Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-06-25
CLARKsvILLE TENN, FRIDAY. JUNE rs, 1858.

] 49, ~@~~
want of larger proportions. Her eyes
were deep blue, her complexion fair and
her hair nut-brown. Helen was little
above the medium height, and there was
commading dignity in her appearance,
combined with easy grace, that rarely fail
ed to impress the beholder with the belief
that so perfect an exterior betokened supe-
rior endowments. of head and hesrt. Her
hair and eyes were black, aud her com
plexion of the purest white-with just
enough Of the rose upon her cheeks to
indicate perfect health; and her features,
when in repose, were expressive of gentle
ness, rendered more fascinating by shade
of melancholy which gave to their ex-
preston a twilight softness and beauty,
alike indescribable and inimitable. Her
voice was soft and musical, and of such
compass that, like well.strung instru-
ment, no matter what chord was touched,
there was sure to be corresponding tone.
Having, now, hurriedly introduced these
two ladies to the reader, we shall leave him
to form his own estimate of their character
as he becomes better acquainted, while
pursuing their history, as imperfectly re-
corded in the following pages. But, fear
ing he will find the narrative sadly efficient
in interest, we will here apprize him, in
justice to ourself, that the fault is not ours;
for we are writing no fiction, but recording
matters Of fact, and, consequently, the de-
gree of interest they are capable of inn
parting, depends not upon the narrator,
but upon their intrinsic merits. This ex-
planation will serve to prevent the disap-
lpointment, the reader might otherwise ex-
perience, on meeting with none Of those
thrilling scenes and heart-rending in
cedents which so frequently occur in works
of fiction, and, alas so much oftener in
real life.
Had we set out to portray characters
and incidents, the creations of our own
fancy, we would have gone back to times
long past, and laid our scenes in the midst
of national conflicts, or border strifes,
where our hero could win imperishable
fame by the achievement of many gallant
Decd where his conquering banner could
wave in triumph over many blood field (;
where he could select for his "ladye love"
some princess held in "durance vile" by
her cruel oppressor, avenge her wrongs by
the overthrow Of her enemies, reinstate
her in all her rights, and receive, as the
need of his valor, the heart and hand of
the lovely being for whom he had fought
bled and conquered.
But the historian is allowed no such
poetic licence. There are limits prescribed
to him, by time, place and circumstance,
which he can not transcend, except at the
hazard of his own reputation. The stern
requirements of truth and justice forbid
him to exaggerate the vices, or detract
from the virtues of those whose sayings
and doings he has undertaken to record
The scenes through which we are to pass,
and the incidents we are to relate, belong,
historically, to the "Old Dominion" and
to the recent past. We can not, therefore,
rear castle upon every hilltop, to be
peopled with mail-clad knights and their
armed retainars to defend them against
fierce banditti, who infest the secluded
glens and narrow mountain passes, to exact
tribute from the lonely traveller and do
violence to unprotected beauty, without a
departure from historic truth, too glaring
to escape detection. And as most Of the
characters, here introduced, are still living,
we are compelled to forego the pleasure Of
an accurate description of their persons,
lest they may recognize themselves and
take offence at being so unceremoniously
dragged before the public, and their private
histories divulged.
With this explanation, which can not be
otherwise than satisfactory to the reader,
we close this, the first chapter.
CHAPTER II.
In her eighteenth year, Helen Berns
returned home from a fashionable Semi.
) nary, in conscious possession of those ac
complishments which seem artfully design
} ed to cover vital defects in the system O
: female education. And gifted, as she was
by nature, and adorned by art, it is no