Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-07-30

requirements Oh honor, ur your estimate
of my character is based upon a knowl
edge of your own, you can be at no loss
to know what my decision will be. Your
proposition, with its conditions, is dishon
torable. sir, and reject it with the com
tempt it merits.
"Your delicate health, sir, said Estele
with assumed maguanimity, and as mueli
composure as he could command, ''foi ?
bids mo to resent your insult as l would
do under other circumstances but you
shall hear from me very soon.P
GAS soon as you please, Mr.. Estclle a (
ter you have settled with Mr.. Eskridge
or proven yourself worthy of the notice
of gentleEan"
Crest-fallen, yet boiling with rage, rs.
telle gave his horse the spur and dash I'd
ahead. "FooI, that I VAS" he mentally
exclaimed, "to listen to Mrs. Meddle's
suggestion to make use of this forged lt.
ter! thought it would not do, yet yield
ed to hersbecaase she seldom errs in he
adoption Of the means to effect any given
purpose But she has erred this time, q nd
probably involved me in difficulties from
which - wilt be difficult to escape, ind
my enemies may yet triumph. But al
though may fail to wreak my vengea nee
upon old Berne and his proud daughter,
although may not be able to bring Jane
under my immediate control, her fortune
is securely mine and under no contintecy
can it be wrested from me- -i
Dashing madly on, his career was sud
denly checked, at an abrupt turn in the
road, by horse, and its rider, and with
difficulty, he avoided collision, the ugh
the horseman, in front, was riding ii the
same direction with himself. "What are
you up to, Mr.. Estelle?" Demanded the
individual thus imperiled.
"Why Tom Burton, is this you?" Ex-
claimed Estelle extending his hand
"What in the world are you doing here,
when ! thought you had gone out Of the
country"
"Doing Why have just been trying
to get out of the way of second John
Gilpin. What has happened, that you are
riding at such a furious rate?'
"1 am mad. Old Berne and his daugh-
ter and her sweetheart have combined to
insult and wrong me" =
"Is my old flame, Helen Berne, at the
Springs? Well owe her a grudge too.
Had it not been for her, should proba-
bly, not have been drunkard and a gam
bier, nor have been disinherited by my
father. Yes, owe her debt, and thanks
to my forethought, 1 have the means of
paying it with interest
81 am glad to hear you say 50, Tom,
and hope you will come to my aid in this
matter of revenge. The only way to reach
old Berne is through his daughter; and
nothing can hurt him SO much as break
ing OF the engagement between her and
Mr.. Lee"
"That can be easily done, Mr., Estelle ;
but / am Aat broke, at this time, and
can't serve my best friend without con
sderation. You are rich and can afford
to pay well, and the service csn render
will involve great personal risk ;-as to
loss-of character, neither of us need have
any fears, as that is an accident tlat rarely
happens but once l lost mini while at
College-you lost yours, as lost my for
tune, by disinheritance.
II am in no humor, Tom, % listen to
your sarcasms, and warn you to be careful
how you repeat them. Tell ME how you
can serve me, and then we viii consider
the price"
''No, SIR the price must be considered
first, and then you must trust 10 my hon
or for the performance Of the service.
For the sum of one thousand dollars-a
part in advance.-I will not only break
off the engagement of which you spoke,
but will destroy Mr.. Berne's confidence in
his daughter and bring down upon her
the scorn and contempt Of the whole
crowd of yisitors."
"Why, Tom, you must thir that mon
: ey grows on trees -
Don't begin with your CANNON about
hard times, Mr.. Estelle foi if you do, ]
may be forced to sell my services to the
other party, and then you viii think the
thousand dollars mere triHo compared
with what you may lose. lid you never
hear of second will Of John Estelle2'
"Nol' exclaimed Estelle, almost spring
ing from his horse, in alarm at the sug
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