Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-04-09


upon his MUD that IL was far worse than
reported. Byths time, however, that Ida
returned to the room, he had regained
command of himself, and after an apology
for his violence, seated her by his side,
and listened to her story, plainly told, and
without the slightest attempt to spare her
self where her conduct seemed at all rep
rehensible. He listened and believed, and
when she closed by telling him Of the en-
gagement she had entered into with Viii
mer, but an hour or two before, he pressed
her TO his heart and assured her Of his
entire appreciation of the choice she had
made, and Of the pleasure it gave him to
be thus able to pay the debt he owed the
gallant Lieutenant--as he called him.
II have done him great wrong, my child,
even while admiring his character more
than that of any man living, and / have
done this through that foolish pride which
makes US estimate the man more accord
ing to his parentage than his own intrinsic
worth. But instead Of the nameless beg
gar, as he was represented to me by his
villainous uncle, he is our equal in birth,
and my superior in fortune as well as in
true nobility of character and vigor Of in
tellect The sacrafces he made and the
dangers he encountered to vindicate
mothers good name, is an instance of
moral heroism that stamps him man Of
no common mold. To him, / give you
with pride and confidence, and you must
permit me, my child, to see you united
before / leave, though time presses"
"Tell me something about the friends
in the fort, father" She said, by way of
changing the subject. "How are Major
Dade and Bell BrownP'
"The Major" was the reply, "has had
long spell of sickness, but is entirely
well again. Of Bell Brown" he added
with smile, ~ know nothing--thcre is
no such person in the fort"
"Why, fatherp She exclaimed. ''What
has become Of her2 trust she is not
deadp @
"No; not dead, but married She nursed
the Major SO tenderly that he found, on
recovering, he could not 90 without her.
so she is now Mrs. Bell Dade."
"Oh, am so glad to hear it!'' She ex-
claimed. "The Major is man Of sterling
worth and Bell will make good wife
But what has become Of my Indian beau,
Tatunkah ?"
"Then Mr.. Wilmer was too modest to tell
you how he and his party were pursued
by Tatunkah and four of his warriors
how he and his sister-I did not then
know her as such--were both wounded
how he killed the chief in hand to hand
! fight, and how Mike Sloan clicked two red
skins in far fist 6ght?"
"No, sir; he told me they encountered
perils, but said nothing of the facts you
have mentioned. But it is in keeping
with his modest and unpretending dcport
ment." M
I Thus converting, the dawn had nearly
appeared when father and daughter retired
to rest-both made happy by mutual ex
plantations and the removal of all doubts
} and suspicious.
But our narrative has reached poin
from which itispolitic to hasten to its close
}, The following morning found Fritz
Alias Neville-and his confederates safi
. in Jail, and the proof SO conclusive agains
them that trial was mere form. And a
the abduction Of Ida, and the subsequen
arrest and exposure of Fritz became know
in the city, it was interesting to mark tn
: revulsion of feeling in favor Of our heroin
1T being the more marked in those VIII
had been most conspicuous in their per
secutiOn. Scarcely any one could be found
that day, who had not suspected tha
Neville was no better than he should be
D and all were ready to look upon Ida as tn
=, innocent victim of villain who had mis-
led them, by shrewdly combining littl
r truth with great deal of falsehood. N
one more rejOiced at this change tina
Edward Holmes who had continually con
demned himself for the part hetakcn in tn
fraud practiced upon his cousin, and VIII
had lost no opportunity to manifest hi
: penitence and to repair the wrong he ha
done.
1t is needless to say that Wilmer wa
most cordially received by Gen. Holm'
b who made canfession of his injustice
9 and concluded by placing Ida's hand i
y that of her lover, and invoking blessin
upon them.
o As the Generals duties allowed him bI