Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-02-05

that L can not reward your love with a
full return in kind" .
"Nay, let it not disturb you for a
moment;" he replied "I have seen too
much of life not to know how to bear its
disappointments, and have too high a
sense of justice to condemn, where there
is no blame" y r..-- ,..r..1 al. ... Z
"Too often is it the case, sir, she re-
piled, "that disappointment, like yours,
results in final rupture between the
parties, and 1 am most happy in the pros
pect that such will not be the case with us.
You have taken the right view of the sub
icct, and | should be both foolish and un
grateful did not tender you as warm
and true friendship as you can give in
return" "
"And | should be churlish and unwise
did l value it less because it is rot all that
l asked. And now that we understand
each other, l would like to ask one ques-
ton; perhaps it is not fair one, and /
have no right to ask it but when a man
is defeated, he always likes to know by
what means. Was it my fate not to strike
your fancy, or did l attempt to win heart
already preoccupied by love for another?'
Ida blushed to the temples, and her eyes
flashed with momentary anger; but the
Major saw not the effect of his question,
and awaited the answer with apparent
composure. His companion remained
silent, evidently striving to subdue her
excitement before she ventured to reply:
"Your question, sir, is not fair one
but knowing that you intend no wrong, in
asking it, it would be unjust to treat it as
otherwise than kindly meant. But"
at was kindly meant" he said, inter
rupting her; "but it is impertinent-idle
curiosity led me to commit a gross in
discretion of which, for the moment, I
was not aware. hope, therefore, you
will pardon me, and treat the question as
though it had never been asked" r
Certainly, sir; your request is granted
but / must ask you not to infer, from my
unwillingness to answer, that have any
thing to conceal, connected with the sub
ject of your enquiry. AS the politicians
say, principle is involved in this question,
and any surrender of my abstract right to
keep a secret, if / have one, would be
treason to the Constitution--of woman,
and precedent dangerous to her hap
piness, if not subversive of. her power, as
queen of hearts" .. ef., .
The Major disclaimed being politician,
though he acknowledged the truth of her
position, and felt the force of her reason
ing; and assuming the bantering tone
which Ida had adopted evidently with a
view to dismiss the serious topic which had
engaged their attention, the conversation
became unconstrained, and Ida was soon
laughing as merrily as if her warm heart
had never felt pang, nor her bright eyes
distilled tear. But she did not remem-
Der that the smile on her lips, the light in
her eyes, the music of her voice and the
grace of her attitudes served to deepen
the anguish of the Majors disappointment
by reminding him of all he had lost
And it was only through the efforts Of
a strong will, and the aid of philosophy
which he had assiduously cultivated, that
he was enabled to keep up the semblance
of gaiety; but despite all this, shade
would sometimes rest upon his brow, and
his thoughts wander from the topics to
which his fair companion endeavored to
direct them. Ida observed this, and halt
in earnest, though in tone of banter
said
81 shall begin to think, Major, unless
you wear a more cheerful countenance
that our treaty of amity is but hollow
truce. Where, now, is your boasteC
philosophy, that you can not command i
in sufficient force even to salve the wound,
inflicted by the wayward fancies of SILLY
girl?"
philosophy can do much y he replied
'to mitigate the sufferings of mind o.
body, and, if incurablc, to nerve us to bea
them but-as the Quartermasters wifi
said, the other day, as an apology for he
! Indifferent beer-it must have time to work
Reaction does not Immediately follow
heavy blow, and until it does take place
there can be no persistent and resolut
effort of the will"
"At any rate, said she; 81 hope yO'
will exercise sufficient self-control t
prevent the people in the fort from sus
] ,oo4;nc, tbot onvtbino ,noro than frienI