Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-07-23

effort to sport with his feelings
III cant say, my child, what may be the
cause of his indisposition. But he is a
very sensitive man, and if nothing oc-
cured between you, may he not have heard
something calculated to excite him great
'Ily~
4 81 don't know" she said, in evident
alarm "but do hope he will read my
letter before he hears any of its contents
through any other channel Can you not
see him, this morning, father He is
stranger here, and needs some kind friend
who will supply, to some extent, the place
of mother, or sister"
"Do not distress yourself on that score,
Imy dear child y he said, with affectionatc
solicitude "for he shall need no assistance
that can afford him. And now tell me
how Jane is p
"She is much better, this morning but
prefers not to go to the breakfast. table so,
with your permission, l will take her place."
You take her place, Helenl Why,
what has happened to produce this sud-
den change in you2"
eve women, father, are not always
ready to assign reason for change of
mind. So, without farther questions, let
us go. l promised to select James break
fast, and wish to discharge the trust faith
fully, and in person"
"But why is it that you are so ready to
appear in public now, when you we're SO
recently averse to it2"
Because, father, I was then ashamed
to show myself lest my vanity might be
wounded. Now, have no vanity to
wound, and, with consciousness of right
intentions, have the strength to bear all
that may be doomed to suffer"
81 rejoice to hear it, Helen, not only
because it is proof of right intentions, but
because your appearance may do much to
silence the tattle based upon the fact of
your seclusion."
They had reached the Hotel, and break
fast not being ready, Helen asked to be
shown into the landladys department
where she remained during the intervening
time.
When Mr.. Motley parted with Mr.. Berne,
at the spring, he fastened back to his room,
and on entering, said to Mr., Eskridge:
"Well, sir, | promised, last night, to
deliver your letter to Helen and report
how she received it's contents. The first
part of that promise, have redeemed,
but failed in the latter, for which you will,
no doubt. excuse ME, when inform YOU
that the lady has condescended to reply
to your very interesting communication
unless, indeed, she has returned you the
same, protested, for it feels very much like
the one | delivered to her"
Mr.. Eskridge received the letter with as
much indifference as he could assume; but
there was slight twitching of the muscles
of the face, which proved that old associa-
tions had not lost their power over his
heart
'' "Mr. Berne handed me that letter at the
spring, just now" Mr., Motley resumed
Sand l think there is a secret correspon-
dence going on between Helen and some
gentleman here for saw her father hand
letter to servant telling him to deliver
it to his master. l believe the gentleman
is Mr.. Lee, and Helen, the writer of the
letter"
"And what do you infer from it, Ned,
supposing it to be true2"
81 hardly know what, George From
the interview had with Helen, last night,
| came to the conclusion that she has seen
the error of her ways, and is resolved up
on reform. But if my surmise be correct,
it alters the case and 1 must see more of
her before | can decide"
SIN the meantime, Ned, let not bare
suspicion tempt you to any injustice Her
father may have written it, or if she wrote
it, there may be nothing in it but what is
entirely proper"
Perhaps so, George, But let us see
what she has written to you, and by that,
let her be judged. l saw signs, last night,
of genuine penitencc and deep sensiblity,
that the most artful can not counterfeit,
and if she now deal fairly with you, hang
me if ever / doubt her again.-But stop,
George No secrets if you please-read
aloud, sir; for do not intend to play the
go-between withoutknOwing what carry"
Mr.. Eskridge, with smile admitted the
justice of the demand-not, indeed as a
reward for services rendered, but as con-
fdence due to long friendship. He