Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-08-27
and hOpe that you win no. proIong youl

and hope that you will not prolong you
visit"
al like to converse with woman Of spi
rit, he cody replied, "and hope to be for
given if fail to take your delicate hint
But the truth is, Miss Berbe, there is a
long unsettled account between us, and,
not knowing when we may meet again, ]
can not consent to lose the present oppor-
tunity; and since you seem to be aware
that am drunkard and a gambler,
and therefore ready for the commission
of any wrong, you will not be surprised
when I tell that the object of my visit
is revenge, in part, and pecuniary aid
both of which / must have"
"Revenge In what direction will you
seek it, siri But if that really be your
object, you had better enter into an al
lance with Mr. Estelle and Mrs Meddler
they arc in full practice and possess the
true spirit. Besides, the former is wealthy,
and will pay well for any service you may
render in the way of prosecuting me-"
Burton felt lite abashed at guess so
near the truth but without bctraying
the feeling, he replied:
"The revenge | seek is within my reach,
Miss Berne, without aid from any quarter,
and its extent will depend upon the price
you are willing to pay for my silence"
"Your silence, siri am willing that
you shall speak out all you know, pre-
judicial to me, and there is no secret in
your keeping for the suppression of which
| would pay one cent. With this declara
ton, l leave you to your own Vaccinations,
only adding that this must be the last in
terview between us, without witnesses"
"Stay one moment;' he said, stepping
before her, and taking soiled piece of
paper out of his pocket. "Here is little
document, the history of which you had
better learn before you leave as it confers
upon me rights of an important character,
and affecting you much more deeply than
myself"
"What is it. sir
at ista certificate of marriage con-
summated some eighteen months ago, in
the State of North Carolina
"And what have I to do with such
certificate, sir?" She asked, impatiently.
Listen, madam, and shall learn what
you have to do with it. Do you not re-
member of taking trip with party of
pleasure, across the line about that time I?
You dol Well, you can not have forgot
ten, then, that you and I stood up before
Justice of the Peace and were duly mar
ried in the presence of crowd, and this
document certi6es the fact, and is in the
handwriting of the officiating Magistrate.
"And do you believe, Mr.. Burton, that
you can impose upon me by attempting to
convert silly joke into serious matter
of-fact You know, sir, that when our
party reached the country town, we found
a small crowd there, of both sexes, and
very soon the impression was made that
we were runaway wedding party and
that, to humor the joke, sham marriage
was agreed upon, you and I being the
parties. That this is true, Mr.. Motley,
among others, is ready to testify. 1t was
a foolish joke, and you are at liberty to
make the most of it." aa
"That is all true, madam, to the best Of
your knowledge and belief; but there is
another side to the story, You will re-
member that, after having fattered me- for
months, with the idea that was favored
lover, you did, few days previous to the
time of which we are speaking, discard me
in manner highly insulting then re-
solved to be revenged, and to carry out
that resolution, consented to join your
pleasure party to the Old North State and
before commencing the journey, l wrote
TO the Magistrate who met us at the tavern,
near the line, to procure license and
and prepare to unite us in marriage. This
brought together the crowd that was there
assembled, and accounts for the impression
that we were a runaway wedding party
Now what do you think of my version of
The story2".
"That it is as false as you are base, sir
Your story is an thought, and its
object is either to persecute me maliciously,
'r to extort money under false pretences.
Why, sir, if your story be true, have you
Kept silent so long9
"Your question, Miss Berne,- las / still
,all you out of respect to your feelings
| will answer with the utmost candor. II