Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-03-12

y
possessing appearance; but his face in.
dicated kindly nature rather that
strength of intellect or decision of charac
ter, and the warmth with which he greeted
BIS uncle and cousin, left no doubt of his
love for one, and respect for the other.
Ida, whose hapless fate it was, to be
embarrassed when self-possession was
most needed, blushed and stammered, and
thus left an impression upon the mind Of
her cousin lover, the reverse Of that which
she desired to make; and even Maj. Dade
sighed as he thought he had at last learned
who was his successful rival. The General,
too, was an interested spectator of the
meeting; but his daughters embarrass-
ment did not deceive him, though he could
not repress the dawning hope that Edwards
presence would work change in her
heart.
But time was Aeeting, and Gen. Holmes
gave orders for immediate preparations to
resume their journey, then turning to
Mike Sloan, he thus addressed him:
Well, Mr.. Sloan, you and your friend,
Mr. Sullivan, have placed me under heavy
obligations by the timely assistance you
rendered my daughter and myself, and 1
am most anxious to repay them. Will
you go with us to the fort, that l may have
an opportunity to do so?"
'Me and Joe's been a talkin, Giner'l,
bout what we'd do next, and haint
adzactly greed yit AS fur the matter of
obligations, Mr.. Winners the chap what's
titled to 'em all-he done all what was
done, ceptin the rifles Joe and me tuck
from them desarters, and that wont much,
fur they wouldn't show'd fight no how"
"But Mr.. Wilmer will not accept any
thing in return for his services, and 1 am
willing to pay you for yourgood intentions,
even if you did nothing. 1 would like to
enlist you, or give you employment as
scouts"
"Wed sufficate in the fort, Giner'l but
eff you'll set US to watchin red skins we
mought do sumthin in that ar line, .bein
as how we're used to it."
every well" said Gen Holmes. "You
may follow the band of Indians we saw
this morning, and find out where they are
going, and for what purpose, You shall
receive the regular pay for such service,
and Maj. Dade will furnish you with
powder and lead, if you need any"
"We'ye nuff of that, sir, what we tuck
from the red skins and the desarters; but
eff the Majors got any Ticker to fill our
TASKS, well trouble him fur leetle of
that--cold water don't gree with my
stomick 'thout sumthin too take the chill
off n it.
Mikes demand was complied with, and
the two parties soon seperated-their
courses lying at right angles to each other.
Maj. Dade took his place at the head of
the column; and the General, wishing to
converse with him, rode by his side, leav-
ing Ida and Edward to bring up the rear,
taking the precaution, however, to detail
two of the soldiers as moving sentinels on
either side of the main body.
Ida was exceedingly nervous, and,
solicitous to stave of the subject which she
readily perceived was uppermost in her
cousins mind, and piled him with ques-
ton after question about home affairs
such as deaths and marriages of absent
friends-city fashions and city scandal
every thing, in short, about which lady
might be curious, after an absence from
home of more than six months, and in o
place so secluded from the world. But
she couldn't keep up the game for ever
and, laughing at her inordinate inquisitive.
ness, she became silent.
"Have you any more questions to put2'
He asked, while joining her in the laugh
"Not unless you will give me little
time to think, Edward. But | have 4
favor to ask ;" she oontinued-calling VI
all her powers of self-control ! "and tina
is, that you will dismiss all grave subjects
for the present have been quite sick
and the trials through which have passed
have left me nervous and weak"
Had she thought for month, she coulC
not have devised better mode of defeat
ing her own purpose than the one she
adopted for its accomplishment-it gay'
him the advantage of beginning point
and he Immediately said
"Then, may infer from your request
that Mr.. Wilmer delivered my letter &C
cording to promise, though feared h
might Intentionally forget it,
UYou do him iniustica Edward IL yoI