Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-09-10

The earnest manner in which Mr.. Mot
ley had denied the charge that Helen was
really married, had shaken Ann Lees
faith in the report, and she was delibera
ting upon the propriety of acknowledging
her error and begging pardon for the note
she had written to Helen, when the fore
going communication was received. =
Shocked at the additional evidence Of
Helen's per6dy, and puzzled by the con
ficting statements of brother and lover,
she was distressed and perplexcd in no
slight degree. She had learned to despise
Mrs. Meddler, and was prepared to pro-
nouncc everything false, coming from her
in the shape Of tattle; but, in this case,
she had committed herself in writing, over
her own signature, and had pointed out
the means of testing the truth of her
statement. Should she discard it,
Should she believe it, on the authority of
known enemy to the party accused p
No; she would do neither; she would
keep the communication to herself, and
trust to the future to refute or affirm the
charge.
The plot, so well laid, worked admirably,
and Mrs. Meddler displayed her shrewd-
ness in enlisting truth and benovlence in
aid of wickedness, In due time, Helen
set off on her mission of charity, little
dreaming that the purity of her motives
and acts was to furnish the evidence to
convict her of deep moral depravity. With
purse in hand, and heart full of sympa-
thy, she entered the poor woman's cham
Der, and with cheering smile and soothing
words, dihused the light of hope over pros,
poets SO lately enveloped in gloom. Even
the infant forgetting its pains, smiled in
answer to her caresses, whilst the mothers
heart, overhowing with gratitude, uttered
silent prayer for blessings upon her
whose presence brought so much comfort.
For half an hour, Helen listened to the
mothers story of love and marriage and
probable desertion, aad became deeply in
terested in the future of the wife and
infant daughter, and, on rising to leave,
she said : ..t ,E.,., -s..4.,ts-}
| "You know, madam, where live, and
should you fail to find your truant hush
and, come to me and 1 will religiously full
fill my promise-your beautiful child shall
be mine also, and for her will do all that
a mother can dol will go now, send the
doctor and call again, this evening"
Ann Lee saw Helen go and return, just
as Mrs. Meddler had foretold; yet, as it
was known that she often paid visits to
the sick, and relived the wants of the poor,
this evidence, though corroborative, was
not conclusive, and still in state Of
anxious doubt, she put ON her bonnet
and set off on visit to female friend,
by way of relief from the oppression Of
her own feelings. On the way, she met
DR.. -, and greeting him with smile
y y for the old gentleman was universal
favorite-asked who was sick, that he was
in such hurry.
II don't know yet, Miss Ann, who the
little stranger is; but I am going, at Miss
Helen's request, to see sick child. And,
/. he added, with quizical smile, Gas she
claims it as her own, and enjoined the
strictest attention, you will excuse me foi
passing on" s...
"Proof upon proofp' Said Ann to her
self. "And this last, is conclusive.-,Sht
: claims it as her own, and thus aVows hei
= marriage, and pleads guilty to all the act
of indiscretion with which she has beer
charged Who would have thought it J.
= And she so beautiful, so gifted, and 81
" much like an angel of light Poor Hen
? ry has made narrow escape, and hi
heart will bleed afresh when l give hin
this last proof of Helen's perfdy."
She heayed q sigh of genuine sorrow, a
conviction dispelled every lingering hop
. that Helen might yet prove worthy Of he
confidence and deep-seated affection. Blu
ID she could hope no longer, and there wa
~ an "aching void in her heart, depres
Il sion of spirits, and restless apprehension
/ of impending evil that untitled her 70
er society, and she retraced her steps to he
4 own ROOM Mrs. Meddler, whose yigi
= lance nothing escaped, gloated over he
at malignant triumph, when she saw An
or turn from the Doctor with countenanc
e. expressive of the acutest mental agony
Is and she smiled grim smile, as she reAec
: ted that her plans were almost mature
ct for wreaking her vengeance upon M