Clarksville evening chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn) 1886-1890, 1888-11-29


upon his course.
It was a wonderful thing to find him
self, the next moment. actually being pre-
scented in formal style 60 the houri OF the
Just how Aunt Sarah man
aged 1t he did not know, but before long
Tom Jerome had gone. off in the carriage,
and the hour and himself were strolling
along together on a shady little woodland
path, and he was saying:
Have you ever been in Italy, Miss
"Oh. yes; mamma and spent almost |
a year there was the quick response.
"Haye you ever had your portrait
painted" was the next abrupt question,
Never" said Miss Sevellon, coldly, as
il she observed and disapproved the bad
taste of this informal cateOhisnl. 81
Nor ever posed for an artistg
Never" in a tone grown positively
icy. 49,.
Mr.. Temple looked at her with gaze
of uncomfortable surprise. atEA
Most extraordinary he said, half
under his breath. His exclamation was
not so low. however, but that Miss Sevel-
lon heard it, and it did not serve to mod
ify her expression. She walked along at
his side as stately as white pigeon, her
head alert and her manner distant and
cool.
You have no motive in misleading
me, suppose. Temple went on, after a
nomentary pause, ''and | can't help be-
lieving you are playing q trick on me-"
''Playing a trick on you, Mr.. Temple9
said Gertrude, Indignantly, chow could
such an extraordinary notion ever enter
into my head, or yours, either?'
Temple saw he had given offense, and
when he was forced To recognize the pos
sibility that he might be mistaken in his
surnlise, the fact was not hard to account
for. 1t was very hard indeed, however,
to believe in that possibility, and it was
only by dismissing the subject from his
mind as far as possible that he could
carry on the perfectly conventional con-
yersation that he knew to be the ouly
one which his slight acquaintance with
his companion warranted.
He made great effort to be entertain
ing, and by the time they reached the
house ne was able to feel that he had
done something toward obliterating the
discraceful impression of his first style Of
address,
When the early Sunday dinner time
arrived, and bliss Sevellon appeared with
out her bonnet, having changed her
church dress for more relaxed style OF
garment. the likeness to the picture was
stronger than ever. 1t was not likeness,
it was positive identity; and when, dur
ing the afternoon, Horace found himself
near Mrs. Savellon, in spite of ali good
resolutions he had made, in defiance OF
every instinct of good taste, his intense
interest in this matter led him on until ne
had, contrived to turn the conversation
on Italy, and he then asked Mrs. Sevellor
if none of the Italian artists had never
prevailed on her daughter to allow her
self to be painted.
Mrs. Sevellon had just responded in th'
negative, and was going on to say some
thing more, when he became aware thai
her daughter was standing near them il
the recess of the window, and that sh'
heard his question. And this was no
oil! lie saw by the impetuous flush tina
came to her face, and the look with whlcl
She glanced directly ut him for an in
slant, and then away, that she resente'
as well as heard.
One evening Mrs. Leaton's guests go
IN some tableaux for the amusement
the company, and Mr.. Temple, who ha
declined to act, found himself seased O
the front seat beside his aunt, very list
= less spectator, except when Miss Sevello
: figured in the scenes, which was yer
= often, as she was the acknowledge
g beauty of the party.
He had left his seat and had strolle
n over to corner very near the stag'
7 when the curtain went up for the ia'
= scene. It was fortunate for him tbs
y every eve was fixed on the stage. Il
: otherwise the great start and snlothere
exclamation he gave vent to must nav
- been observed. And no wonder he wa
y startled for just below his very eyes,
= a hammock ingeniously swinging in Il
midst of n clumb of large shrubs that AZ
mirably simulated q garden, was Ml
-. Sevellon in an attitude and costume tn
N exactly Reproduced the picture. lie
a, most held his breath in the absorption
70 his attention as lis eager eye took
-. every detail, even to the Greek patte
e, in the border Of her dress and the silv
70 coins in TIE bracelet on her arm. and
~ YES! there in little group, near {
&c rounded elbows. were the three lit
"a dark specks. Could ci:cumstantial e'
dence go farther?
,o As soon as tho tablcauS were over
~ made his way to Miss Sevellons sic
Io eager yet tialid. To his delight he 81
ID that she seemed to welcome him, and
~ ~ half fancied from her manner that 4
i. made a licsty resolution to let bygones
., bygoaes. and to make friends with hi
~ She was SO flushed with pleasure and
~, imation, and SO surrounded herself
or appreciativc feeling and praise, that
~, seemed difficult to her perhaps to be
wi we're upon another. She still wore
,ly beautiful white costume, in which
H.. looked far lovelier than the picture
-. portrayed her, and his delight knew
~, bounds when he found himself presen
" absolutely leading her to quiet seat
III the hall and supplying her with refre
,de mcnts from the supper room. WI
:" they were seated together on q vic
r. sofa, eating their ices in friendly tet'
,ed tete. the young fellow became 60 em6t
ened by his SUCCESS us to commi