The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-02-20


"Who Is the nonentlty7" she asked
you, the clever artist or"-wlth a
gesture Of dlsdain-"Lord Mapleson7"
"Then, darling" he cried, IF your
mother will not consent, It must be a
runaway match. You're sure you
don't mind intrustlng your happiness
10 mo?"
"No, indeed Mark, no! love you.
oh! heaps more than / did two years
ago and that's something. isn't it?'
He admitted that II was, and kissed
her, when someone calling Elsie, she
he'd TO leave. Mark strolled back 80
the drawing room with a lighter heart.
Someone was asking Mr. Renton
whether Jermyn was TO play; the host
shrugged his shoulders, but the musi-
clan at once interrupted with the re-
mark he should only be too delighted.
A move was made to the piano, while
all voices we're hushed as Il became
known that the great Jermyn was at
the instrument. He ran through sew
eral of his better known things in
succession, playing as he had never
played before, his audience spellbound
and enraptured. The applause at his
conclusion, unlike most drawingroom
applause, was for once sincere.
Mr.. Renton was profuse in his
thanks, and then his less genial wife
inquired as a special favor, whether
he would give them a novelty.
"A novelty?" repeated Mark, anx-
ious to please his prospective parent.
'Ah, yes! had almost forgotten To-
days the twenty-second, isn't It?
There is one thing / only play once a
year, and always on the twenty-sec-
ond of this month"
The last notes of the song were grad
ually dying away, when all at once
there was a tense scream from a dis
tant corner Of the room.
All turned and saw that Mrs. Rem.
ton had tainted.
A few days later Mark Jermyn call
ed to inquire after Mrs. Renton, whom
it was understood was seriously i'll.
The young fellow was at once shown
into Mr.. Rentons study, where the
millionaire greeted him cordially.
MY dear Mr.. Jermyn," he said,
you're the very man l wish to seei
You remember the effect your wonder
full playing produced on my wife the
other EVENING""
Unfortunately" responded the ia.
nous musician. Believe me, I'm ex-
ceedingly sorry"
TITS not your fault, my boy" he
answered kindly. THE event has
brought something to light which
hope may mean your happiness. ]
have learned that my daughter loves
you"
Eyes," responded Mark, quietly
"And I love her too"
Gust so, just so! What was going
to say was this; my wife, it appears
was once engaged to your father"
Mark Jermyn looked up in astonish
ment.
Eyes," continued Mr.. Renton, "anj
from what can hear-of course, this
is in confidence between you and me
it broke Mark Wegar's heart. My
wife Tilted him for myself. and il
seems that, out of pity, h afterwart
married a cousin whom he discovered
had been in love with him for years
The air you played the other evening
was one of Wegar's compositions, was
it not?"
YES" replied Mark. my fathe1
left me the manuscripts, with the in
junction it was only to be played OF
the twenty-second of November il
each year-the anniversary of what
could never make out"
"Ah! my wife recognized the theme
it was the old love song he used Il
play to her and of which she hal
been so fond. The date you mention
was the one on which she broke OF
the engagement. Old memories cam
back to her, and-and-"
Say no more, sir, it's a painful sui
iect."
ITO be sure, to be sure! My wifi
wishes me to tell you that, although
she broke your fathers heart, she ha
no wish to break either yours or he
daughters. We are both willing yo
should marry Elsie"
Someone opened the door just ther
and Elsie Renton, seeing Mark, threy
herself into his arms New Yor
News.
Wives Who Help.
Hundreds Of thousands of men hay
had a lifelong weary struggle. an