The Chilhowee echo. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1899-19??, 1899-10-28

hearing more, while every drop OF young
blood leaped in riotous rebellion against
the man who has dared write about her,
his promised wife, in this reckless, ir-
reverent manner. Her father and
brother are out of town and she has no
one to appeal to, but wrath and an en-
ragged dignity make her courageous,
and she feels perfectly capable of meet
ing the enemy herself "Dolly!" The
very name creates fair-haired, pink
tinted creature-who is lovable, kissa-
BILE, squeezable,-a woman who has
every man at her feet, playing with
those whom she does not want, teasing
those she likes, ensnaring those she
fancies, while all the while she loves
only one, and that is 'Dolly!'
Bidding her hostess hasty adieu,
she drives home in the pale light of the
fading day. her hopes and her happi-
ness dying also with the vanishing
light, while the darkness that is spread
ing it's shadows over the earth is in pa
thetic harmony with the bitterness and
sadness in her crucified heart.
Summoning her maid, she dismantles
her room pf all the souvenirs OF travel
he had sent from abroad -Florentine
mosaics, Dresden vases, dainty Vene-
tian glass, and rich draperies of the
Orient.
"These are to be packed and sent
early in the morning to Mr.. Merrill's
home," she says with a sob-threatened
quiver in her voice. Her head throbs,
her heart pulsates with anguish, and
heI body trembles beneath the tornado
of thoughts and emotions.
When the chimes merrily carol the
hour of nine, Mr.. Merrill waits in the
drawing-room for his fiance, no intima-
tion of coming trouble agitating the
serenity of his mind. He strokes his
moustache affectionately, pats Conquer
or, the dog, on his big furry back, and
mentally debates whether Canada or
a wedding journey when the happy day
arrives. He hears the frOu-frou OF a
woman's dress in the hall, inhales the
faintest odor of Matsukita du Japon
above the perfume of violets and roses
that are throwing their fragrance in
unrestrained confusion throughout the
rooms-he always despised perfumes
after that-sees the beloved face against
the dark portiere, rushes forward to
take the dear form in his arms, but is
deferred by the foreboding expression
on her face.-an expression that pro-
claims too plainly: "Do not dare to
come near!''
81 should have sent your ring and
letters by messenger, Mr.. Merrill but
| wanted to see you myself, to tell you
what miserable coward you are! Why
were you not brave enough, when YOU
had tired OF me, TO tell me SO and not
let the information reach me through
another, as it did, this afternoon
When you found, in England, a woman
whom you loved better than the one
whom you had asked to be your wife,
you should have been man, and acted
like an honorable one! No, you were
afraid! After wooing and winning
another-one whom you are bringing
over surreptitiously-you trust to youl
diplomatic powers for freedom ant
graceful extrication!" Her voice has
the vehemence, flash and furor of {
woman who has been caressing ant
nursing all the soul-stirring anger tina
her nature is capable of, and her eye'
have lost their beauty in flames of pas
sion that burn in uncomfortable fur,
, within their gold-brown depths.
"Nhat in Heavens name do yo,
: mean, Edith?" gasps Merrill, so bewil
| dered and astounded by this unexpected
crusade that the volley of words glance
J by without lancinating or piercing th
victim.
"Wait! hear me out! l heard, b,
t accident, the letter you wrote to Ashton
/! Lispenard from Liverpool, telling hin
} about that woman who is following yO,
r over, and I heard the abuse heape'
Y upon ME, your promised wife!" Her
D Miss Barthelow breaks down in sobs a
] the recollection of the tragical lette
! comes over her.
"That woman Abuse for you! d
: not understand. Pray enligh ten me b
9 some explanation, for all this talk i
0 incomprehensible! | never murmure
4 word against you in my life! kno,
3 of no woman who is coming over!" tn
man says helplessly, a vague fear fit
ting across his mind that the woma
S before him is on the verge of menta
/: collapse.
:, Miss Barthelow turns upon him agair
/ scorn and contempt depicted in eyes an
2 voice, hurting the words as they forr
! upon her lips: cit is useless to deny il
i The woman whom you call Lady Mi
e dred-Dolly You see, know ALL"
s Carter Merrill gives vent to hearty
happy laugh, catches the angry littl
y figure in his arms and enthusiasticall
, exclaims; "My darling, Lady Mildre
d is as fine piece of horsefesh as oil
$ England ever produced, and jet blac
t wonder in the way of equine beaut,
9 She is famous racer that | am bring
v ing over for the Brooklyn Handicap.
wanted the news kept quiet until sh
! arrived, but by Heaven, all New Yor
!, shall know tomorrow who and what sh
u isl"
d That the subject of education is n
e ceiving fresh Impetus in Knox county
e as elsewhere, was shown by the gratif,
d ing responce to the invitation extende
1. ~, -,