Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-04-18

| "Yes," he said, clasping her hands
all my life is centered in my, love
Allan"
The n I pray your happiness ma,
continue, Kate. / shall go away; !
| could not bear to stop and see whst
will torture and darken my life.
sh Ill not even come back to the Grang,
again. Your Lather will not be sur
prised; he knows how I have waitee
aid hoped. May speak II few word:
to your May l give you one warn
ing before | leave you ?"
Yes" sud Kate, gently. "Say wha
you will, Allan
"Then let me warn you, as ] would
my dearest sister, to be cautions, and
to make some inquiries as to Sir Vic
tors character before you trust him
| with the happiness of your life. There
are strange rumors IN Clifton OF his
savage temper and uncomfortable
fury. Remember his training, his
constant intercourse with degraded
natures; remember, the instincts ol
your father, a man of years and ex-
perience, and your sister, an innocent
child, are against him. Promise me
Of tiIC SltctN kONC l. LEtNC uOIttG fod
that you will be careful"
Il do promise" she said, with a
bright smile SO full of tenderness and
love that it made poor Allan vince.
Il promise earnestly. How anxious
you are for me, Allan. At the same
time, know that neither caution nor
care is required. I know there are
prejudices against Sir Victor, because
he is a stranger and has not been
brought up amongst us. | do not
share them," she added proudly; II
have full trust in him."
"Kate," said Allan, "will you ask
him onequestion ~
"Yes," she nswered-@twenty if you
like"
zone will do" he remarked. "The
next time he talks about loving you
and making you happy, ask him what
he has done with his fivoritc dog;
will you ?"
"Yes," my sister answered, with a
laugh. Then, seeing his white sorrow
full face, she cried, On Allan, how /
wish we could all be happy 1t makes
me wretched to think of you
4Then forget me, dear" he said ten
derly: "it is not your fault that you
cannot love me. You are not to blame
that the love for which | would have
sacrificed my life is given TO another"
Are you really going away?" she
asked, the tears dimming her eyes at
the thought.
Yes +; it will be best for me, for you
for us all"
"Oh, Allan," she cried again, show |
wish you could be satisfied with the
1--we and friendship give you.7
II cannot" he said. Il ask for bread,
and you offer me stone. "Good- bye,
Kate! Ii the time ever comes when
you want friend to aid and counsel
you, / shall he here. Good bye, Clary
Give this last kiss TO your sister for
me-"
He pressed my lips for u moment;
then he was gone; and Kate even i'll
the midst of her bewildering love
dream, cried aloud for the lost friend
who had loved her So dearly.
Before noon on the following day
Allan Charlton had left the Towers.
All, if we could but have seen how
and when we three should meet again!
That same evening Sir Victor Erles-
mere called to see my father. 1t was
nearly nine when he came, and we
were just taking tea in the drawing
room when his ring sounded through
the quiet house.
aVisitors!" cried my father. "Why.
Kate, who can this be y
at is Sir Victor she answered; "he
told ME he WAS coming to call on you
this evening
1T is not very convenient time"
said my father. Il am tired after my
days ride What can the man want q
4 mischieyuus smile curled Kate's
beautiful lips. The tootnan brought
& message to say that Sir Victor Erlcs
mere requested the favor of being al
lowed to sec Mr.. Hamber alone in his
study.
Dear me, how tiresome! Kate,
what can he the matter? | expect il
is that poaching business again. /
shall be quite firm; the Game Laws
must be respected
Kate laughted nlerrily AS my father
quilted the room. tie WAS absent
some time. When he returned, he
looked more anxious and careworn
than had ever seen him look before.
He went up to my sister, and held her
for moment i'll his arms.
"What does this EIedn, Kate ?" he
said at length, with quivcring lips.
''Do you wish to leave me ?"
She rested her head upon his shoul-
der
no, papa, darling" she answered
tenderly. "You will have one child
more, not one less"
at is SO sudden" he said-"to me mt
least. / suppose you know that Sir
Victor is here asking my permission
to make you his wife? What must |
say ?''
aWhat i said myself, papa. Say
YES" she replied, with smile.
He paced the room i'll deep thought
for a few minutes: then he placed
both his hands upon her, shoulders
and looked earnestly into her lace.
"I do not quite like this, Kate" he
said. 81 hardly know enough OF this
man to intrust my precious child to
him. | have prejudice against him,
a secret instinct that warns me to be-
ware of him. Could you not give him
up, or wait another year or two until
we see more of him ?"
Il shall never give him up, papa"
Her voice was clear, calm and deci-
ded.
as your happiness so deeply involv-
ed, Kate ?" asked my father,
"Not only my happiness" she said,
"but my life also.'
"rhen / yield" replied my father.
so far us worldly prospects so, you
have done well Kats, YQu will be
Lady Erlesmere, and mistress OF one
of the finest estates in the county.
But for your happiness | can say
nothing. Sir Victor is stranger;
and report does not speak altogether
favorbly o: him."
"I am satisfied, papa. Ii he had not
one penny, would rather be his wife
than queen"
"If matters have reached that stage,
all interference would be useless.
Well, Heaven bless you, Kate. and
make you happy! Poor Allan 1t was
to be, | suppose Go down tn Sir Vic
tor, my dear. | promised that you
should take my answer"
1t seemed strange TO me then, and IT
puzzles me now, how my beautiful
gifted sister could prefer man like
Sir Victor Erlesmere to II noble chiv-
alrous gentleman like Allan Charlton.
The little god is proverbially blind,
and he was never binder than in this