Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-09-17

/ DC spared the unpleasapt task OF carry
ing evil tidings.-And now, sir, have a
communication to make to you, which
may prove anything but agreeable !
have Just REQ 1Fed letter from my father
in which he says urgent business forces
him to go home, and as he can not return
here, without considerable sscrafce,
presses Jane and myself to join him as
soon as practicable, and suggests that it
may not be very inconyenient for you to
be our escort. would like to go to NOR
row morning; but, under the circum-
stances, feel delicacy iii urging my
fathers request"
"Don't talk to me, about Inconvenience,
Helen, when the proposition is to serve
you or your father; and if you wish to
leave in the morning, make your arrange
ments accordingly, and ! shall be ready"
"Such prompt kindness, Mr. Motley, is
just what 1 expected of you, and that
made me the more unwilling to ask it,
Mr. Eskridge, l know, would gladly at
tend us home, but felt delicacy in max
ing such a request; though if you will
get him to take your place, it will obviate
the necessity for your going, and know
it can not be agreeable to you to leave just
at this time"
"Don't trouble yourself about me, Helen;
am in love, but not crazy, and, at this
time, temporary absence may have a
salutary effect. l am far from being
pleased with AIMS conduct towards you,
and unless become better satisfied during
the day, my absence may not be temporary.
You and have been raised in the Valley,
and have not now to learn the superiority
arrogated to themselves, by the tide water
gentry, over us back-woods folks; and
though | now live on the eastern slope,
am ready to resent any airs of the sort
that may be played off upon my birth
place. | have an idea that, if you hailed
from tide water, you would not have been
so lightly given up and if | can discover
any solid grounds for this impression
something may happen
"Mr. Motley, | shall feel very unhappy
at the thought that you may suffer friend
ship for me to disturb the relations be-
tween Ann and yourself, unless you will
promise that it shall not be SO. What
should We care for any such foolish pride
of birthplace, even supposing it to exist?
| have detected nothing of that sort in
any member of that family, and hope you
will not act upon any such supposition.-
Ann Lee loves you and is worthy of you
which is saying agreat deal for her
and you ought to deliberate we'll before
you take any steps that may lead to a
breach.
II shall not act hastily, Helen; but il
Ann will not be satisfied with such an ex
planation as l can give-if she hesitate tC
acknowledge her unhappy cousin-Mrs
Burton-and to afford her such comfor
and assistance as her painful situation dc
mands, she is not the woman for me, an(
to this trial she must be subjected. This
is the manner in which propose to turn
to account the information in our posses
sion.-But, Helen, you speak of returning
home, without symptom of emotion-i
there nothing in the thought of leaving
here, that gives you pain2 Is there moth
ing in the developements of yesterday t,
revive hopes which you had thought wer
extinct?"
"Nothing whatever, sir !" She answered
in tone so sad, and with a look so re
signed that he regretted the question whicl
had cast shadow upon her serene & beauti
ful face. 81 have but two leading objects il
life, now, Mr. Motley-to make my fathe
4 happy, and to merit the esteem of the goo,
all other considerations are subordinate
In the last two months, l have lived al
: ordinary life time, and am now old in ex
p perience, purchased at dear rate True
: my own folly has added much to the bit
terness of that experience, in giving
4 handle to the wickedness of others an
it may be that have swallowed, at on
, draft, as much of the bitter as is usual
administered, at intervals, during a Ion
term of years, If this be so, it may b
c my lot to pass quietly and contentedl
through lite-onjoying the present, look
ing hopefully to the future, and back upo
y the past, as a troubled dream"
$ 'No, no, Helen worthier fate await
u you So much intellect, such purity an
y elevation of sentiment, so much of eharit
and bcncyoleuce were never given you thc
Al 1. Il .s II 1 A. Il.