Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-07-09
CHAPTER vi.

CHAPTER vi.
On delightful evening, about the last
of July, 1872, as Helen and Mr.. Lee were
taking their accustomed walk, and without
the usual attendance Of Mr.. Berne, she,
by mesmeric, or other agency, became
aware that he was on the eve of making
declaration of love. Though well ap-
prised of his intentions, for some time
past, the conviction that he was now about
to carry them into effect, agitated her so
much that, with plausible pretext for SO
doing, she would have retreated, precipi-
lately, to her roMp, in order to postpone
the avowal that was trembling on his lips.
She looked around to see if her father was
near, hoping he. might come up in time to
avert the crisis for which she was not pre-
pared. But he was no where to be seen,
and as an effort to divert his thoughts in
to other channels, she abruptly asked:
"Are you not going to the ball to, might,
sir? I understand there is to be great
display of beauty and accomplishment, on
the occasion"
"No;" he replied; "my health is not
sufficiently reinstated to encounter such
crowd and, besides, it would evince a
great want of taste in me, to leave you
and seek beauty and accomplishments any
where" ~
81 did not expect to elicit compli-
ment,' she replied, "by asking SO com.
mon place question. Young gentlemen
are usually fond of such scenes, and 1
know not why you should be an excep-
ton
"Young men usually seek such places"
said he, 'to enjoy the company of young
ladies. / can have no such motive when
your presence imparts all the happiness to
which my ambition aspires, and more than
all the world besides can bestow.'
To this, Helen made no reply; but
walked on, stopping as much as possible
to conceal the emotions which her varying
countenance would too surely have reveal
ed. After an interval Of silence, Mr.. Lee
resumed
"That l love you, Helen, you must have
learned from my manner, notwithstanding
my efforts to conceal passion which you
have given me no reason to believe will
ever be reciprocated. But can no lon
ger endure suspense, more painful than
a knowledge of the worst that can befall
me; and it is for you to say whether our
intercourse, hitherto SO delightful to me,
shall cease forever, or be continued with
brighter prospects of happiness to both" !"
II will not affect to misunderstood you,
sir, Helen replied, in voice scarcely au-
dible; "but / cannot consent To-" here
her voice failed, and again she was silent.
Mr.. Lee waited some time, in painful anx-
iety, expecting she would proceed; but
she was really unable, and not knowing
how to interpret her embarrassment-or
rather constructing it as unfavorable to his
suit, he replied:
off / have offended you, Miss Berne,
by this, perhaps premature, ayowal of my
feelings, deeply regret it, and entreat you
to ascribe it to the intensity of those feel
ings, and not to any want of proper re-
spect.'
Helen was still silent, though she could
not be said to be "mute of malice, because
she was really unable to command her
voice. And if her lovsr had not been as
blind as mole, he could have seen that
she loved him, and that, by the very symp-
toms which led him to an opposite con-
clusion. Believing that he was lightly
treated, he resumed the subject in a tone
of some bitterness:
"How shall construe your silence, Miss
Berne? Is my proposal too contemplate
to merit an answer, or do you intend by
your silence to give il a negative, more ex-
pressive Of the estimation in which you
hold it2"
"Neither, sir" she artioulatsd with diff
fculty; "but there are circumsta noes, yet
to be explained. which forbid
Al this point, the approach of Mr..
Bsrns put an end TO the couyetsaticu, and