Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1853-10-16


spared all reproof save that Of his agonzed con
science, was distinguished above others. called 10
Gods most sacred service, elected TO the glory OF
martyrdOm. If remOrse were in any ease iusti6-
able, if any sin should unfit man for rising above II
or for doing good in his generation, surely it would
have been IN Peters case. But we know that story.
! Ny dear madam and Mr. Ellison, laying his
I hand on my head, looked appeaIingly towards nv
aunt-l desire to speak reyerently; but think voa,
| after Christs charge, even John. Abdie Ike disei-
pie as he was ever presumed to say or feel that he
] could never esteem or look upon Peter as he once
! didg This is what is forbidden us-to look upon
men as fallen below their chance of recovery Ny
aunt was silent but I could see she was impressed.
| As for me, felt as if a load were being slowly
hited on my heart, and it swelled with 4 passion
ate aspiration to recover with Gods help my form
! er standing, and press on in the upward way. And
weaid not, through lie, be tender and merciful 10
| the penitent wrong doer?-If | speak warmly on
TINS subject, continued my guardian 't is because
| my own experience furnishes me with proof of
now low an honorable man may fall, and how far
the magnanimity, or rather Justice have been adj
vocating, may enable him to rise again. and trvanJ
work out towards his fellow men-I know he can
not do 50 towards GOd-reparatiOn for his offence
/ May l tell you short stery?"
Certainty said my aunt; but she looked uneaSi-
I " towards me.
LET Mabel stay and hear me- said Mr. Ellison.
1.-THE lesson is for her to lern and my story viii do
her no harm"
He took few turns through the room. as if col
Letting his thoughts, and then began. If my read
ers wonder why, at fourteen, my memory retained
the details OF such conversation. let me explain
that many times since then, has this subject been
renewed and discussed by my guardian and me.
Many years back, said MIR Ellison. IL knew
two friends. They were young men of very differ
ent character, bat, for aught / know that might
baNra Of ft.arp
elder, whom. for distinctions sake, will call Paul
was Of a thoughtful, reserved turn of mind lie
was given a good deal TO speculati0ns about the
moral capacities and iHiirmites of his own nature
and that OF his race and had q deep inward enthr-
slaSm for what he conceived to be goodness and
virtue; and will do him the justice to say, he
strove so far in lam lay To act up 10 his eOnyic
tiOns. The yOmgeT--Ee viii call him Clement
was of q lighter temper Generous. frank. and Vi
vacious. he was lar more general iavorite than
his friend; but yet. when mea Of experience spoke
on the subject. they said, the one was, no doubt,
the most ioyeabe, but the other the most trust
worthy. Neli-for do not wish to make long
story of it-Clemcnt who had no seGrecieS from
his friend, had made him. long ago, the confident OF
strong but unfortunate attachment of his. Un-
fortunate | say, not but that the lady eminent
ly worthy, but, alas. she was rich, and he but
brie,huntinE barriSter. Clement had chivalrOus
sense Of honor and had never shown sign or utter
ed Il word Of love, though he confessed he had a
vague secret hope that the girl returned his feel
ing. lie bluShed, however like woman when he
made this admission, and would fam have gainsaid
it as presumption the moment after. Tie rather
urwiselv but most naturally. still visited at the
house, where the parents. suSpeeting nothing, re-
ceiyei him cordially: and at length he ventured 10
introduce Paul there too in order that his friend
might Judge for himself Of the perfection Of his
mistress
q at is not necessary to describe the daughter;
suffice it to say. Paul found in her person and char
acter not only enough to justify Clements choice,
but to excite in his mind passion, in strength
corresponding with the silent energy Of his charac-
ter. He kept his secret and heard Clement talk Of
his love with the patience of friend, while secret
" he had to contend against It, and strove to mas
ter HIMSELF for apart from what honor and friend
ship eujoinel, he saw plainly Eleanor favored the
uneXprcssed but with womans keenneSS, halt
guessed love Of Clement. He forbore TO visit at
the house, in spite of the double welcome his rea
tion 10 Clement and his own social postion-lor
Paul was rich-had obtained for him there. Time
passed. and Paul was still at war with an uucon-
quered weakness, when Clement got appoint
ment in india
Before you 60 said Pau to him. @you viii
speak TO Eleanor
NO" said Clement after painful deEberation,
'he chances of my success are still doubtful. when
have proved them and can satisfy her parents, |
will write
You may lose her through your over-scrupu-
lousness."
Il may" said Clement @but If she loves me. she
has read my heart. and l can trust her
.Cemeut therefore, took his secret to India with
him and Paul was left at home TO fight with g-
gante temptation. | need not go into the subtle
ness it assumed; but for a long time he was proof
against them. He would not sacrifice honor and
friendship the strength of good conscience, and
the principles he revered, TO selfish passion and in
clinatiOn. One evening, however, he yielded TO q
weakness he had several times overcome, and went
to the house fie said to himself he would see how
she bore Clements absence. Eleanor received him
with Kindness she had never shown before. Her
parents politely hoped, when he rose 10 leave, that
thew were not to lose his society well as Gle
ments. That night cast the die. Il love her.
said Paul to himself; Clement does no more. j
have the same right as he to be happy MADAM"
added Mr.. Ellison abruptly, you guess what fol-
lowed Paal. with his keen sense Of rectitgde, his
ambitious aspirations. yielded, and fell ..'
My guardian paused My whole girls heart was
in his story: forgot my humble position. eXcaim-
ed eagerly But did Eleanor love him?''
Mr.. Ellison looked at me quickly and then half
smiled The smile was a relief to me- for it brought
back the usHal expression which he had lost during
the telling of this story. ~You shall hear he
sumed presently Paul having decided to act
fraudulent AMI unworthy part, used all his powers
to gainhis object. "HOnOr and selfrespect have
lost he said "lOye aud qualification must have"
Il was terrible period that followed The suit
he urged with such untiring zeal seemed to gain
slow favor with Eleandor. Her parents were al
ready his supporters and with the irritating hopes
aud fears of an ardent but bafiled lover. mix
ed the stinging agonies of remOrse and shame.
Clements periodical letters long since unanswered.
were now unread: TO him. such rs he now was, they
were addressed-that sweet friendship was bared
along with his youths integrity. ! w not lin
ger" said my guardian hurricdy. "Pau won tie
prize which he had sought at such a cost cleaners
consent was gained, and the marriage day was ap
pointed. don't think even then he deceived
himself as to think lie was happy Moments Of
tumuItuous emotion of fevcrsh excitement, that
he misnamed Joy, he had bat his blessedness had
escaped him. Not only his conscience told him
was Clement deffaudc3 but that Eleanor was de-
eeived. To hear her express at any time indig-
nant scorn Of what was base and mean, was
moral torture so exquisitely acute that only those
can conceive It who have stopped to like degreda
ton. A night or two before the day appointed for
the wedding, Paul went as usual to her house
Just before he took his leave Eleanor left the ROOM
and returned with q letterl There was a glow on
her cheek as she gave it to him. 81 have long de-
termined' she said ITO have no momentous secrets
from him who is TO BE- my husband; ii win be bet
ter for you 70 know this"