Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-04-22


Been slowly and sadly proving"
Here the sweet, girlish voice fall
ters, and Jessie Gray sighs as she
picks up her sewing again. She is
sitting in the garden, under the ap-
ple-trees, and very pretty picture
she makes. At least Arthur ThOrne
thinks so, as he walks quietly up
the path and over to where she is
sitting.
81 don't see why you sigh, Miss
Jessie. There cannot surely be any
application in that song to your
self"
"How your voice startled me, Mr..
Thorne! I did not see you coming
on account of the intervening trees.
AS she says this, Jessie looks up
at him, vainly trying to suppress
the blush that rises to her face.
"Of course there isn't" she con-
tinues, referring to his remark. 81
was not thinking of myself, and l
supposed / sighed unconsciously."
ii didn't think it could apply to
such a heartless little coquette," !"
says Arthur, holding her little
brown hand trifie longer than nee
essary.
Noticing this, Jessie draws it
away, and Thorne throws himself
on the grass at her feet. While
they are talking we will take pic
ture of them.
Arthur Thorne is unquestiOnably
handsome. A perfect blonde, tall,
well formed, and features as finely
cut as those of the purest cameo.
He is the only son Ofa very wealthy
widow lady, who is spending the
summer at Scarborough. Arthur
has been with her until about three
weeks ago, when he suddenly tired
of the round of fashionable gayety
he was indulging in; and bidding
his mother hasty goodbye, he
started off, and soon found himself
in quiet little Hants village. Up
on questioning different ones, he
was directed to Gray's pleasant farm
house, where he received a cordial
welcome.
OF course the plain though COM
Portable room, with the great feath-
er beds, was something very novel
to this fashionable young gentle
man; still everything was so sweet
and clean that he rather liked it,
and decided to stay as long as he
was contented. At fret he thought
a few days would suffice but when
he caught a glimpse of his kind
hosts pretty daughter, he changed
his mind
Jessie Gray is indeed pretty
enough to attract anyone, either
young or old. She is just eighteen |;
a pretty, slight, girlish figure; short
black hair, curling all over her
proud little head and low, white
forehead; a small, straight nose,
and the sweetest little mouth in the
world. But best of all are the
beautiful gray eyes, that one min
ute flash fire as she says something
unusually saucy, and the next grow
sad and tender as she listens to some
touching story that aWakenS all the
sympathy of her warm wOmanly
nature.
"Come, don't be SO industrious,
Miss JESSIE" says Arthur, as he
tries to take the sewing from her.
81 want you tocOme for row. as 1t
is too lovely an afternoon to stay
away from the water" And he
looks at her with Il coaXing express
sion that she, poor little girl, cannot
resist.
So they start off across the fields,
and soon reach very pretty lake,
nesting in the midst of Ir. Gray's
broad acres. UnmOOring a dainty
little boat, just large enough for
two, they get in, and are soon skim
ming over the water by Arthur
Thorne's master strokes. After a
while he stops, and, resting on his
oars, looks up, to find Jessie's beau
tiful eyes fixed on him with an
expression in them he has never be-
fore seen. ,
sOf what are you thinking, little
girl? You are not half as merry as
usual"
AS he says this, Il strange feeling
comes over him, and he suddenly
realizes why he has been so con-
tented during the last two weeks.
Yes, he loves her, not as he has
thought he loved dozen other girls,
to tire of them in a week, but with
the strong, oVermastering love that
comes but once in a life time. lie
longs to hold her in his arms and
tell her of it but thoughts of his
proud, naughty mother drive back
the words SO he only takes her lit
tie hand in his as he waits tor her
answer.
81 was thinking" says Jessie, in
her low, sweet voice, "h0W much L
shall miss you when you really go,
and how very pleasant the last two
weeks have BEEN"
This is too much for him to with
stand, and in another moment Ar
thurs arms are around her, and
Jessie's curly head is pillowed on
his breast.
"My darling little GIRL" and his
voice is inexpressibly tender as he
speaks, "do you realize how dearly
love you? And can you feel any
of that deep love for ?'
"Arthur. | fear you already know
that 1 do :" and Jessie's glorious
eyes looked bravely and tenderly up
at him.
They sit quietly talking for
while, till finally the sinking of the
sun in the west reminds Jessie that
she has household duties to attend
to: so Arthur rows her back to the
land, and they return to the house.
In the evening, after the farmer
and his wife have retired, the lovers
have long talk, and Arthur ex-
plains to Jessie that it is best not to
tell her parents of their engagement
till he has arranged everything with
his mother.
''She has already selected a great
belle for me to marry, darling, and
it may be rather difficult to con-
vince her that shall be far happier
with my dear little jessie"
"Are you sure you will be, Ar
thur ?' asks Jessie, looking at him
rather wistfully.
my dear little girl, when / am
not contented a moment away from
you, l am sure l would never be
happy with Esther Hamilton" an
swerS Arthur, kissing the sweet lips
so near his own.
Two more weeks pass, which they
enjoy to the utmost, when at the
end of that time a telegram arrives,
telling Arthur of the dangerous ill
ness of his mother, and asking him
to return at once.
"I can't bear to have you 60, Ar
thur. feel as if something would
happen to keep you from me-"
And tears dim the brightness of her
kai