Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-08-20
CHAPTER XVII.

incidents recorded in the last chapter, Mr..
Bcrne was actively engaged in preparations
for his visit to Winchester, for which place,
he intended to leave Immediately after
breakfast. His first step was to call on
Mr.. Motley, whom he thus addressed:
II know it is unusual, sir, to place
young ladies under the protection of so
young man as yourself, and some may
deem it imprudent; but in confding my
daughter and niece to your care, for few
days, / know that l am providing ample
protection, and every security for their
comfort that my own presence can afford
them l shall tell them that have ap-
pointed you their temporary guardian, and
no explanation will be necessary on either
side"
II fear that they will find in me a poor
substitute" Mr.. Motley replied; "but the
confidence you repose in me, together with
my own consciousness of the Importance
of the trust, will be a powerful stimulus
to the faithful discharge of my duty; and
be assured, sir, that will exert myself, to
the utmost, to merit your confidence, and
give entire satisfaction to the ladies during
my temporary guardianship. And my
first act of authority will be to forbid all
intercourse between them and Messrs.
Eskridge and Lee who will be likely
enough to presume upon my good nature,
and endeavor to take the ladies under their
especial care"
"Do as you think best, sir" said Mr..
Berne, in the same jocular vein; ~ give
yoe full power to act as you think, would
act under the same circumstances; and if
you can persuade either of the girls to
choose you as her guardian for life, l will
sanction the choce--But let us 60 now,
and escort them to breakfast"
"Your Kindness to me has been mani
tested little too late y said Mr. Motley,
as they walked ON towards the cabin "for,
if I am not greatly mistaken, both the
ladies have already chosen their Lifelong
guardians, and inasmuch as | approve
their choice, shall not griove about it"
"And if am not very much mistaken" T"
Mr. Berne retorted, "you, too, have made
choice of partner for life, and inasmuch
as I approve your choice, wish you entire
success. Miss Lee is charming girl, and
merits the Aappiest fate, fortune can be-
stow"
allow do you know, sir" asked Mr..
Motley, in surprise, "that ever entertain
ed thought of addressing Miss Lee ?"
~ have it, sir, under your own hand,
which presume you will not deny"
"No, sir, will not deny my own hand /;
but challenge you to produce single line
that ever wrote to her; and if you have
letter supposed to have been written by
me, pronounce it forgery before l see
it."
~ do not think this is forgery, Mr..
Motley" said Mr.. Berne, drawing the
paper from his pocket; "but listen and
lHeu ueCluc' ilS lHcu Icdu ucllpcIdttIy
and in a sonorous voice, the following
lines;
Brightly beam thy sparkling eyes,
Richer than gems of earth, or sea;
The radiant stars of cloudless skies
Are far less bright to me.
Thy polished brow, OF marble white,
From every trace of care is free,
And wrcathed with trcsses dark as night,
Seems bcauiy's throne to mo-
"That will do, sir; :" said Mr. Motley,
interrupting himi 81 plead guilty, so spare
me- if you please, the hearing of the bal
lance"
"Oh, no, sir-lets have it ALL" Mr.
Berne, laughingly replied "There are
three more verses, and they contain the
cream of the joke"
II beg, sir, that you will read no more
but return me the foolish verses which ]
was silly enough to write, and thoughtless
enough not to burn. Ihope, sir, you have
not exposed me by exhibiting them l''
"No, sir, the secret is between us, un,
less you have divulged it; so take your
verses, and, if you choose, give them tC
Miss Lee, But when was young man
if gentleman had written poetry to hi,
= mistress he would have been considered {
little light-hoaded, or so"
"But you must remember, my dear sir,
Mr. Motley, rallying to his own defence
''that refinement has made rapid strides
since Bundling went out of fashion, A
the time you speak of, fewer words were
used in courtshtp, and more manipulation