Weekly Clarksville chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 185?-1857, 1857-03-20

! you know the man, GilberE'
4 r"Oh, yes. He has been in command
once, since I've been aboard, and rename
with us about six weeks. He is q nativ
of one of the French Islands, and has al
most lived at sea. His manner, when h
chooses, is exceedingly fascinating, and hi
desperate courage gives him unbounded in
huence over the crew. HIS temper, how
ever, is fitful, and mercy and cruelty, b,
turns, mark his conduct, towards frien,
and captive. o. ajsa - y oai g.a.
"Then, perhaps, owe my life to thi
caprice" Said Hodges. 'H "ais
''T think not" was the reply. III,
told the commander that you were not 7,
be harmed, because your reappcarance, il
the city, might be essential to the success
Of some Of his land piracy" " H '.f %
Sand does he play the pirate on land as
well as sea?"
"That is more than / can say; but he is
very wealthy, lives fast and CANDLES with
almost unvarying, success. And SO well
does he maintain his disguise, that I am
told his society is eagerly sought after in
the highest circles-though. you are proba-
bly, better posted on that point, than I am. "
"Your information is correct" said
Hodges. ,"But you know the todyism of
the American people as well as 1 do. Put
Count, or lord, before the name of q mu-
lattc, or an escaped convict, and turn him
loose in the United States, and as much
court will be paid to him, as the abolition
lists bestow upon fugitive slave. And I
have remarked that this admiration for IL
ties is strangest in those who pIate most
about the beauties of Republican simplici-
ty and equality. And set a Count, howey-
er worthless, before man who has. risen
from INDECENT obscurity to wealth, and he
is ready to fall down and worship him. /
have witnessed these demonstrations in
favor of your pirate Count, and there are
but few single ladies, in the city, who would
not hazard all else to win the title Of
Countess" ...i-.-.
"Well, pity the one that gets it," said
Gilbert "The time will come when his
disguise will be stripped of, and wretched
then will be the condition of the silly girl
who has sold herself for a false title. But
there is no danger of his marrying, for it is
a law, on this craft, that the man who mar
ries shall be given up to justice on shore, or
assassinated by the first one of the crew
who meets him, after the fatal deed is known.
And this law is based upon the assumption
that the safety of all may be endangered by
the prying curiosity of one woman. The
rule is good one, if duly observed--not
for the reason assigned; but for the protec-
tion of the women who might become the
wives of such men,"
AT this point, it was announced that a
breeze was springing up-the two friends
separated, and soon all was hustle and ac-
tiyity on deck. Hodges, now six weeks a
prisoner, ohafed the more that he had lear
ned the author and probable motive of his
captivity; but, profting by the advice of
his friend, he smothered his feelings, and
resolved upon redoubled vigilance to effect
an escape. 1t is not our intention, how
ever, to force the reader to accompany him,
so we will transport him back to the city.
Several weeks had passed, and Fanny
Orme and Charles Winters had not met,
except casually, when a polite recognition
was the extent of his advances towards a
renewal of intercourse. Not word had
been spoken by either to the other; though
her heart beat quicker, her face crimsoned
and her eyelids dropped under his firm,
but transient gaze. When alone, she often
wondered why he did not seek an inter
view tacitly confsssing to herself that
the note she had written did not mean half
as much as it expressed. And, when rea-
ding, in the city papers, glowing eulOgies
upon his chaste and string eloquence, and
powers as logician--when she heard from
the lips of age, youth, and beauty, COM
mendations of his character and admira-
ton of his talents, her pride scarcely ena-
bled her to keep back the tears that welled
up from her aching heart, and an accusing
conscience condemned the needless haste
with which she had cast him off.
AT other times, when dashing along the
streets, in the elegant vehicle of the gay
and handsome Count, and listening to his
glowing accounts of other lands, Winters
was forgotten, or if remembered, it was as