Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-11-07

marked Mrs. klrke.
Thanks to Squire Rodney-Go'
bless im!-'twas he got the larnin,
said the miller gratefully.
i "And he will be well paid for it, toe
when she's his wife!" remarked Dolly
pertly.
"WelI, that'll soon be now, lass
that'll soon be now" said her uncle.
Mrs. Kirke and Dolly LETT the sitting
room together. They did not see thu
tall, powerful figure that had entered
the apartment by the half open door
way from the porch. :.
4 II am not sure of that, my friend,
said Squire Rodney, advancing toward
the fire.
"Ah, | declare, Master Rodney,
cried the miller as he arose from bis
seat. You are here at last, L have
been waiting for you. What's that
ye're not SO sure on 7
@That Hazel will ever be my VILE
replied the squire in sad tone OF voice
Dunstan Kirke stared at him IN
amazement.
"Not thy WIFE" he exclaimed. @Why
man, what's COON to thee, to say Sc
| strong a word? Didn't ye save me
from ruin and the old mill from chang
4 ing hands five years ago, and didn't
Hazel promise then to be your vile,
and didn't We send her off to school
that she might be the lady of Rodney
! Hall ?"
"True, Dunstan, but she was only
fourteen then and in my tortles. !
forgot that when she came OF age I'd
be fifty aud growing old. There's
many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip,
We know" said the squire, sadly,
"Why, what do you mean, man p
asked the miller in establishment.
"My old friend, / mean accidents
may happen and young girls heart
NAV change" replied the squire, as he
went to the window to hide the emo
ton which he felt ashamed to show.
Squire Rodney was proud, sensl-
tive man. He had never really loved
any woman until he knew Hazel
Kirke, whom he passionately adored.
His love for the beautiful girl was a
great, unseltish passion, and he felt
that he could make any sacrifice to Sc
cure her happiness. He had never
felt the great disparity in their ages
until lately. He was a fine-looklng,
middle-aged English country gentle
man. His hair and beard were IRON
gray and his features decidedly hand
some: his ewes were dark brown; he
was very tall and had a well-developed
figure.
Dunstan Kirke was so surprised that
he did not speak for a moment, and
then he said:
aOh, no, no; that would be impossi-
ble"
"AIy good friend, may be mistaken,
but ever since you saved young Car
ringford from drowning and brought
him in here, I've noticed a change in
Hazels manner to me. You don't
look with my eyes, Dunstan, you don't
see what | see."
"And what do you see?" demanded
the miller sharply.
"I see a fine, handsome, brave man
living i'll and helpless. | see lovely
Young girl waiting on him, nursing
him back to life. / see two young
hearts looking to each other through
Young eyes, touching each other with
Young hands, and-well, Dunstan, l
know what this must come to soon.
"Maister Rodney, there is Holy
Book that my bairn reads to us every
dav. Dost thou think that she can
ever forget that the Book commands
us to keep our faith? ?"
"Ah, Dunstan, when the heart speaks
all other voices are dumb" answered
the squire with sigh.
"a promise is promise!" exclaimed
the miller passionately, as he struck
the table before him with his fist. II
NV child were to break her word I'd
drive her out as | would scorpion
from my hearth. Everybody knows
the mettle I'm made on. What L say
I do" and he hit the table again angri-
Iy. He had worked himself up into
rage.
SThere, don't get excited" said the
squire kindly.
"Why, man, cannot help it, for !
love Hazel, and the dearest wish OF
NV heart is to see her your wife. |
tell you now, Aaron Rodney, that this
dav three months Hazel Kirke shall
be thy WIFE,"
Hazel's voice was just then heard
talking to her mother in the next
room. The squire raised his hand
with warming gesture and said:
Hush that's her voice. She Is
coming-not syllable OF my fears to
her"
"Oh, that's all right" replied the mil
Ter carelessly.
Hazel opened the door and entered
the room hastily. She had several let
ters in her hand, which she handed to
her father, saying:
"IIere, father, are some letters l
want you to post; you won't torgetT 2
"Nothing that thee can ask, lass" re-
piled the miller, giving his daughter a
look of intense affection, and he patted
her hair softly, saying, "Not while thy
face shines as bright WI innocence as
it do now" He then took her gently
by the arm and led her mp TO the
squire, saving, "Look, my child, there's
Master Rodney"
Good morning, Mr.. Rodney" said
Hazel with smile, holding out her
hand.
NAY, lass, don't mind us; give him
a kiss-a good, hearty, honest girls
kissw cried the miller.
Hazel laughed at her father, and
said:
That's something ! never refused
him yet"
The squire kissed her and replied: /:
81 hope you never will, Hazel"
Mrs. kirke came into the room, and
Hazel quickly turned toward her
mother 10 hide her embarrassment,
and said:
Mother, did you give father the list
of things you wanted y
"Not yet, lass" replied Mrs Kirke.
"Sit down and write it for him."
While the good dame was occupied
debating the articles she required,
Dunstan Kirke and the squire stood
near the fire and the miller remar ked :
"Well, now, what girl could ha' Civ
en- fran ker kiss than that"
ave, Dunstan, twas frank enough"
assented the squire with sad smile.
ITO be sure 1t was" replied the miL-
Ter. who was beginning to think that
the squire was jealous OF their sick
guest.
Heel had written the list, which
She handed to her father, saving:
@Here, father, is the list OF the things
which mother wants you to get"