The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1897-05-21

/ looked al her Ia perfect wonder.
In my quiet life, in our own little
town, ] had never met with o spcci-
men OF tho fast young lady, aud lhis
beautiful, vehement creature puzzled
me amazingly All her hair was worn
in little crop OF short ourlg, wonder
fully becoming; her fair complexion
was tiugod With glowing color, aud
her tall figure was perfect 10 all ils
proportions; tho little hands nursing
Tho pretty foot we're small, aud yet full
Of nervous activity.
"Hou'll read 10 auntie, now, won't
your she said, sand 4 can practice
more. Tho only comfort have Is
making that piano ring"
81 will read 10 her, I Fnid.
"Woll, go then-it's her hour
say" and then she hoitatod. "kiss
mel / am not half such a heathon as
] look, and your face is rs pure and
perfect as u Malonna's. You must not
hate me. / am not half 20 bad any
where else, but am half stiaod IN
this horribly dull place"
81 kisso her ut once
you can come here" ! said, sand
talk, il il does you any good. sup
pose it Is rather sad for a young giFl
iull Of lilo."
Anybody would think you wero
eighty at the least" was the reply;
and then she darted OF, aud in q few
moments the great house resounded
with music. / never heard such u
voice, even in a concert room. A
prTe, clear soprano, yet with the
deeper notes marvolously perfect.
She played brilliantly and sang ex-
quisitely.
How can I describe the life that
opened for me? All the morning
spent with Mrs. Hall, reading, and
having, by her taste and desire, open
TO me the real treasures of literature,
a complete course of the best authors.
We read history, poetry, Gction; we
wandered over the old authors; We
dipped into newer works; we thor
oughly enjoyed the hours. What was
really a keen pleasure for her, was a
neyer.ending delight for me. The
afternoons were devoted to walking,
reading or driving.
Martha, or Matte, as she preferred
to be called, rode splendidly, and l
attended a riding school, and soon be-
came sufficiently accustomed to the
exercise to JOIN her and Gerald in their
long rides. Our evenings were spent
in music, or else quietly in Mrs.
Halls room, for Matte soon formed a
circle of friends, and plunged into the
vortex OF New York society. A rela-
ton of her mother-Mrs. Marsield-
one of the votaries of fashion, under
took to chaperone the brilliant beauty,
and Gerald was often released from
attendance upon her, and joined his
mother and myself in our quiet sitting
room. 1 learned to accompany him as
he played the violin, and to blend my
voice with his duets, and if we could
not translate melody as brilliantly as
Matte, we, at least, enjoyed our
music as fully.
l would like to pause here, and
leave the rest untold, and yet-well,
you will guess it. l who knew that
the cousins were engaged, knew that
Gerald was willing to marry Matte,
and considered himself bound to her ;
/, who was there because / was con-
sidered true to my first love; ], g
double traitor to past and present
loved Gerald Hall.
did not know my own heart foI
many long months. 1t was dear
brothers love l received, q tender
sisters affection l gave, I said to my
heart and so unconsciously l left hie
image grow to my soul, till ! could
not tear it away. Charles faded away,
and face, his-and not his-took hi!
place. The merry, sunny laugh was
never 50 dear as was now the grave,
tender smile.
More than q year had gone by, anC
December chill was in the air wher
Matte came to my room one morn
ing, with unwonted clouds on her fail
face.
"Here's q confusion" said she
/ taking me as usual into her conf
, dence. "Auntie reminds me thi
, morning that next week shall be o
age, and you know all about Geral
and me. l think myself he's in Low
with you! Gracious, don't Jump tina
@ way, Agnes. OF course, I don't sup
e pose you care for him, you quie
e mouse; for you are infinitely to
l proper to love another woman
iance, and then there was that won
/ derful Charles. But he is fond of YOU
g Ii it we're mol for auntie, now; bu
a you see she's set her heart ON th
0 match. Well, there'll be one suicide
for Guy Howard will hang himself
i "Guy Howard?"
"You don't know him, Mrs. Mar
e fields nephew; man after my hear
T. with some spirit. Well, never min