Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-02-14


her mothers. / had no position in til
world, and the De Vaudvills were tn
first family in the country next {
those that were titled.
/ was not blind to the affection ha
inspired the father had no suspicions
He would have thought it impossibl
for his daughter to stoop SO low. Be
sides, in the event OF the death of he
sickly brother, Maud would be al
heiress--a match to be desired b,
every young squire in the country.
was conscious of a struggle in m,
heart; but | thought over my father
dying words, and the example O
Tommy, and / conquered. Neither
by word nor sign did / show deal
Maud how dear she was to me. haC
to exercise the utmost control ovel
myself, and the effort cost me much
pain. hesitated whether / had no
better resign my tutorship, when my
charge fell ill.
His sickness became serious-dan
gerous. Then / volunteered to sit
with him and nurse him night and
day. I knew what was necessary. He
must be fed with beef tea every twenty
minutes. Everything depended on
this and the nurses could not be re-
lied on. For three weeks was with
the child. If he had been my own ]
could not have done more for him. ]
saved his life. The doctor said SO
No sooner was he out of danger than
| broke down. I had overstrained
myself, and was attacked with nervous
fever. 1t was thought advisable to
move me to the keepers cottage. My
illness, following so closely on that of
the young master was more than the
servants could stand. They rebelled /;
and the housekeeper suggested the
change to the squire, who gave his
consent, with the proviso that | should
be supplied from the house with
everything / wanted. So was taken
to the lodge, there to be nursed and
the best port wine, beef tea and grapes
were sent from the hall fog my con-
The keeper drank the
port; his wife, who was nursing, found
the beef tea nutritious; and her chill.
dren greatly enjoyed the grapes. The
stalks of the latter were, however, al
ways put on white plate at my bed
side, together with the few skins and
pips that could be rescued.
| think that at last some suspicion
that | was not we'll treated entered
Maudis mind; for she brought me
grapes herself, and insisted on my
taking the wine and extract OF meat
from hei own hand. AS l got better,
she visited me more frequently, kept
4 posy of flowers always fresh near my
seat in the latticed window, read to
me, and frightened my convalescence
with her sunny presence.
One day, as she rose to leave, and
her hand to me, her eyes
net mine, and then, unable to control
aer emotions, she burst into tears
"What is the matter, dear Miss
Maud ?" l asked. My heart sank. /
dreaded what would follow, and yet /
'elt a secret, a wicked Joy at the ex-
Dlanation.
:" | am sorry for you, and it seems so
in us, after your noble self
levotion to my darling brother. /
know that he owes his life to you; and
am ready to sink into the ground for
hame when | think how little care we
nave taken of you in return. Papa
ioes not see it; but / can think of
lothing else. He says that the keep
,r's wife is worthy body, and attends
o you very kindly, but then-she has
ieven children to look after, also, and
he cannot devote her undivided at
ention to you. Oh, Mr.. Flopjohn =
t ought not to be; and you--so good
so generous-so honorable feel
feel-that my whole life would be
90 little repayment for all you have
lone for us"
/ was overcome also. For a mo-
nent l forgot Tommy, everything, and
,lasped beautiful Maud to my heart.
"Noble, generous, heroic soulp l
aid.
Robert" she whispered, "you have
owed me. 1 knew it, though you did
to conceal your passion. /
llso have loved you, as / revere your
| can do no better than to
ntrust my future to one so upright"
"But, your father?" stammered.
"My father will not consent" she
aid. "But l have eight thousand
pounds of my own, which, at four and
half per cent, amounts to three
and sixty pounds per annum.
Surely we can live and love and be
laypy on that! We will run away to-
,ether and get married, and then re-
urn aud throw ourselves on papas
He is proud, but kind
nd forgiving. He would not give his
but he will accept the fah
sccompAi."
held her hands and looked into her
yes. could not speak. She said, Il
yill return tomorrow, and we will
make our plans together" We kissed
MI she departed.
could not sleep that night. Here
vas the sweetest, most charming girl
IL the world-a girl with three hum
lred and sixty pounds per annum,
With Norman name, and the bluest
II blue blood in her veins-ready to
brow herself into my arms. Eight
housand pounds offered to me, with
,ut any marriage settlements.
ossed on my bed. Towards morning
became calmer. thought of Tommy
Then rose from my bed, dressed,
,ut my poor traps together in a bum
lie, and at early daybreak. before any
me was stirring, left the house. !
led the temptation to do what knew
rommy would have scorned to do. As
n the cold morning air | walked
way, l thought how Harry would
ave acted if placed in my position.
lie would not have nursed the sick
10Y, called thereto by no obligation
Then the boy would have died, and
daud have been an heiress of fourteen
housand year. Harry would not
lave run away alone, but run away
With the heiress, and changed his
lame from Flopjohn to Be Vaudeville,
md reconciled himself with the
ather-in-law, and succeeded to the es-
ate and the park, and become ]. P.
nd d. L., and sheriff OF the county,
nd put his son into the Guards, and
rot a barenetcy. 1 sighed and felt in
ny pocket, and found only one pound
our shillings and threepence three
arthings there. ] had left without
my quarters salary. But If
light in purse, | WAS also light in con-
cience. ! was treading the paths OF
,irtue under the guidance Of Tommy.
The next place where l found a
utorship was in the family of we'll
o-do farmer, who had amassed suffi-
,lent money to think of bringing up
lis boys 20 be gentlemen.
/ had considerable trouble with
hese urchins. They were wayward,
and overfowing with
Inimal spirit. Indeed, doubt much
they had in them any other