Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-04-18
WHOLE NO. 2.57O.

quiet night, when the villagers hae
long retired 10 rest, the furious galloI
OF horse would be heard in the de
serted streets People would say
There goes Sir Victor! Poor wretch
ed horse!" Rumors of his mad orgies
and low habits were ahoat; but, what
ever WAS said, my sister remained u,
silent rs the grave. What we knew
we heard from others or guessed from
her face. His name never passed hel
lips. My father respected her reserve
too much to attempt 10 break thaougl
/ il.
As soon rs we were settled once
more at home, went every day tu
visit my sister and her little boy.
seldom saw Sir Victor: he appeared
TO spend little time mt home. / never
inquired for him, and Kate never vol
unteered any information Us 10 his
| whereabouts | often renlined all
night with her, for at times she seem
ed so lonely and wretched that could
not bear to leave her.
why do you not go out more,
Kate ?" ] asked her one day. IL have
heard that you constantly refuse all
invitations. Change OF scene would
cheer you up. You used to he so fond
of society,"
"'Used to be- and ARE are very diff
ferent things she replied. 81 do not
accept invitations because | cannot
give any in return"
"Why not ?" inquired. "You have
beautiful house, splendid plate, plen-
ty of servants, and ample means. If i
were in your place, would go to par
ties and give parties too"
She smiled without speaking. /
knew afterward that she had been
obliged to give mp asking people to
the house, and the reason why.
One morning. remember it so
well-we were going through the
plantation as our nearest way home.
Little Paul ran OH before US. The
plantation was in the private grounds
place. and 1t was her favorite prone
made. used to wonder at it, for
thought it very dull. The dark tIper
ing tirs, through which the wind
moaned with a sad wailing music, fill
me with awe.
1t was here that Kate liked to linger.
There WAS an old trunk of tree that
had fallen years before. 1t was now
covered with soft green moss; and
here my sister would sit listening To
thr moaning of the wind until Paul
AMI | grew impatient AMI tired of
waiting. The little fellow used To call
it "mamma'S chair" and ON tins par
ticular morning, rs we entered the
plantation, he came running back TO
us.
Mamma" he said, "some one has
your chair--an ugly old woman-and
she will not get up"
Sure enough, seated on the moss
covered trunk, we discovered an old
woman. When we drew near her,
saw that she was an old haggard-look
ing gypsy. Kate, who was always kind
and gentle to her interiors, went up to
her.
"Do you know" she said gently,
"tlllt you are tressplssing? This is
private ground. If the keepers see
you, you may get into trouble"
The woman looked qngrily at her.
"And who are you, my fine lady,"
she said, TO order me otf?'
AM lSAAtN Lei II EfttCiAy IEltA4fh
Kate. # * only Tor your own
sake. You look very i'll and wretch
ed; can relieve you p
@Relieve mel1 said the gypsy. NO;
only revenge and death will do that.
So you are Lady Erlesmere, are you p
She fixed her eyes boldly on my sis
ter's face.
"You are Lady Erlesmere; and that
is your son and his heir, suppose
Ny daughter was handsomer than you.
She lies with her boy in the depths Of
the cold river. You are we'll and hip-
py; but it will he more equal soon -
more equal soOn!" she muttered
Kate took few shillings from her
purse, and placed them in the old
womans hand.
Sect yourself something To- eat, she
said; "you look hungry and cold, poor
thing"
ais tins Erlesmere money! cried
the old woman. III it was your own,
honny lady, would keep il: because
it Is his, fling 1t where, ii there is jus
tice, he will soon lie {"
She threw the money violently from
her, and went away. To my surprise,
when she rose. there was no appear
ancc OF decrepituIe about her. Her
figure was tall and erect; it was only
her face that looked so old AMI bag
gard.
"What strange woman! T. | said.
Kate made no reply; her face had
grown pale, and there was proud an
CRY light in her eyes.
We overlook Sir Victor just as we
came to the Hall gates. He took lit
tie Paul in his arms and carried him.
"Victor, is there gypsy camp in
the neighborhood Kate asked.
"I do not know" he answered, look
ing rather startled. Why do you ask
me ?" ---a-e
Because we saw gypsy-woman
about, and she seemed so wild that !
felt nervous
Without another word, he put the
child down, and strobe away in the di-
rection OF the woods. Kate looked al
ter him in some surprise, but made
no remark; and then we entered the
house over which 80 dark a shadow
was looming.
60 be concluded next week.