Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-12-25
N. I determined to see mare Of


them.
Westhayen gave me every opportunity.
He sought me upon all occasions, and
eyinced fondness for my society and
respect for my opinions which could not
but flatter me from so young and so bril-
liant q man His culture was remark
able and bis information widely extended.
IIc had been u close student all his life,
he said, until now. About his present
interests he was strangely Teticent, and
of his family he never spoke, save in q
most casual way. / rarely saw him in
the afternoons; whatever his occupation
OF study, it engroseed him then, and hGv-
ing grown sufficiently intimate with him
to warrant my going informally and I'M
announced to his rooms | found that ia
the afternoon ! was rarely admitted.
Mrs. Westhaven walked and drove out,
constantly attracting attention and ad
miration wherever she was seen. She
had q certain individuality of style, which
| believed grew from her perfect uncon-
seriousness of her beauty and the conspic-
uous position she occupied in public
Once spoke Of her wonderful loneliness
to her husband. He received my enthu-
siastic observations in moody silence, and
the expression OF discomfort deepened on
his handsome face.
| had, Of course, long before this come
to the conclusion that Westhayen was
unhappily married, and / more than half
suspected that he had awakened to ter
rible certainty that he had married the
wrong Miss Carlyon. This thought l
tried to close my eyes upon as an UNI
worthy suspicion against the man who
showed me consideration that / have
rarely met with in life, which was GER
talnly unusual from a mere acquaint-
ance.
| persisted not without many discour-
agements, in my determination to know
Mrs. Westhaven better, and my success
was at last crowned by most disap-
pointing discovery. She had what ] at
first believed to be an aversion to CONVEX
sation. never heard her say anything,
even in the way of a reply, which con
tanned an unnecessary word, and If she
ever volunteered o remark it must have
been in the privacy Of her own chamber.
Yet she was neither diffident nor ill-tem-
pered. On the contrary, her expression
was pleased and pleasing, and her pretty
smile was always upon her lips.
l fancied she might have q peculiar
bent of mind and endeavored to discover
it. ended by satisfying myself beyond
doubt that she possessed no mind at
all. She was simply an exquisite and
empty casket-a beautiful mindless, soul
less thing-a creature without sensibili
ties, or even the capacity of receiving i'm
pressions. The emotions of living crea
lures, the passive loneliness of inanimaie
objects, the fragrance of flowers, the
charm of music, the wonderful, Q, er
changing interest of the whole created
world passed before her unsceing eyes,
fell upon her christening ears, left her
calm, untouched with that changeless
unmeaning smile forever curving her
; beautiful mouth.
: When / made this discovery / knew
that Westhaven's life was burden to
him. For q man of his delicate, sens
tive, perceptive faculty and deep, almost
tender, appreciation of the finer phases Of
existence, the society of woman like
this meant perpetual torment. One thing
puzzled me greatly. In spite Of his in.
T difference to her personality he guarded
her health as il she had been an idolized
child. He followed her about with a
light wrap in case of draught, and hav-
!; ing adjusted it carefully, would leave her
1 In absolute silence. | rendered him this
Justice then, at last. She had nothing
on earth but her abundant vitality. He
would protect that as the only service
Left him to offer her.
One night we all sat upon the veranda.
Miss Carlyon's chair had been brought
! nut and she lay silently in it looking very
! small and pale among the red cushions,
! and with grave, saddened shadow upon
, her face which WIS unusual to ITS ordin-
cry sharp eXpressiveness. Westhaven
leaned on the back of her chaic. / sat
near Mrs Westheven and looked at her.
{ She was dressed in some sort of dead
I white gown which chung softly to her
I lovely figure and was relieved by heavy
gold clasps. The moon fell upon her
ntensifying her loneliness, though fan
, tied SHE looked rather more delicate than
$ usual. Her eyes, beautiful, dark, ignor-
ant, pathetic $ the eyes of italian chill
dren, were fixed dreamily upon the scene
I before her-her hands, long, white, idle
: looking hands, lay upon her dress. l al
4 most held my breath in the presence OF
her beauty, and felt q pang of regret
= when reflected upon the void it covered
/, The band played softly, somewhere in
: the distance No one spoke. Then O
: wcnans voice rose on the air, a low, pas
), iNnate voice that sang, with a great sob
e In, the depths, some minor native melody
The peace of the night was broken only
). by this waiIing song. 1t rose to- throb
S bling intensity and sank again almost tc
t lience. Il was weird, uIearthly
s strangely beautiful 1t thrilled my very
: soul and when it ceased, suddenly as il
hal begun, it left me trembling. Miss
c Carlyon shivcred visibly, and Westhaver
d hsnt instantly over her taking both hel
It hands in his own and then drawing hel
d shawl closely about her. Tbs silenc,
s seemed to hold a fatal significance. L
d grew unbearable. l leaned forward anC
) spoke to Mrs. Westhaven. I said:
Il 'sWhat a beautiful voice and what
e beautiful song"
Q She smiled quietly, and I thought sh,
hsd not heard me. repeated my remarl
It somewhat stiftly, and she aeplied, still
II smiling:
d 81 did not notice It,"
2, Westhaven drew himself mp sharpl,
a and Miss Canyons chair, apon which h
t. Aad leaned, rolled forward with dis
is agreeable squeaking sound. She laughe'
/, her little cutting laugh.
It 1.-THE charm Is broken" she said, ''le
IS as go In"
v I hsde theu GOOD IsS-ht feelino I'm