Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-02-26
CHAPTER VII.

SCARCELY had Lieut. Wilmer left the
fort, after his trial and sentence, when q
reaction began to manifest itselfin his ia
vor His enemies began to remember the
indgnities he had patiently borne at the
hands of Captain Fritz, and not one could
remember that he or she had ever been in
jured by him This mode of looking
into the subject revealed the conduct of
all parties in its true light, and the convic-
ton rapidly gained ground that the hand
some Lieutenant had been deeply wrong
cd and when it became known that he
had classified Fritz for speaking of the
Generals daughter in terms of marked dis
respect, the dislike felt for the former was
gradually transferred to the latter.
Maj Dade had felt deeply for Wilmer
and when he perceived that sreat change
was taking place in popular sentiment, his
first step was to acquaint himself with the
facts, and the proof by which they could
be sustained and the next was to arragn
Fritz for unofficer like conduct towards an
inferior, and for slandering Ida Holmes
lie was accordingly brought to trial, when
so much was proven to his prejudice, that
he was dismissed by an unanimous SEN
tence ofthe Court. His craven spirit then
manifested itself in his entreaties to be
pardoned aud reinstated; and his malignity
of heart, in threats of vengeance upon all
the dwelers within the fort after he found
that his entreaties were in vain.
His last act was blow at Ida. Bell
Brown had recognized on the finger of
Wilmer, the ring Ida had given him, and
infGring, not more than was Legitimate
perhaps, but much more than was true, she
told Fritz that Ida and Wilmer were en-
gagged, and cited the ring in proof. The
Captain was aware of the prejudices enter
tanned by Gen. Holmes towards Wilmer,
and armed with the circumstances detail
ed by Bell, he wrote an anonymous note
to the General, setting forth good deal
y
laid it upon the desk, where it was not
likely to escape the notice Of him to whom
it was directed And the feelings Of 4
father SO sensitive, on reading communi
cation rejecting upon the prudence ant
candor of his daughter, must be left to the
readers Imagination,
"Ida," said the General, entering he
room, after supper, and handing her th'
note, 'read this, and tell me how much o
tits true!' .....
With a trembling hand, she opened th
note, whilst he seated himself and lookec
earnestly into her face during the who'll
time she was porusing the note, Sh'
was surprised at his manner on entering
as we'll as at the tone in which he address
ed her, and her confusion was increase,
by the consciousness that his eye wa
bent sternly upon her countonance. Thi
state of embarrassment the result Of hi
own bearing, he was but too ready t
charge to the account of conscious gull
and thus mistaken, his displeasuro ha
deepened into feeling ofalmost tempest
nous passion by the time she raised he
eyes from the paper, and they met hi
She did not shrink, however, from h
piercing scrutiny, as she replied
From what | had hitherto conceive
Of your character, sir, Tor calm and delil
eratc justice | did not expect you to com
to me with suspicion in your heart, and
vfrown upon your brow, to demand I'll
truth Of anonymous charges But you
question shall he answered promptly an
cauddly gave Mr. Wilmer ring, (
proof Of my gratitude for his prom
chastisemcnt of a base calumniator Of m
character, and for having done so, ha,
nothing to regret This much Of the col
d tents Of the paperis truo, all else ia false
So Tho General seemed Disconnected /