The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-05-21

q dar awaited me in the parlor, and
0 arose to leave.
/ Mr.. Persons brow darkened a
L the announcement, and as 1 threw
;, down my book, he remarked will
e sarcasm ;"Why not let us adopt thar
t sweet and gentle youth, Miss Beau
3 mont. His visits have become dai
0 ly now, and the weather is so warm
: twould be a great economy o.
! trouble for him."
g. Nothing would suit me better
, l answered gayly, as stepped into
the hall
Mr.. Keeldar is very wise and very
= pleasant, Cecil. He lives on the
' next plantation and often comes tc
take me out to ride.
, All thought of the French lesson
had escaped my mind the next
2 morning, as arrayed in my riding
habit l stumbled into the library to
await my escort. Sitting near the
) window, l began to hun ''Come o er
the Water, Charlie" forgetting how
appropriate the words were 10 the
occasion, when Mr.. Pierson came
into the room and gave me so signi-
!, ticant a glance that my cheeks
grew red as peony at once.
what a pity Charlie isn't DER
the water now," he said, mockingly,
Ito see and hear you. Do you know
of what l am reminded as l see
you thus?' and he read from the
book in his hand this passage:
'Corinne waited iat her window for
Oswald's coming. Her face was
filed with eager expectancy, and
his name was often upon her lips
Is not the picture true?" with such
sarcastic emphasis that was stung
to the quick.
81 know just how unmaidenly you
consider me, Mr.. Pierson." 1 said
rising haughtily; but you might
have spared your finer perceptions
this rude shock had you not stolen
noiselessly upon me here" Rather
arrogant, was not, Cecil?
He paled visibly beneath my
scornful words, but only answered
in a quiet tone, 81 had no alien
crossing thought to cause me to
forget that this was the hour we
have usually devoted to French,
Miss Beaumont. Pardon me that l
remembered when you did not"
Truly 1 had forgotten the French |
lesson quite, and stood dumb and |
convicted, while he put his French |
book on the shelf, saying, "There
will be no further need for me to
read Corinne at present, since !
have her prototype always before
me-" and then he left the room.
He was gone to the city for three
days after that, and came back
looking worn and pale, and with an
air Of depression about him.
Bess and were wandering aim
lessly around that afternoon, for
Miss Crane and Miss Pierson were
off on shopping expedition; Jack
and Maj. Pierson away, and we were
lonely. The clank of a boat-chain
drew our attention as we strolled
near the lake, and we found Mr..
Pierson just starting for row.
"Oh! take US too, Brewer Frank"
cried Bessie.
He started at the sound of her
voice, but quietly turned and set her
in the boat, saying, "Of course I'll
take you, little one"
"Miss Twixie, too! You mustn't
fordet Miss Twixie."
'rl! hardly do that" he murmur-
ed, as he took my reluctant hand,
for nothing bat fear of scene with
Bessie induced me to accept.
We were very quiet after our
start, l had never known Mr.. Pier
son to be so distracted; but as we
passed a clump of water-lilies Bes-
sic cried out: "The lilies! the lilies
Do, Miss Twixie, get me some."
leaned eagerly over the side to
grasp one as we shot by, but it was
10 far, and L failed.
"Let me turn the boat among
them," said Mr.. Pierson; it is rath-
er dangerous to dip the side so
much"
An evil spirit took possession of
me at these words, and, without re-
plying, I made another grasp at the
coveted lilly. The boat gave sud
den lurch and little Bess and l were
thrown out into the water.
l caught the little one as we sank,
and, when we rose again, held her
aloft with all the energy of despera-
ton. She was taken from me, and
in a short time l felt myself grasped
and conveyed to the boat.
My poor little Bessie lay there
across a seat, white faced and silent,
and, with an agenized pang, l rea-
lized to what nay willfulness had
brought me.
Bitter tears filed my eyes as !
took the little darling IN my arms,
and when l noticed the deep pallor
that had settled on her brothers
brow, 1 implored him in penitent
accents to forgive me, and asked
tearfully 7hy he had rescued one
so undeserving at the risk of his
own life.
"What would that life" he be-
gan impetuously,and then compress
ed his lips as though no other word
should pass them.
Little Bess was very sick that
night with Group, and we watched
with her carefully till daybreak.
Once as | held her in my arms ]
chanced to raise my eyes, and IL
was to find her brother regarding
me with so strange a look that l
could not fathom it. The eyes
blazed with some strong feeling that
the stern lips refused to betray.
Was it repressed anger?
have been heaI tsick and weary
since that wretched night and long