Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-01-06
resolved to know whethefshe loved


him or not.
AS il happened, he met her while
ont riding. and so made the inqui-
ry. 81 am in such hurry at pres
ent, Percivale,o she answered ner-
vously, 'that | must refuse you an
interview. Mr.. Strong intends
leaving tonight for the city, and l
must hasten back according 10
promise, to meet him. You may
see me tonight"
When night arrived he Walked
over to her fathers dwelling. Ag-
mes met him at the door and coldly
invited him in. He was shocked
at this cold reception, but entered,
and. seating himself close AS was
his wont in previous days, he took
her pretty-shaped hand. She
would have withdrawn it, only ne
held it so firmly.
my darling,o he said, what
has come over you OF late? You
seem so completely changed. Have
YOU grown tired of loving me y
"Why do you imagine | have
changed.n replied she, Indifferent
Iy. II am sure / like you as much
as ever liked you."
"But, Agnes, do you love me
we'll enough to become my wife"
he insisted. with simple eloquence.
tDarling! born in adversity, l nave
been allowed the pleasure OF your
society, and / know that to you L
owe ali that 1 am. Will you not
aid and encourage me still with
your love?"
"Please cease your sentimental
ty.' interrupted Agnes, rising, her
lips curled in scorn and her general
demeanor expressing impatience.
"I have always looked upon you
with cordial feelings, and once even
thought that / loved you. L know
better now, and regard any affec-
tions of that day as the fancy OF
child. My heart is Walter Strongs,
and have promised him my hand.
| can never be yours, Perclvale,
neverW
Who could have sounded the
depth OF his woe at this moment! /!
Ah?-
| ait is no common failure to have failed
| Where man hath given
A whole lies effort to the task assailed-
Spent earth on heaven J?
With a sad heart he left her pres
ence. He knew she loved him still,
but preferred gold and station TO
love and obScurity.
Agnes spent very restless night.
Discarding Perciyale had Deen the
greatest ordeal of her life, ana I'M
nediately after she had done II she
was remorseful. Her better nature
asserted itself, and she resolved tCI
90 to him the next morning ana
make known her feelings.
When daylight arrived, she
wrote Walter Strong a letter, tell
ing him she was mistaken when
she plighted her hand to him, and
that she loved Percivale above al
Others. Then she prepared to asf
her old lovers forgiveness. I'
do this. she would have to see hin
in person.
Upon some pretense, she wen
over to the neighbOr's where Percl
: vale was boarding, but the new
! which she received on the thresh
! old caused her face to blanch ant
her eyes to lose somewhat OF thel
: fire. She was informed that IN
, young poet had been found dead Il
! his chamber that night-a Vlctiil
to heart disease, it was thougn'
! She went to his room by permis
: sion, There lay the man wh
+. would have given up his hopes {
T heaven for her, he loved her 8
Il deeply. AS the cold form of tn
5 dead lay before her.. the hars
, words spoken by her the evenin
Il before came trembling over tn
e strinos of memory. 81 can neve
II he yours Percivale-never! !" Bow
< ing down over him with the el
+ love renewed in her heart, she kls
{ ed him once-twice-thrice.
X X
: And as they placed him to rest
P the little grave yard on the hill,
e as lovely a place as that in TAR Q
l. Tunis. where repOSe the remains
II the author of "Home Sweet Home
Is He was a good man, all SAID, a
er fer his ears had grown too deaf
a hear. And indeed he was. A
~ innocent benefactor OF humanlt
ie in that he administered to It's pc
D. manent needs; peasant-poe
n whose heart was ever ready 10
"a brate to some tone OF the etern
ID melodies; and yet the world M
nothing for him but hardshlps.
II The lady who was so cruel al
1e VET loved him unknowingly-s
Us visited his grave occasionally al
er kissed the messy marble WIN
re rests on his lips and heart, ana IN
nj went out into the world OF foil y 81
rs wealth and excitement, trying
forget him; yet, although HUI
"a, declares that the dead in tn
N tombs decay not nearly so sWlt'
ke as they do in the human heart,
MS think her thoughts will be foreN
ne reverting, reverting to an imp
or tentious slab in the graveyard
% the Nest. WILLIAM HALE