Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-10-01

ri clalm 10 Atr hcdIb dnu manu-, AheH
what was it2 He did not know, or at least
he Thought he did not, and he took anoth-
or look through the window as if in search
Of the cause, and drew back again as the
same sight met his view, and increased his
excitement without hffording solution Of
the question that puzzled him. 8ef
"What is the matter Henry ?" Asked
his sister "Sdrely you are not jealous of
Mr.. Hart lpla
"Not I2-why should be jealous r.
~ see no reason Why she replied,
with mschievous smile; "Helen is a
poor, frail creature who has forfeited all
claim to your confidence and respect, and
in consideration of the debt of gratitude
we owe her, you ought to rejoice at the
prospect of her marrying SO worthy man
as Mr.. Hart"
"Ceftainly, Ann--thut is-how do you
feel this evening2 Are you not most we'll
enough to travel2 l am very anxious to
get home" aUff
ayes" she answered, enjoying his con-
fusion 81 will go with you in the morn
ing, if you think it will not be running
too great risk. You know there is to be
wedding here, next Thursday, and our
presence must be embarrassiug--t can't
help inviting us if we stay. and the for
NAL way in which you visit the house of
your fathers bosom friend is we'll calcula-
ted to make the invitation an act of cold
courtecy-tendered with frigid formality,
and accepted in the same spirit"
81 don't understand the point Of your
sarcasm, Ann. Have you seen anything
in my department calculated to offend the
father or the daughterHp
ooh, no; your carriage is perfectly
erect and every word you utter is meas
ured by the rules of freezing prosperity,
and everything like cordiality is rejected
as if you feared the exhibition of that
feeling might constitute good ground for
an action for breach of PROMISE And
she laughed gaily, at his perplexed look.
at would be curious coincidence,
he said, looking her steadily in the eye,
"if brother and sister were both sued, at
the same time, for breach of promise"
She buried her face in her hands to hide
the burning blush his remarks had called
up, and soon tear trickled through her
fingers.
"My dear Ann" he said, taking her
hand in his, and speaking in gentle
tone, have punished, perhaps too Sc
verely, the bitterness of your sarcasms
Forgive me, and let us forbeaf such alus-
ions hereafter You see that they are
painful to us both, and we should strive
to be a mutual comfort rather than annoy
ance. Do you forgive mef"
"Yes, forgive, and would never have
rallied you, had you not feigned an indif-
ference you do not,feel. was almost per-
suaded to believe that Helen was an OBJ
ject of as much Indifference to you as she
could be, considering how much we both
owe to her for acts of kindness that can
not be too highly appreciated but the
truth is, she retains a hold upon your
heart which you have disguised from your.
self, and which, from your manner, did
not suspect till now"
"I believe that is the truth" he said,
rising and taking another look into the
garden; "and that is sufficient reason
why should not linger near her"
"If you can take care of YOURSELF" she
answered, "you need not fear the conse-
quences to Helen. | have watched her
closely for several days, and, if 1 can
fathOm her feelings, you have lost your
hold upon her affections. mentioned
your name, jus. before she went down
stairs, and she spoke of you and the past
with a calmness that surprised me, and
her countensnce betrayed not the slightest
emotion. But not so, when she apologised
for leaving me to go down to see Mr.. Hart :.
and since you have made up your mind
not to marry, am glad to see that she is
not panied by that determination.
at ought to be source of comfort to
us both; and yet there is something pain
full in the thought of being so lightly Civ
en- up. am afraid, Ann, that have
been over fastidious, and in erecting too
high standard of womans character,
have sacrificed my happiness on the altar
of mistaken idolatry. Had l seen Hell
en- as she is--with some grave faults, but
easy of correction, and with many of the
most exalted qualities of head and heart,
| should have loved her none the less de-