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

ter than my life. Well, sir, I'd rather
bury her with my own hands thar
have her faithless 10 her word. Now
you know she's the plighted vile o
Aaron Rodney"
@Hear me, sir
@No, sir, | will not listen to you who
have acted like serpent that l have
cherished in my breast, to bite me
and mine. Answer me, sir. Have
you dared to make love to Hazel
Kirke ?"
Fate threw me helpless at her feet
1t was her hand that nursed me back
to life. Sir, | confess that l learned
to love; that do love her and honor
above any woman living"
"Hazel, you hear, lass, what he says;
| trust you know the duty of an hon
est girl Bid him be gone at once"
"No, father, that can not do"
"What do you say ?" asked Dunstan
Kirke, astounded.
"If he must go, should go, too, for
/ also am guilty"
"What! my child avows dishonor ?"
cried the stern old miller.
TFather, hear me! Pity meW
"What pity had you for me, girl,
when you brought disgrace on my
name? You, the promised wife OF
one OF the best men / ever knewp
"Father Pity, pity!" cried Hazel,
as she fell on her knees at her fathers
feet. "Hear me, father, | implore
you"
"Hear thee? Never" said the miller,
harshly.
Hazel rose hastily, and said sadly,
but firmly;
"Father, Heaven does not deny
mercy to the blackest criminal, and
the very murderer on his passage TO
the grave is listened to by the priest
who breaches mercy"
Il have none for thee in my heart !"
cried Dunstan.
IL have sinned only in breaking a
rash promise made when | was too
young to understand its meaning"
you have cheated good man.
He spent his money on you freely to
educate you, and now you refuse to
cancel the debt You are no longer a
child of minel l could tear thy
shameless heart outl' exclaimed Dun
stan Kirke, his passion overmastering
him.
Hazel uttered cry of fear at her
fathers terrible words. She would
have fallen if Arthur had not caught
her in his arms and placed her on a
chair:
"Dunstan Kirke, you have grossly
insulted your daughter; she is as pure
as an angel. / swear 1t, sir We love
each other; but is that a crime 7
Aaron Rodney has given up all claim
to Hazels hand; he knows the truth,
and, like an honorable man, would
not sacrifice the happiness of the
woman he loved. Hazel shall be my
wife with or without your consent"
allow dare you tell me this to my
face ?" cried the infuriated miller, as
he rushed toward Arthur.
Hazel, with shrek, tlew between
them.
Just then Mercy Kirke, Dolly Dut-
ton and Pittacus Green entered the
sitting-room. They had heard the
sound of high words, and they all felt
that something out OF the way was
occurring
"Father, father implore you to
| forbear y
You have no father, girl! You
have brought disgrace on good and
honest nameW
Il have told you, Mr.. Kirke, that
you wrong Hazel!' exclaimed Arthur
"I do not believe you. A man who
could steal my child, after he had
eaten my bread and been brought
back to life under my roof, / would
| not trust any more than | would q
viper !"
Hazel put out her hands imploring'
ly, as she cried:
arthur! Arthur"
Lord Travers took her in his arms
"You are my, wife from this hour
| and the man who dares to insult you
| shall have to answer to me-!
! "What! in that mans arms, before
my very eyes? Out upon thee, thou
foul disgrace! Hear thy fathers
curse" ,
NO. no, nol She is thy child
thine only child !" cried Mercy Kirke
in a trembling voice, as she clasped
her hands in supplication.
81 have no child-irom this hour
am childlessl She has broker her
promise to Aaron Rodney, and | will
not see her face again. Begone, thou
misbegotten bairn | cast thee out
adrilt, and forever, from thy feyther's
love, and may my eyes no more behold
| thee!'
Hazel extended her arms toward
| Marcy Kirke and cried
"Oh, mother, motherF
"My darling child" cried the un
happy mother, clasping her daughter
in her arms; but Dunstan Kirke took
his wife by the shoulder and said
roughly:
Stand back she is lost to thee for
everw
Come, Hazel" said Arthur Caring
ford, "from this hour l shall protec
and cherish your -.
Mrs Kirke sat down and wept bit
terly.
Il forbid any one in this house Il
mention the name of Hazel kirke
From this hour she is dead to us!
said the man OF iron viii, as he harden
ed his heart against his child.
Dolly Dutton followed Hazel up
stairs to her bedroom, shut the door
and took the weeping girl in her arms
"Oh, Dolly, what shall / do, wha
shall do?' moaned Hazel betweei
her sobs.
"There. dear heart, don't say an.
more, or you will be i'll. Come, m,
dear cousin, let me dress you. l vii
mack vour trunk and send it to yOl
whenever you want it. For the pres
ent this valise will do. Lie down
few minutes, Hazel; it will DO yoI
good"
NO, Dolly; my father has turne'
me from his door, and will so as sool
as possible"
twenty minutes later, Hazel wa
dressed and ready to leave the roo
that had sheltered her since her birtl
She had never been absent from Black
burn Mill, except the few years OF he
school life, and even then she was al
ways home during the vacations.
Arthur told Barney to see that Mis-
Kirkeis luggage and his own belong
ings were sent without delay to TN
, Blackburn Inn, where Plttacas Gree
had already gone.
Hazeps parting with Dolly was sa
one: but her cousin told her to chee
up. as she was going to marry the rlgf
man after all.
Dolly shook Arthur's hand warml
and with heavy heart she saw Haz'
leave Blackburn Mill
A..i.,x Torripufard hrpt1o ht HaZl