Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-09-13
HER FORGOTTEN PAST.

He stood under the spicy pepper trees
looking down at her. his face softened by
great tenderness. How dainty and sweet
she was Why was it that he seemed ever
to stand Mt the portals of paradise, catch
ing giimpses of the glory within, but never
permitted to entert And yet she had
promised to be his wife, this beautiful
girl, given to him by the mighty ocean that
tossed its foam dashed spray on the white
beach at their feet.
She recognized his true worth, his nobil-
ity Of heart; she had given him all the
love her woman's heart had to give, and
yet-and yet
He seemed intuitively to feel that there
were depths to her heart which he had
never fathomed; that she was capable of a
more intense, absorbing devotion than any
sentiment he had awakened in her.
At times when his great, unselfish heart
lay bare before her a shadow would creep
into her beautiful eyes and a tender regret
would culver across her face, like the fut-
terings of a memory; but the shadow never
became distinct enough for her to quite re-
member
1T is as If there was something in my
past which | ought to recall, ;" she would
say, Nesting closer to him, as if imploring
his protection against the memory ooh,
that long, blank past of mine. What is it
that lies beyond the morning when you
found me on the beach, Jack?" she ques-
| toned
MY darling, | would help you to solve
the mystery if could, even though | knew
that the solving of it would break my own
heart" he replied, tenderly.
'As If it could" she whispered, slyly
you are the best man on earth, Jack, and
! | wonder that you should care for "A foolish
| little girl like me, who has forgotten every
thing she knew before she came to you
name age and all; Who is so much part
! Of your own self that the words she speaks
are your words; the songs she sings, your
songs; the thoughts she thinks, your
thoughts. When awoke from that dread
| full death like stupor into which the terror
| Of the wreck or the almost death in the
waves had plunged me- had everything to
learn again, even to my alphabet and the
names of the household furniture" She
laughed meiTily at her misfortune, but the
| shadow deepened in the kind eyes regard
ing her SO tonderly.
"I'or that reason it seems like most
unkind and unworthy advantage ! am
ldhlHHs IC ENSIJDutlcu SGIlOUSlg. mere
viii always be thought lying like n
shadow between us, dear, that if you could
remember your past you might never have
been my wife"
81 shall never think it, am sure but
do wonder what that past was. 1t is so
trying, Jack, to know that part of ones
existence is blank. 1t is as if had lived
on earth, died to it, and then come back
In J1,, Il fipp
it is very annoying to say the least" Then
seeing the shadow on his face, she laid her
hand in his and added, coaxingly; but let
us forget it, Jack, dear, since we cannot re-
member, let us try to feel as if all my past
was spent here, in this pretty cottage by
the sea, with the love of your dear mother
and your dear self to fill all the crevices of
It. This is the only home have any knowl-
edge of, and though we know that those
other years were spent somewhere, it mat
ters little to IFS where, since we are all the
world to each other, you and |"
He clasped her close in his strong arms,
and kissed her trusting, upturned face,
but the ache did not go out of his heart;
the pain Of it grew more poignant as the
days passed by and she became dearer to
him with the passage Of each golden mo
ment
From his earliest childhood Jack Lath
rop had loved the ocean 1t had been his
playmate, companion and instructor. 1t
had filed all the requirements Of his life
from the moment when, toddling babe,
his mother had found him. waist deep in the
green, salt water, laughing in boisterous
glee as the foam flecked pillows broke over
his head.
The great, grand, mysterious ocean had
been his friend since then. 1t had also af
forded the means Of providing for his wild
owed mother, for he was only a humble fish
pr lad, great hearted and kind, but of hum
BILE occupation.
The last best thing that his old friend,
the ocean, had done for him was the giving
to him this beautiful girl, who came with
suggestions of n higher, nobler life than
his in every move of her queenly body and
every gesture Of her willie, shapely hands
She must have received a blow on the
head ut the time of the accident, when she
had been washed ashore, for she had for
gotten every event Of her past life and be
gan her now life under Jack Lathrop's tut
tion, learning with other lessons the lesson
of love and respect for her teacher, and be-
causd she remembered no better love than
that which she gave to him, she thought it
the best of which she was capable.
They were very busy in the cottage on
the beach making ready for the coming
wedding.
The morning of the marriage day she
said to Jacks mother:
II seem to belong to Jack. lie saved my
life and taught mo all | know. When
once am his wife hope that no accident,
or circumstance, will ever reveal my for
gotten past. | would much rather have
~ memory but that which you and Jack
have given me-
Mrs. Lathrop kissed her sweet flushed
face. thinking what darling daughter she
would be, and how Jacks life, and her
own. were blost in her dear love.
Their wedding day dawned, dark and
forbiddiug There had heena fearful storm
the night before and the angry pillows,
dashed into foam, run high upon the beach,
almost at times dashing against the cot
tage .here the neighboring fisher families
were gathered to join in the marriage fes-
tiyities.
The bride, sweet Elsie, whose very name
had been thought Of Jacks, looked fairer
and sNeeter than ever in her pretty wed
ding dress. Her blue eyes shone like sap
yhircs, and her yellow hair crowned her
regal little head like a coronet of glory.
The pink flush Of shy modesty fluctuated
under her clear, transparent skin, and Jack
marNcled that so beautiful creature could
consent to become his wife
My life shall be one long devotion II
her, and whatever will contribute to her
happiness that win do" Jack made this
vow out under the peppers, and the vow
once taken, he felt that it bound him by
Scored letters.
They were about to 20 out to the "ocst
l.