Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-07-19

HOWcNer, ana demanQeO 0IIeuuOnS
and her ogre of a mother was so
afraid somebody would marry her
FOR her money that it was great
lark to scare the old lady a little;
but as for falling in love with Miss
Erskine, especially when another
person was in the world, that was
simply impossible. After that they
got up some private theatricals for
q charity, and Clarence ha2 TO take
the part of Miss Erskine's lover,
and although he acted it TO perfec-
ton, il wasn't pleasant. Mrs. Frs
kline didn't like it either. SIT looks
too real" said she.
"They would be poor actors if it
didn't," I said.
"Why, he's-kissing her ~ she
cried.
''It's only stage kiss" assured
her. 1t did seem to me that he
rather overdid the part.
81 made desperate love-" said he,
afterward, "just because that old
harridan was looking on. 1 knew
you would understand. Kissed her?
Yes, kissed her she seemed to ex-
pect it-such dose!
''But you needn't have kissed her
at rehearsal"
"True! that didn't occur to me.
Live and learn"
/ was sitting on the beach one
mornig a little later with Mrs. Frs
kline, watching Clarence and Miss
Erskine swimming among the
breakers.
81 do wish Rose would come in"
said her mother, fretfully. ppm
afraid she'll get fond OF this Mr..
Cuthbert, they're thrown together
so much" / gave little start.
"All the young ladies seem to be
perfectly wild about this fellow
hut l do wish he wouldn't make
love to Rose, aud make her believe
she's so irresistible. Perhaps if she
hadn't q fortune [ should believe
in him more. You ought to thank
your stars, Miss Linda, that you're
a portiOnless girl, and your lovers
are all DISTINGUISHED"
tMrs. Erskinc," said /, "I will
toll you something. You needn't
give yourself any uneasinesS about
Mr.. Cuthbert's Intentions. am
engaged to Mr.. Cuthbert. 1t hasn't
come out yet"
"Iet us congratulate you, my
dear Miss Linda" said she, and she
really kissed my cheek. "My
heart feels light. You can't tell
how I've been put to my Wits end
to keep Rose under my eye and out
of harms way. Mr.. Cuthbert Is SO
takingI But now i may take my
ease with the other chaperons.
Thank you for the confidence, dear.
l really feel as if you had done me
Al favor; and Mr.. Cuthbert's a real
hero of romance, after all, with no
mercenary feelings. Now, ii Mr.:
Dunn had fancied Rose, l should
have had no misgivingS."
ST don't think Clarence is fond OF
money, or he never would have
Thought of me-" / said.
"Well, l dare say; only 1 can't
tell you how much Pm obliged TO
you. j shall always regard you rs
friend"
This was n little different from
the way she turned upon me one
day, month later, when having
returned from a steamboat cXcur-
sion with a large party from the
house, ii was found that Clarence
and Miss IlrSkinC were missing.
II am going back with Miss Frs
kline for her sun-umbrClla, he had
said To me on the boat. "SlIc left
it on bench in the park, and /
can't LET her go alone, you know.
II we lose this boat there's another
an hour later" But the next boat
did not bring them. Mrs. Erskino
spent most of the night down at
tho wharf with some companions,
and when / went downstairs next
morning she was still in her eXcur-
sion dress, with dishcvclled hair,
md holding an open letter.
''SGc what you've DONE" she
said giving me the letter. "YOu
engaged to him! You! You con-
nived at this, you hypocrite!'
"DEAR MAMMA" (WrOte ROSe)-
"DOn't be anxious about ms. Ciar-
cnco and / went Immediately 10 tho
church at Beverly Springs, and
were married before your boat
reached the wharf. / knew you'd
never consent, and it's So much
more romantic to elOpe.
"AfioctiOnately your daughter,
ROSE CUTHBERT."
There was q note for me, too,
very brief: al love you Linda, but
"Would the flame that we're so rich in
Light fire IN the kitchen,
Or the little god OF love turn the spit:
That's my only excuse for being
II knaVe."
Lefty and returned to our work.
1t would have been better for us if
we had never tried to makoacQuain-
lance with tho world of the idle and
happy, never tried to become a part
of il. We had spent our triile of
money fOOlishly enough, and had
gained a bitter experience. But
after while | was surprised to find
that / didn't feel rs blightcd as /
eXpectCd-didn't have brain-fever
or nervous prOstratiOn, like my
faVOritC heroineS. | began to think
that my love for Clarence had been
only Skin-deep after all. / had
been taken with his debOnair gra-
ces / had made no acquaintance |
with his soul. / began to compare |
him with Mr.. Dunn, to ClarencG's |
1t was rather late in the |
day, to be sure, 10 appreciate Mr.. |
Dunn. But | fell to thinking of |
him every day. l watched for him
every evening, and started when
ever the doOr-bell rang.
CATER ALL" said Lefty, one day,
throwing down the evening paper
sit was lucky you didn't marry Mr..
Dunn"
"Why ?'' / asked.
"Oh, he has managed to lose all
his mOney-all but an annuity"
He had said TO me once that if / |
ever changed my mind, if ever j
thought could love him, perhaps
would let him know, and L had
promised l would.
"lIe will never ask me again 20
marry him." / thought, and SO |
Kept my promise. Every day !
thought as left my work, 81 shall
ind him waiting for me at home"
Every morning when the pOStman
anne up the street my heart beat
lOuble; but ut the end of fort
right nothing had happened. One
night, after the days work
vas over, Lefty and L were resting
n our little parIor that opened upon
he Old-fashioned garden in Roxbu-
v, with its hOlIyhocks and love
and London pride