Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-11-21

he saw her rise cOldly,n ,ne cneckou Liul-
self, and said Pardon me, Miss
Kirke, have just learned that you
wished to speak to me-"
Hazel could not reply for moment,
and looked about the room in dazed
manner, and in voice which she
tried, in vain, to render steady, she
said:
aM-. Carringford, I have sent for
you to say that which must sound
strangely from me. You must leave
this place at once
Arthur was almost too astonlshed to
speak, but after pause, he coidiy said:
MAY ask you why you command
me to leave your fathers house Y
mo sir, | can not give you the reas-
on; YOU can never hear it from my
lips" was the strange reply.
"Do you wish me to go?"
GYes, yes Go quickly" answered
Hazel, with nervous vehemence.
@You are right" Arthur said, sadly.
II will go; / should have gone long
ago, but day after day | delayed my
departure; / shall leave at once" and
he extended his hand to Hazel, whose
face flushed as she gave him hers.
Arthur felt the little hand tremble
in his. He bent and kissed it tenderly
Hazers self-command deserted her
and, sinking into the nearest chair, she
sobbed Historically. Arthur was COM
pletely unnamed, and, bending over
the weeping girl, he took the hand that
he had but moment ago unelasped,
and, in a voice husky from emotion,
said:
.You know that for all the world |
would not distress you. Believe me
honor YOU and hold you higher than
any other woman; | know that | am
not worthy of even your regard.
Hazel started up In wild alright
and cried out:
"You must not speak another word"
"But you must in mercy let me
speak, Hazel. Is it possible you have
not seen how dearly | love you how
madly 1 worship you? Is 1t possible
YOU have not guessed my love, read 1T
in my eyes, in my every word, though
| have never dared to express 1T to
you directly? Hazel you must have
felt how passionately | adored you Y
An expression of despair crept over
HazePs face as Arthur poured forth
his impassioned appeal. Her white
lips moaned:
''Oh, misery! oh, misery
The desolate anguish of her voice
| pierced his heart. She stood still, re-
gardng him with sad, weary eyes.
"Hazel, what have done? ?" he cried
impulsively.
He held out his hands, trying to
take hers again in his, but she turned
from him.
"You must not!" she gasped; and
then, when she saw the look ofintense
suffering on his features, her lips quiv-
cred and her eyes filled with fresh
| tears.
aFor Gods sake, have pity on me,
Hazeln cried Arthur hoarsely.
"Go!-leave me, implore you!
You forget that 1 am Squire Rodneys
promised bride
s.Forgive mel did forget it," re-
piled Arthur humbly.
81 beseech you, in mercy, to leave
me without another word"
At this moment the door opened
and the tall figure of the squire ad-
vanced into the room.
STAY, Mr.. Carrlngford; know all"
Arthur started and his countenance
flushed, while Hazel staggered and
caught hold of the back of chair to
keep herself from falling.
al know that you love Hazel and
| that she loves vou," said the squire,
irving to conceal his emotion and to
sneak calmly, so that his hearers would
not realize the effect his words would
have on him.
@Ahr' exclaimed Hazel in terror, as
she pressed her hands over her eyes,
then Withdrew them and stood staring
at the squire in CONSERVATION.
"Have no fear, child; l am not the
man to rail at or curse you" he said
hurriedly, huskily. Il shall onl y"
And the squire paused and stag
gered, as he dropped into the nearest
chair.
Hazel rushed toward him and, lay
ing her hand on his arm, said in soft,
womanly voice:
"Are you i'll p
NAV, it is nothing, lass-it is
nothing; I'm Il bit dazed, that's all. 1t
all came on me so suddenly" he an
swered, and then buried his face in
his hands.
"Oh, Mr.. Rodney cried Hazel, with
ouivering lips, as she fell on her knees
at his feet-aoh, forgive u.s. l was re-
solved to do my duty"
And the sorely tried girl laid her
head on his knee, sobbing as II her
heart would break.
The squire laid his hand gently on
Hazels bowed head and stroked her
hair soothingly.
.Nay, no more OF that, child; there's
misery enough in this world without
an old man like me making more oi
it. Don't weep, my child, don't weep
every tear YOU shed falls like hot lead
ON nv heart. There, there, child
cheer up, and we will see what is best
to be done"
aYou do not hate me then?"
"Aaron Rodney will never live tc
see the day he can hate you. No, lass
| love you still. God help me; | love
YOU too we'll to ask anything save youl
. happiness"
Hazel rose from her knees hastily
, and said in voice that was scarcely
audible:
|, 'I cannot help the past, but / can bt
| iOI lilC INAINiiSJ l. N~AA --'J
T., ty and keep my promise"
, The squire took her hands In his
and said in pathetic tone;
"No, child, no; you shall not become
, nv wife. Your heart is given to an
: other, and L would not ask you to sac
rifce yourself. But this is sad affair
!, Hazel; ! am afraid OF your father
You know how headstrong he is, anC
how he RACES at things he thinks ar'
! wrong" -
! ! INV noblest friend" exclaimed Ha
: eel, Il implore you not to feel any re
!. sentiment for the past. You must re
member was a child when | made
that rash promise. Iliked you in th'
y past-oh. know it well-as a chilt
> NAV like, with no thought OF love o
marriage, so bear me, Heaven, an.
; more than If had been four instead
of fourteen. You asked my father t.
!, send me to school, and | consented t.
: : marry you when had completed m.
= education. Mr.. Rodney, was not II
! love with you; if, therefore, | have CIV
= en- my heart TO another, am t
T blame?"
! No, child, no; was in fault, lass.
L u did not think that l was, even then,