Smyrna times., 1893-04-05

her and he was presently asleep.
Mr.. Colvin sat with party of gen.
tlenen in Mr.. Aimes' office. Mr.. Dill
lingforth was explaining his PROPOSE
ton, and all his words were received
with enthusiasm.
One of the clerks entered with note
and delivered it to Colvin. 1t read
thus:
"Come to me, dear Will. for 1 must
see you. CLARIssA."
He left the room hastily, with a
sense of fright. 1t must have been
some serious reason that would induce
his wife to disturb him at such a time.
The sunshine was very warm and clear
as it lighted up the handsome equi-
page, and Clarissa seemed herself the
embodiment of summer innocence.
Her two boys were on the front seat,
and the nurse, an important person of
Irish extraction, in French cap, sat
beside her and held the baby.
Clarissa's dress was white, and her
broad LeghOrn hat was trimmed with
a profusiOn of wild roses. She looked
like the elder sister of her children as
Dillingforth imagined.
"Will, do excuse me for disturbing
you dear, but want you to promise
me that you will not not Join in this
new company. 1t is making a good
deal of feeling among our poor people
here. They say the company will
import foreign labor and''-
80 it will. 1t will be better and
cheaper, and moreover it is no ones
business how we propose to manage
our own affairs. The concern will
control Northern capital enough to be
Independent of the slow Southern
opinion. You have woman's natural
timidity, my dear, and an undue rev.
erence for what people say"
The baby-blue eyes were doWncast
as be spoke, but there was a CLEAN in
them, which had she raised them,
would have been disagreeably sugges.
tive of the fighting Colonel who had
been her progenitOr. She made her
last stand for the continuance of that
tender role which she had played for
ten years.
Won't you give it up for my sake,
Will, whether it is sensible or not ?"
She raised her eyes at this, all the
anger gone out of them, and nothing
but pleading sOftness visible.
mo, Clarissa, under no eireum-
stances can / listen to you. 1t is my
duty to make as much money as l can
for you and your children, and must
OF course exercise my own judgment"
Clarissa bent over and kissed the
baby, then she suddenly sprang from
the carriage and stood beside him on
the pavement
Come into the square," she said, II
must speak 10 you alone"
Some other time, Clarissa. They
are waiting for me now"
She laid her hand upon his arm,
however, and he followed her. She
stopped under the shade of the first
large tree.
william, these poor people of whom
you speak so disdainfully are my peo-
pie, and they were my fathers before
me. have calculated your resources.
aud l know much more of your affairs
than you imagine You cannot take
the amount Of stock which you propose
except by the use of my money. I
have tried to make you feel as if l had
none; l have subOrdinated my judg-
to yours while it was good. You are
blind to the consequences of this
venture and you shall not embark on
it,"
Mr.. COlvin was thunderstruck; the
contrast between Clarissa's appearance
and her words made the latter seem
incredible.
What will you do about it ?" he
asked, as you speak to pretty child
when it wants the moon.
MY fortune was left free from con-
jugal control. have been obliged to
sign all papers connected with it; no
transfer of money can be made without
my signature
And then ?" queried her husband.
His patrOnizing tone irritated her.
For the first and last time of her nat
ural life she pronounced the letter S
without lisp.
II shall not sign"
Her father had gone up the noun
tain in the terrible charge at Gettys-
burg, he had been wounded at Chick
amauga and Bull Run, and the last
words of his wandering mind had been,
Hold on to the flag, boys, until l
come" The soul that risked death for
its chosen cause, was alive in his
daughter.
After her declaration there was
silence for a time under the green
trees. The husband and wife faced
each other for the first struggle In their
married life. He was the expression of
massive strength she of fragile
beauty.
81 brought you a telegram" she
added, softly, which will explain
your withdrawal to those men. You
will hardly like to say that your wife
refuses to cooperate with yOu-besides
knowing me. they would not believe
you. YOn can simply say that you
cannot raise some money of which YOU
felt you were absolutely sure of last
night. This telegram can be the ap-
parent reason. You can say that I
brought it to you"
He was still too overpOwered 70
answer. In his heart he was bitterly
angry, and if she had lost her smiling
OOmposure he might have spoken
roughly to her.
"YOu will regret this" he said at
last, quite slowly but with an accent of
menace.
Then the smiling composure fed and
Clarissa answered him in a way which
made him feel as if he had never
known her before.
THAT shall regret this, is impossi.
BILE, William COlvin, but you NAV
easily lay up for yourself such hIdeous
memories az shall make your life a
long regret. If you can descend to
make me wretched for one instant on
account of this matter--if you dare to
let question of money come between
us, then you are capable of much that
is worse. Would you try to mar nv
married life because / exercise the
right Of free citizen in a free country
by doing what wish with my own?
II so, have married the thing ON
earth most despise-a coward. If
you mention this subject to me again,
if you change toward me in any way
way you will repent it, You have had
your warning"
She left him where he stood, and
walking rapidly to the carriage, was
driven home at once.
When Mr.. Colvin reached homo at
8 O'Clock he was prepared for a scene,
and was astonished to hear Clarissa's
sweet voice singing to the baby
nua Rohr n,,u4:.