Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-04-24
OUT OF FATE'S LABYRINTH.
by MARY REED CROWELL.

Julian Cresleigh laid his cigar down
carefully and looked seriously, straight
ly in Melville Vests grave face.
'|Do YOU love her, Melville?"
While Mr.. West returned the
straight, serious look with all his
heart ia his blue eyes.
with all my soul, Julian"
E'DOes she love YOU"
And such look of passionate pride
accompanied his prompt answer:
MY little darling! | am sure of
her!"
Then" said Mr.. Cresleigh, SLOWLY.
pOndcroHsly, as if his question was
unansweYable, except in one matter
Of-fact way. "if that is the case. Won
and pretty little May Warren are in
love with each other, why don't you
marry her"
You naturally wonder why" Mel.
Vile said, grayely, almost Wistfully;
"and when | tell YOU my little May
has refused to marry HE for three
years, and sOrrowfnlly resOlute as ever
yoil will wonder all the more, know
inc, as have just now told you, how
truly we love each other"
Cresleigh frOwned inquirin@lv.
Il confess | do not understand such
n cOnundrum," he said. ''If loved a
woman, and she loved me. not all the
powers on earth could keep us apart"
Melville smiled gravelv.
My little May is not like other
women," he remarked, tendcrly, rever-
entity, ''She is all that is noble. and
conscientious, and honorable; and.
while | realize she is spelling both ouI
lives by her rigid adherence to what
she believes her duty, | yet can but
admit its honor and nobleness.
The frown OH Cheslcigh's handsome
forehead deepeued into positive Wrin-
kles.
Il give it up" he said, with a sigh.
Let ne tell you, in a dozen words,
my darling's story: When she was Ii
she is % now-she spent summer
with friends in the country, and while
thcrc-chidren will be foolish always
She permitted the attentions of 9
Young farmer, more from a spirit of
girlish fun and coquetry than augh
else, and became engaged to him
in the same spirit of heedlessness
which she did not realize until she had
returned home and thought the mat
ter seriously over and confided the at
fair to her friends. Every effort has
been made to break the engagement.
except public attempt, that would
be infinitely disgracelul for my little
girl to endure. But Morgan Fletcher
that's his name-will not give her
lid. He declares she promised to 'have'
him, and he sWears he will have her.
He is rich and Il decent enough fellow
but Nav Warren's husband! He
writes her once 4 week, and has for
several wears, although she has per-
sistently refused to see him. And
there the matter rests"
"Humph r' Crcsleigh CALCULATED, for
chilly.
''Of course May will never marry
him: but she thinks SO long as she ac-
copied his offer she is not morally free
TO marry any one else"
And SO both your happiness and
hers are to be ruined because of one
mistake III Il child's life"
Such a look of tenderest love, and
pity. and faith shown out of Melvillc's
face!
Don't say ruined, Julian; for, moi;
withstandino the strange barrier be.
tween us, we are very happy in eacl
others love: and May is Il woman Il
worship with all the strength of Onei
life"
Nor could Julian Creslcigh unde:
stand how such relation could b,
maintained, when there were so many
cogent reasons for having it other.
wise.
Melville West went from Ores
leigh's office to the unpretcnding little
cottage where May and her elderly
sister lived, all his heart stirred by
his recital OF their romance.
''To-day is one Of tho day when
feel | cannot accept the fate in store
COR me-" he said to her, passionately
HiStfully, as he took her in his stron,
arms. 40 see YOU here, so patient. s.
Gentle, so sweet and loyal to me, ant
SNOW | may not have you for my Wit
to know you work for your dali
bread. while | have riches to spare
May, May! be pittul, and break you
Word to that other"
She looked at him with such brave
sweet eyes.
81 GLOW can |, dear? I am penniless
and | am only reaping the reward OF
g gifllsl Jolly, repeptel Of as soon al
committed"
While hundred or so miles avn,
from the little suburban cottage wher
May lived, Morgan Fletcher paced tb,
sammy, western piazza ofhis farm hons
chat self-same afternoons tall, robins
coarse featured man of nearly 40. witl
shaggy, auburn beard and hair an,
bright brown eyes, that were almoS
cruelty positive in their glances.
lie had just been handed two letter
I.y farm boy returned from the vii
lage post-otfice; and one, in Ma
Warrefs delicate hand writing, hat
been early read, while all eager, almos
hungry look, had come into his eve