Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-08-19


the gate flying open he entered and
came to where we were.
"Fhis is my dear friend, Miss
Jessie Fairbanks" said Lucy, who
never presented people to each
other in the form that other Chris
tains do.
He bowed, and then the voice
that already had power to stir my
heart spoke again; and an arch
smile played about the exquisite
mouth and, laughed in the eyes.
"Miss Lucy leaves it to me to say
that am Harvey Ranger, now and
always your servant
In token of which the proud
head, with curve of the superb
neck, turned away as he stopped to
examine moss rose that was strug
Cling its crimson way through the
green leaves. With sudden
movement he put forth his hand
and snapped il from the stem, and
looking at 1t for few moments,
handed it to me with half-proud,
half-timid grace, the most beauti-
full | have ever seen. / took it'll
would not have refused il for a
crown; and to this day have the
dried dust of its withered leaves in
tiny, snow-whi:e silken bag,
which | made purposely for it.
had no thought of loving that
man; never, in the least degree,
intended to do so. 1t was indeed
as said to Lucy; l didn't think it
possible for me TO feel an intense
and profound love for any man, but
didn't know myself. AS sudden
ly, as strongly as thunderstorm
i'll Summer, burst upon me a love
pure as the angels-strOng, intense
and tender as heaven-for Harvey
Ranger.
l saw him but little while that
evening. He refused Lucy'S invi-
tatiOn to enter, and stood only
about five minutes during which
time he said as much as have
heard other Hnen-learned,- sensible
men-say in two hours. He didn't
speak rapidly, or rattle over his
words it was impossible to con-
ceive that quiet, easy, liquid voice
hurrying over anything 1t said. 1t
was music too sweety melodiOus
to be rapid-even the speaker must
have been conscious of that and
pleased himself by listening to it.
Every six words he spoke suggest
ed whole train of ideas-eVery
sentence was beautiful, breathing
poetry, and exquisite harmony Of
rythmical, musical words.
Then he went away, and l watch
cd him till he was out of sight, for
getting that / was not all alone,
and turning away with deep
drawn sigh, Lucy then exclaimed:
$50, so, Jessie, has my poet aWak-
ened the grand passion already? ?"
The merry words and the gay
and careless tone smOte my heart
like pain. I could make no re.
ply; and taking up the flowers l
had been cutting, turned away
without a word and entered the
house.
Irecollect / dressed myself with
great care the next evening. Ran
ger had, in refusing to enter, when
Lucy asked him, promised to call
the following evening. / arranged
my hair in heavy curls-it was a
dark and glossy brown, and curls
were becoming to me. The moss
rose all unfaded and fresh rs when
it was pulled, l placed on the lefI
side amongst them. l was pretty,
people said. My neck, throat and
shoulders were beautiful-pearly-
white and smooth as lily's leaf.
Ny arms, also, were round, white
and gracefully turned, and so /
wore a pale, rose colOred cashmere
that suited my complexion admira-
bly,. y fever of expectation glow
ed in my eyes, and flushed my
cheeks, and burned scarlet upon
my lips. I had never looked 50
well-for that night l was beautiful.
Lucy was right when she said that
if my intention was to tiirt that l
had met my match in Ranger.
He did flirt rarely.
No, no, l won't believe it. To
this day-to the last moment of my
existence, | will say confidently to
my own heart, Harvey loved me.
| will give up my life rather than
will give up that belief-which is
indeed to me the better part Of my
life.
Heavens! How charming he
was-hOw brilliant What rare
fascination was il that clothed his
every lightCst word with II robe like
gold fresh from the mint, or shining
raimen t. sparkling with gems:
What WonlrOus witchery was in
the smile OF his beautifully curved
and arching lip? What more than
earthly splendor in the blue eyes
that emitted light pure and brill
liant AZ that of heaven?
lie sat beside me on the sofa, and
once when he moved, his arm
brushed the skirt of my dress.
have not forgotten and never will
forget the ecstatic thrill that shot
through me, quick as an electric
shock and when he held my hand
in his Il few moments that night at
parting-but Pm afraid you are
laughing at me; l will not tell you,
because l can't say any more about
that. 1t was a joy too holy to place
before profane. eyes an explanation
of it.
This continued for six weeks.
You see l didn't leave Lucy's at
the expiration of the three weeks
had intended to cOntine my visit 10.
But the end had to come at last.
knew, of course, all the time, that
il couldn't continue long but | had
not dared to look forward far
enough TO see that there was day
when we must part-very likely
never, never to meet again on earth!
If in this world you catch glimpse
of heaven, my dear, and drink in
the celestial air from the home of
the gods, open your heart and soul
wide-it doesn't come often, per-
haps only once in q lifc-time-don't
cloud its unspeakable radiance or
faint its marvellous sweetness by
looking to the time when it will all
be but a thing of the past.
| didn't and Pm not sorry that l
accepted the roses and never looked !
for the thOrns, till by-and-hy they
pierced me. Where we met there
we partcd-Out in the garden
among the flowers. The moon was
very fair and Cloudless, the August
night contained in it the essence of !
ali summer beauty; the moonlight
was very soft and sweet, pale and |
like shadow of an angels |
white wings falling over us, and
how mild and holy shown the dar-
ling bright stars-dear stars that / |
love in the blue SkV. .s.