Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1857-10-30
MlsCEblANY.
BEATRICE L LAXcAsTEB
-ss. 80. !, !; u spY aIRfAMF. HAMILTON. eS ,.l,.
CHATTER I.

F.. ~
CHATTER I.sC srb UtTtf
1t was late in the, afternoon. A long
row of girls and boys stood in regular
line before their teacher, in the little red
school house; reciting their spelling lesson,
while the remainder of the pupils fdget-
ted in their seats, piled and replied their
books on their desks, and cast restless,
eager glances out at the open door and
then at their teachers faces for it was
nearly time for dismissal, and ,weary'of a
long afternoon s confn6ment, Che children
could hardly wait1for the tinkle of the
bellMthe signal for their release. Atlast
spelling -olass took their seats, the bell
sounded, and instantly there was a scene
of confusion 4boys rushed out Of the door,
and gave vent to their pept;up spirits in
.whoops1and yells and summersets; and
girls more quietly, but notless gaily, ran
intolthe open air. Soon tlic merry voices
died away in the distance, and the teacher
was left alone in that Just now crowded
~stMWt'nh = q .Ssi
school-room.G AAAN{EAaEi'1
She was young and striking looking
girl, Her form was erect, rhergstep was
stately, and her features, though irregular,
were pleasing; her abundant raven hair
was wound in sort Of coronal around her
head in a singular, but not unbccoming
fashion; her complexion was clear olive,
and her mouth firm in its expression, al
mostunpleasantlyso when closed ,butw hen
she smiled she was positively beautiful
then her whole countenanee changedi her
large, fiery eyes grew soft and tender, and
the pride and hatuear that spoke in her
every lincamcnt, marring her otherwise
almost perfect beauty, disappeared. ~ %
Just now one'of those beaming smiles
lighted up her countenance; she stood by
her desk, in her usual erect position, hold
ing note, yet unopened, in her hand
II had been brought to the school-room
during the session, and now, that she, was
alone, she prepared 60 rcadiit She seem
ed in no haste to break the seal She
looked at the bold, firm handwriting, and
pressed it to her lips; then, slowly un-
folding it, she read: a.....
"For some time past, Beatrice, l have
been unhappy; you have observed 1t, and
to your inqiries as to it's cause have given
false and evasive replies, but can deceive
myself and you no longer. / sought you
last night with the determination to tell
YOU ali, but / could not utter the words
that would, felt, give you so much pain.
But / must do it. What my tongue re.
fuse, to tell, must cntrust to my PEN
II is useless to hesitatej the sooner all is
knowen, the better for us both. Beatrice
I find that have mistaken the nature OF
nv feelings towards you. AS God is my
witness, when we were betrothed, thought
I loved you, still appreciate your rare
loveliness; and better still, your many eX-
cellenoies of mind and heart; but our af
fcctions are beyond our control, and, much
as there is admirable about you, | no long
or love YOU. At first / determined never
to acauaint YOU with the change in my
sentiments, but | shrank from a lifetime
of deceit, / eould notat the altar perjurC
myself, by taking those solemn vows, and
knew, too, that you would spurn tho
offered hand without the heart accompani
ed it. l have done very wong in hastily
entering upon our engagement without q
proper knowledge OF my true feelings to-
wards you Twas charmed by your beauty
dazzled by your wit and attracted by your
virtue; mistook the whirl Of emotions ]
felt for love. But it is better for me tC
acknowledge my fault, than to commit
sin in leading you to the altar while my
heart is anothers.. Forgive me and forge
me. Farewell, an,may you soon find somt
more worthy of your love than your friend
az you, will still allow me TO claim tina
iitle.) ........ ea. u
Woo .au LOUIS MEREDITH!f
Every particle of color forsool Beat
rice's cheeks as she rcad-her lips wer,
white, her hands trembled violently, sh,
could scarcely hold the letter, doath-lik'
faintness stole over her, and she sank int,
D chuir and buried her face in her hands
Not tear, not moan escaped herr sh
sat there in silo4ccs s.raotiohlcss as statue
h.st in her heart what whirlwind of emo
tions was raging2 How long she set ther
she hardly knew; when at last she looke'
up, twilight was deepening, and she aros
with start from her seat. Her count
enanee bore the traces of suffering-sh
looL al ho00nrl aud ,uon. the nUonV n