of O
axury proved but poor consola- e
ion, it seemed, for the sacrifice she RI
ad made. \
She lay long upon the sofa, sob
ing and weeping passionately.
tradually her grief appeared to ex-
aust itself. Her breathing became G
1ore regular and calm. Her tears j