Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-08-06

create even feeling of annoyance by her
presence. She knows that we all feel for
her the utmost contempt, and if she will
come among us, with shat knowledge, let
us show her that her presence is no bar to
our own enjoyment, and that we are not
willing to consider her worthy of our re-
sentiment"
'Let me deal with her, said Mr.. Motley,
"and l will guarantee that she does not
pay long visit"
Mrs Meddler, in presenting herself before
the little group, knew that she was doing
so as an unwelcome guest but her mission
being one of evil, and she being admirably
adopted to the mission, was not easily
abashed, and deported herself as if she
thought she was confering an honor. A
distant bow from the gentlemen, and an
invitation from Mr.. Berne to take a seat
comprised the attention bestowed upon
her.
"Well, Mr.. Berne, said she, depositing
her ponderous carcass in chair, 81 have
taken the liberty, as an old acquaintance,
of calling to see you and Helen, for it
seemed as if never should get chance to
speak to you in the crowd at the hotel f;
and was so anxious to talk with you
about old times that / concluded to come
without an invitation
eve do not expect our friends, madam, !"
was his reply, "to wait for an invitation,
and those who arc not friends, we do not
expect to see either with or without an in
vitation."
"Those are just my sentiments, Mr..
Berne, l hate ceremony between friends,
and it should never be used except to keep
at a distance such as are not agreeable to
us-Helen, ] am glad to see you looking
so we'll they told me you we're i'll, when
you first came here; and Jane, too, is be-
ginning to have some color on her checks.
AS for you, Mr., Motley, 1 am sure bad
health didn't bring you here, for never
saw you look better in my life"
Mr. Motley saw that the ladies were
averse to any conversation with her, so he
resolved to be the spokesman of the whole
party and if possible, show her that she
had strayed beyond her orbit when she
entered a genteel circle. He, therefore,
replied:
II am happy to find, madam, that dissi-
patton has not impaired my health"
dissipation, Mr.. Motley Why 1 never
heared that you were more dissipatcd than
other young men who keep bad hours, by
going to balls and the like, which, to be-
sure, might as we'll be let alone"
al am glad, madam, that the report has
not circulated widely; but some old hag
has been telling the visitors that | am
drunkard and gambler plead guilty
however, of going to balls, and am sorry
to hear that you disapprove of them, for
| was just congratulating myself upon the
prospect of dancing reel with you to-
night, for old lang syne."
with me, sir Now you know that
would never consent to do such a sinful
act as to go to a ball, much less TO dance,
and you only said so to vex me- but
know you too we'll to mind your jokes"
"No joke at all, madam, for l was never
more in earnest. [ we'll remember The
time when you were in the habit of dane
ing, and thought you committed the sin
with as good will as any one l ever saw,
and recollect, distinctly, hearing old Tom
Hewitt say"
ooh, don't tell me about old Tom
Hewitt" she said, hastily interrupting
him; "for the vile old wretch was always
saying something that he ought not; and
l am surprised, Mr.. Motley, to hear you
run on in this way about things tn, hap
pened so long ago"
"Why, madam, l understood you to say,
just now, that you want to talk about old
times, and as it often gives me pleasure to
recall the past, thought to confer favor
by recurring to scenes in which you were
distinguished actor in by-gone days
And as it is gratifying to us all to hear the
good that is said of us, was going to tell
you that, on one occasion, old Tom Hewitt
said"
"Mr. Motley" she said, again Interrupt
ting him, 81 thought you had more respect
for my feelings and my professions as a
Christian than to talk so lightly to me" i"
We may as well state here, that old
Tom Hewitt was privileged character,
who said what he pleased anywhere and to
/ n To - I