Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-11-21
CHAPTER VIII.
DUNSTAN KIRKE'S IRON WILL.

DUNSTAN KIRKE'S IRON WILL.
AS soon as the squire left the room,
Arthur clasped Hazel in his arms,
saying:
any darling this is the happiest
moment of my life"
Hazel looked up at him, and her
lustrous brown eyes filled with tears
of Joy.
&Hazel, do you love me?"
"Yes, Arthur" replied Hazel,
earnestly.
~Oh, my darling, I shall always bless
the hour that brought me to Black
burn Mill" said Arthur, as he tenderly
kissed the sweet girl whom he held in
his arms. "My own darling, how de-
voted you were to me during my
ilInessl You did not dream OF how |
longed to tell you of my love-"
II can hardly believe that l am
released from my hasty promise"
"The squire has heart of gold,
Hazel, and 1 pity him for his disap-
pointment. My darling, he could not
help loving you"
81 am sorry, Arthur, that he does
love me, for he is worthy OF some
good woman's devoted love. 1t was a
sad mistake from the beginning"
said Hazel, sadly, while she shivered
as if with fear.
"My darling, don't tremble so. |
will protect and guard you from all
evil"
arthur, don't misunderstood me;
T was thinking of how angry my
father will be when he is told of this"
"Be brave, Hazel Your father will
be -vexed, / suppose; but in the course
of time he will become reconclled. l
shall claim my bride; and when you're
my wife your life shall be as happy as
/ can make it"
"But, Arthur, will your mother re-
ceive me as daughter :"
"She will be compelled to do so, my
dear girl. will marry you in spite
of every obstaclel"
He caught her again in his arms
and held her against his heart, unable
to speak in the fullness of his Joy.
"Oh, Arthur" said Hazel, breath
lessly, nothing can separate us now.
am yours, and yours only. My heart
is yours-lt was yours before / real
lied it. / tried hard not to love you,
but | could not help it."
MY darling, your love inspires me
with courage to face the responsible
ties of life as a man should"
"But, dear Arthur, l fear your
mother will not approve OF your
choice. You know that | did not
dream that you were Lord Travers."
Therefore you love me for myself,
Hazel, not for my title"
"Hazel! Hazelw called Dunstan
Kirke, as he came up the steps with
his hands full of bundles.
The lovers hastily separated, and
Hazel opened the sitting-room door
for her father to enter.
"Here is thy bundles, lass; Farmer
Kennedy brought EN-"
"Thanks, father. Mr.. Kennedy did
not remain in town very long"
"Ay, lass; there was letter in the
post for me, so he hurried home,
Here. lass, read it for me, your eyes
are younger than mine. Let me hear
what it says" and he handed the letter
to his daughter.
Hazel opened the letter; her cheeks
flushed, and she would have tainted
if her fathers voice had not recalled
her to the necessity of self-cOntrol
Dunstan Kirke placed chair for his
daughter, and he said, kindly:
"Sit down, lass. What says the
letter! My heart! child, what can be
the matter? Why do you hesitate
If it is bad news, out with it, and we
have done with it. Who is 1t from
Let's hear"
1T is signed Emily Carringford'
said Hazel in trembling voice. AR
thur started when he heard his moth
er's name. He thought, "what has my
mother heard ?" He felt uncomfort
able. for he saw Dunstan Kirke look
ing at him with one of his peculiar
scowls.
"What has her ladyship got to say
to me? Read it, girl; what has sh'
got to say? ?"
Hazel looked at Arthur and said
There's no hope for it, / shall b'
forced to read it,"
"Of course you will have 10 read il
lass; Mr.. Carringford shall hear wha
his mother has to say to me"
"Mr. Kirke, you will pardon me
| say that / do net know what tn
letter contains; trust that 1T will b.
nothing to offend you"
ave can Judge better, sir, when W
hear the letter read" growled tn
surly old miller. Hazel tried to con
troll her feelings, but her voice trem
bled us she read the following words d.
"DUNsrAN KIRKE, ESQ.,:
"DEAR SIR,-I have been greatly startie
by learning of my sons presence In you
conduct with your child
"Eh i? What's that? ?" asked Dunstal
Kirke, excitedly.
81 have besought him TO return TO me I'm
mediately II he refuses, l call on you =
add the force ol your eonhahos " III
prayers
Stop, Miss Kirke; my mother ha
taken a strange liberty; she forget
that am not a school-boy; l am re
! sponsibIe for my own conduct
believe that have acted like gentle
man since have been an inmate O
. your iiospitable home, Mr.. Kirke
said Arthur, turning to the miller.
AS far as know, sir, you have, bt
still / would like to hear what you
r mother has to say to me. L think
5 understand what she means. Go OF
child, go on; what more does she say
: "I can not describe my indignation at th
thought ofIny sons love for
i Hazel dropped the letter and burr
into tears.
: @That's enough, girl" cried Dunsta
Kirke. sternly, and then he turned
e Arthur and said, bitterly, "Mr. Ca