Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-09-03

He spoke so calmly that Helen was as
much deceived in him. as he was in her,
and wondered-judging by her own emo
tions--how, after so many protestations of
devoted love, he could give her up without
u show of feeling, and talk as cody as if
parting with sister for few days. But
he, like herself was acting part that re-
quired all his powers of self-control, and
that part was to suppress, not to exhibit
the feelings that were but too ready to
display themselves in full force; and though
impelled by the same motive, and succeed
ing by the same means, they were mutually
deceived-each lowered in the estimation
of the other by the display of powers
worthy of mutual admiration. To his last
remark, Helen thus replied
"You wrong me, Mr.. Lee, if you charge
that have betrayed your confidence In
my explanation, weeks ago, l told you of
all the follies that have been the common
topic here, since my arrival, and which
have been multiplied and magniRed until
the originals are Insignificant by contrast
And that I did not tell you of this last
incident, was simply because l had forgot
ten the mock ceremony prompted by a
wild spirit of fun. l did not dream that
Mr.. Burton, with malice aforethought,
had so contrived as to give to the mockery
the binding efficacy of law, and not until
this evening did 1 learn the startling fact.
l offer this explanation from an earnest
desire to stand justified, as far as possible,
in your opinion, and in this light, only, 1
trust you will receive it.
"And do you mean to say, Helen, that
the marriage, the certificate of which l
have seen, was, on your part, an idle
ijest?"
"You ought to put that question to Mr..
Motley, sir. He was present, and, doubt
less, his statement will have more weight
with you than mine. Our whole party
except one-knew it to be joke, on my
part, and Mr.. Motley protested against it,
but in terms that strengthened my inclina-
ton to play out the farce Mr. Burton
was then a young man of high standing,
and though had discarded him but few
days previous, there was nothing in his
antecedents to authorise the belief that he
could be capable of an act of deliberate
villainy."
"And were he recognized as gentle.
man now," said Mr.. Lee, in an excited
tone, che should pay dearly for his vii,
lainy; but as bloated drunkard and no.
torious black-leg, l know not how to reach
, him. But" he continued, in a tone oi
: bitterness and incredulity, II must admire
J the rascals astonishing foresight. You
set out on pleasure "trip along the base
of the Blue Ridge, the trip to terminate
in the State of North Carolina-the Gretn;
} Green of the disobedient lovers of Virginia
Mr.. Burton foresaw the small gathering
? at the country Inn across the line, and
anticipated the impression upon thatcrowd
t that you were runaway wedding party
Q and foreseeing, too, that you would b.
willing to stand up as his bride in shan
t marriage, wrote to Magistrate frient
Q of his-to procure licence and meet hin
at the aforesaid Inn, to unite in the holy
bonds of wedlock, Mr. Thomas Burtor
and Miss Helen Bcrne, both of Augusta
county and State of Virginia. This,
believe, is substantially your version o
7 the matter"
t Helen looked up into his face to see i
its expression accorded with his tone an,
G language; but it was too dark for such
r scrutiny, and though not willing to believ
that he intended to express doubt of tn
: truth of her statement, replied, somewha
e ourtly:
d "That version is not mine, sir; and
|, have simply given Mr., Burton's statement
G to the best of my recollection. And
d you mean to insinuate that the affair wa
). preconcerted between us, the insnuatio
e is as untrue as it is ungenerous. You d
Q well, however, to remind me that hav
not yet so far won upon your confdenc
/, as to gain credit with you for truth an
Il sincerity. But as this will be our la,
% interview, and we are henceforth to b
y strangers to each other, let us part i
IT mutual kindness. l freely forgive all you
lie doubts and suspicious, and beg to be fol
a given for all I have made you suffer"
at 81 freely forgive you, Helen, and wis
- it were as easy to forget. And if l hay
G, entertained doubts and suspicious, yo
A. know that it was not without cause an