Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-03-12
CHAPTER XII.

WILMER returned to the party, and an
nounced his purpose TO leave at once. In
vain, Gen. Holmes and Maj. Dade begged
him to return to the fort, promising that
he should not only be reinstated, but pro.
NOTED. He thanked them for their kind
wishes, but told them his connection with
the army had ceased for ever. He bade
them all an affectionate adieu, except the
Hermit and turning to shake hands with
him, saw him. at a short distance, hastily
saddling his horse and kindly admonish-
ing Mike Sloan to join the army and
amend his ways. In reply to Winners
question, whether he did not intend to
accompany the little army on its return,
he replied:
"No, my young friend Where you 60,
1 will go also if can not serve, will
not embarrass you. So say no more about
it-<my mind is made up"
Wilmer thanked him by silent pressure
of the hand, and they mounted their
horses, when Mike went up to Wilmer
and said, in low tone;
"Id go too, sir, eff you'd let me but
kin do you more good by hangin round
bout here. That ar gal, what's crying at
the spring, aint safe yit. Do you know
one Capt. Fritz, sir"
"Certainly" Wilmer answered with
evident interest.
"Well, he's the Captain Of them desarters,
and he's gone back to'ards the fort, and
I'm goin to watch EN-, and eff he does any
deviltry agin that gal, I'll foller i'm to the
eend of the world. hates the burned
scamp, and eff he don't look out, I'll hav
his skelp yit"
"Well, Mike, l am going towards the
Red River village, and if anything should
happen, you will know pretty we'll where
to find me; and, depend upon it, your
services shall be we'll rewarded. Good
: bye"
He rode rapidly away, as if anxious tc
loose sight of those he left behind him
and the Hermit was by his side, resolutely
bent upon sharing all the perils of the
adventure. With the best wishes for theil
safety and success, we leave them for tn,
present, and accompany the weeping
maiden whose unsolicited heart she had
as she candidly acknowledged to hersel
) -unwisely given away. But hope rarel.
deserts the most wretched, and as sh,
i gazed upon his miniature, and remembered
his acts, his looks, his words, hope whis
0 pered that her love was not unreturned
and fancy fashioned the theory that h
was engaged to another, and his homo
bound him to fulfil that engagement; bu
: that his love might be hers. Could sh
but know this to be the case, she though
she could calmly resign him and live con
j. tent with the knowledge that his heart wa
l. hers, though his hand was anothers.
Fancy sometimes plays wild freaks wit
> maidens' hearts, and aided by hope, rear
castles in the air beneath whose crumblin
ruins are buried blighted prospects an
#, withered fections-leaving nothing I
live for, in the future, and nc.hing, in th
past, for memory to look back upon, bu
y the grave of happiness, Fortunately how
ever, such instances are the exceptions
the general rule--ladies hearts being, wit
an occasional exception, too elastic
= break under any weight Cupid can apply
y and the mischief-loving elf, being to
=" shrewd to shiver his playthings, permit
" them throw off the weight of disappoint
" ment that he may renew his game
" Whether Idas heart was of the elasti
kind, that can love for a week, grieve fc
= an hour, and then love again, or was of
= material from which an impression can M
" be obliterated without destroying the who
texture, is a question that her biographC
- - can not decide, with the lights now befoi
% him. Suffice it to say, for the present, sh
was unhappy, and suffered none the LEI
\ from feeling the necessity for hiding h'
bo grief from prying eyes. She dried he
Lo tears, and placing the miniature nOar hC
60 heart, rejoincd her father.
n, Scarcely had she placed herself by II
Sc Generals side, and answered question {
ho two propounded by Maj. Dade, in referen'
II, to her health, when horseman was see
to approaching from the direction of Il