Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-04-11

: monstrated Kate. "He is clever an
accomplished"
, $50 he is," acquiesced my father
) a5ut still there is something in his fac
/ that do not like. He gives me a
J idea of strength without refinement, {
courage without gentleness; and, d.
: spite what you say of his accomplish
ments, Kate, he seems to me to retail
traces of having mixed in low societ
and of having had low habits
/ Some allowance must be made TO
him." put in Allan generously, "fron
the fact that his father was but yer,
distant relative of the Erlesmeres, al
though he was next of kin. He 60
his living by betting, or some connec
ton with the turf; his son cannot b
expected to fall all at once into tn
habits of good society"
Kate never looked more kindly a
Allan than at that moment.
at is that very power and strength
papa," she said quietly, "that l like
The most admirable traits of charactei
are lost upon me unless accompanied
by such qualities. Strength of mind
of will, and of thought are the charac
teristics | admire most"
The gentle refined face looked Sc
| wistfully beside her fell as she spoke
| perhaps poor Allan realized then tha
| he was not her ideal. A smile crossed
my fathers face as he saw the footman
advancing with card upon the salvel
he held in his hand.
Talk of your neighbor," he said
gayly, "and your neighbor appears
Ask Sir Victor Erlesmere if he will
join US here" he added, turning to the
servant; "the morning is really toe
beautiful to be spent in doors"
A few minutes later / saw tall
figure coming straight down the gar
den path.
"Come here Clary!" called Kate.
She took me into her arms more as
screen for her own blushing face
than for anything else. | felt the tu-
multuous beating OF her heart, and
saw the burning flush that mounted
to her brow. All, me, her heart had
never so beaten for poor Allan Charl-
ton, her face had never so changed for
himl
Sir Victor bowed low as he touched
my sisters trembling hand. He com
menced an animated conversation
with my father, and | amused myself
by watching his face.
Sir Victor Erlesmere was what some
would call handsome man. He was
very tall, with a pair of fine broa'l
shoulders; his face was dark-ah, so
different from the refined face of Allan
Charlton He wore a dark mtIstache
and dark beard; his hair was black,
short and stif-different again from
the soft brown waves that covered
Allan's head; his eyes were too black
they were impenetrable eyes-one
could not read them; his white shape
ly hand was indicative OF strength.
Kate had a pretty little King Charles
spaniel, "a perfect little beauty" ev-
erybody called him, and she made a
great pet OF him. Floss was divided
in his affections between his mistress
and Allan Charlton; he seemed tn love
one almost as we'll as the other. | have
often thought since what true instincts
Floss and | had. We both disliked
Sir Victor. The dog barked and
shifted round him in perfect fury;
he never made friends with him-nor
did |, although | knew him for years.
Kate gradually recovered her self
possession, and began to join in the
conversation. Soon she and Sir Vic
tor went to see some favorite roses of
hers Allan's burning eyes followed
them; he looked wretched. | went
to him and climbed upon his knee.
"Allan," / said, "why do you look
so? What is the matter?"
Nothing, Clary," he answered gent
ly: at is only an old, old pain"
"Will he stay long?" I continued,
noddlng at the tall figure bending over
Kate's flowers.
Il don't know, darling. Why do
you ask? Do you not like him p
NO" | said al like you, Allan
no one else."
He clasped me in his arms; and |
know that my quiet but deep dislike
OF his rival made Allan love me better
than ever.
He rose presently, and. bowing to
my sister, left the Grange without II
word. | did not understand his trou-
bic then; but | longei intensely to
follow him and try to comfort him.
Sir Victor prolonged his morning
call far beyond the recognized time.
He apologized for it, saying that it
was long since he had seen flowers he
admired so much, and, as he intended
to build new conservatorieS at the
Hail. he was naturally interested.
Further than that he asked my father
if he would honor him with a visit
Of ft,n In1fnne ha
had received; and in requesting this
| am obliged to confess that Sir Victor
Erlesmere touched Squire Hamber on
one OF his weakest points. My dear
father had great fondness for eXper-
iments of every kind, and in these
new conservatories he saw ample scope
for some OF his latest ideas. 1t was
therefore with great cordiality that he
accepted the invitation and promised
to take luncheon at the Hall on the
following day.
Kate's face clouded and frightened
as he did 50, for she had listened with
the deepest interest to the little con-
versation.
When [ was alone with her, watch
ing the crimson blush fade away from
lleI CIeShS dlOcI OH V lCGoI hhO"Cli;
| said to her:
"Kate, do you like that tall dark
man you have been talking to all the
morning.
Jealous little Claryl" she answered.
"Have | forgotten to speak to my
pet?'
Il am not Jealous" [ replied, resent
ing the idea. But do you like that
man ?"
"Shall you be very angry if l say
"Yes" little sister," asked Kate, with
bright smile.
Il should not be angry" | answered
sedately-"only sorry, because l do
not like him: and | am sure Allan.
does not"
She kissed me in reply, and whis-
pered that she loved me so much i
must try to like all her friends; and
so was bought over.
The next day my father rode over to
the Hall. When he returned, Kate
and | were alone in the library.
"Well, papa" she said eagerly, show
have you got on?"
"Very well, my dear" he answered.
"Sir Victor has some splendid designs.
| advised him to select Hunters. |
have a theory of my own with regard
to glass roots, and | have half persuaded
him to adopt it.
"Do you like him better than you
did ?" she asked shyly.