The Chilhowee echo. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1899-19??, 1900-01-06

l had been dreaming, when from among
the laurel shrubs just by, came slen-
der, lovely girl, with that delightful
grace of natures children, quite unlike
the tutored grace of our bali rooms. If
[ had not been born doctor, | should
have been an artist: there is kinship
between the two. The naivette of this
mountain child charmed my fancy. The
innocence of her clear eyes, and uncon-
sciOus hesitancy at, the threshold of
womanhood, awoke in me a peculiar
feeling of interest.
"With only the guidance of the un-
written etiquette of a kind heart she
entered into conversation with me and
took me to her home. She lived with
an old grandfather alone. The many
trials of life had made him seek Sc
clusion as means whereby to secure
his orphan grand-child against a por-
ton, at least, of life's miseries. Alas!
for all human plans.
81 dreamed month away in this
Elysium, when one day Laurel's grand
father was stricken with paralysis. He
lived only short time, during which
he besought me often to care for his
child. Being rash ard full of romantic
ardor, promised willingly
| h, IL T f,,1Hl1o1
it!
CATER all was over we were made
man and wife, and | took her to my
home among my family. My mother
was then as she is now, ever loving and
kind. My sisters were naughty and
high strung, proud of their social posi-
ton, and old family name. They were
indignant at what they termed my low
marriage.
poor little Laurel was as ignorant
of our social etiquette as of its subter-
fuges. They disagreed with me about
her beauty. The elegant dresses with
which they thought to aid in transform
ing her into one of us, only trammeled
her native grace. The atmosphere of
our home chilled her young heart until
she seemed changed. We grew daily
apart / had been proud of her voice,
yet when she sang it was as wall from
a broken heart, instead of the bird like
notes which had first grfeted my eass~a
"The climax was not long in coming.
One evening number of guests were
assembled in our home. Laurel, after
many requests was prevailed on to sing
After singing a few lines she utterly
broke down, and with sob arose and
left the room"
A low answering sob from the women
at the doctors side smote his heart.
so, Catherine, don't think me utter
| ly heartless. 1t did trouble me, and
had we been alone reconciliation
would soon have followed. 1t had been
a maxim of our family never to make a
public display of the feelings. l caught
my sisters cold eye, and felt | must
maintain the dignity of the family or it
would be a reelection on my manhood.
| controlled myself with an effort and
acted the Indifference | did not feel.
My pride, alas, vain foolish word, was
touched. She must be shown the alb
surdity of her act. I was cruel brute
I, who called myself man. So i'll
anger reproached her.
"She fell at my feet in an angony of
grief. | told her that scenes were my
detestation, and that her position was
not becoming a member of our family.
"She arose as calm as stOne-poor
little injured child-and said she would
no longer distress me.
"The next morning found no Laurel
in our home. The poor little birding
had left it's cage, and the useless beat
ing of itself against the iron bars of
our social laws.
''From the moment | discovered her
flight, remorse like a two-edged sword
entered my soul. | followed her to the
old mountain home, feeling sure to this
she would 60. The laurel was again
in bloom, as it had been when | took
her from her home one year before.
81 recalled with keen pang how her
grandfather had compared her to this
child of the mountain, and given her its
name. He said because her heart was
as fine and true as this hardy ever
green, and her face as bright and deli
cate as its lovely flowers.
"The people who had bought the place
were but sturdy, uneducated mount
aineers.
"Atmy questioning they told me that
young woman, with very strange
ways, had been there and gone wander
ing about the place, more like a ghost
than human being.
''To know that these people, who had
known her, did not recognize her,
caused me another heart stab.