Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-07-23
CHAPTER TX,

Gle we shall not attemptto describe. As the
daughter of his only sister, she was very
dear to him, and her reception, on this oc.
pasion, it will be inferred, was most cordial
and affectionatc. Nor will we repeat the
conversation that passed between the three
which, III consideration of James evident
fatigue, Mr.. Berne abruptly brought to a
close by good -humoredly ordering the
girls to bed.
Helen found no difficulty in persuading
her cousin to retire to rest; and having
seen her comfortably slowed away for the
night, she busted herself in disposing OF
James baggage, and in making such ar
rangements as this addition TO her house
hold demanded. Her chief object, how
ever was to seem busy until Jane was
asleep, that she might, without witness,
read the letter which Mr. Motley had SO
silly placed in her hand. And as soon as
James breathing indicated that she was
asleep, Helen seated herself at the table,
and examined the superscription with
view To ascertain from whom the letter
came. The handwriting seemed familiar,
and was evidently masculine, but she could
not identify it. She, then broke the seal,
and was painfully agitated on finding,
within the folds of the letter, the lock OF hair
she had given Mr.. Eskridge The promise
she had exacted when the gift was made
the conditions on which it was to be re-
turned, forced themselves upon her memory
with startling distinctness. For awhile,
she sat motionless--he left arm resting
upon the table, and the handsupporting her
head, whilst her right hand grasped the
letter. Her rich, full suit Of black hair
hung loosely over her uncovered neck and
bosom. and seemed the richer for its strk-
ing contrast with their snowy whiteness,
and her eyes were fixed in unconscious
gaze upon the unwelcome messenger whose
tidings were of past she would feign for
get, and could remember only with humila-
ton and sorrow,
If it is true that virtue is its own re-
ward, the converse is no less true--that
every violation of moral law carries with
it its own aveuging principle. If the
reader doubt this, let him look at this
lovely being in her attitude Of deep dis
trcss and ask himself why it is, that at
the midnight hour, her pillow is un-
pressed and the letter upon which she
gazes seems to spread before her records of
the past, indcllibly stamped upon her
memory? 1t is because every line of that
record bears witness to the violation of
moral law. Upon this charge, she is ar
raigned before the tribunal of her own
conscience May che bear with patient
fortitude, the punishment it awards, and,
by her after life, so far atone for past
transgressions as to blot them forever from
the book of remembrance
With an effort, she at length recalled her
thoughts from the past, and, nerying her
self for the task, with burning check and
throbbing heart, read the following
"MIss BERNr,
In compliance with your request, that
l would return this pledge of love you
never felt, whenever might cease to love
you, my friend, Mr. Motley, will place it
in your hands At an earlier period, it
would have been returned, could have
said, with truth, no longer loved you
But, in spite of the knowledge that my
passion had never been reciprocated--in
spite Of my efforts TO cxtinguish fame
that had not even hope to feed it, my
heart still worshiped its first idol, And
even now, when | am free from the tolls
YOU had woven around me, it costs me an
effort to part with this mute companion of
so many hours of delusive happiness. But
I will not reproach you, Helen, for the
suffering have endured because | know
it was thoughtlessly infieted-your better
feelings yielded trust, only for a time
to that longing after universal admira-
tion, which, however much it may ilatter
our vanity can add nothing to our perm
sncnt happiness, Have you not found it
so, Helen? And that the phantom-ad
you have pursued with
30 much eagcrness, has led you deeper
and deeper into tho mazes of error?
Then permit me, as a friend-for such
I am--to cntreat you carefully to review
the history of year or two, and ask your
self if the retrospect is pleasant Ifyour
conscience answers in the affirmative, then
l have less to regret than l had supposed;
if not, l leave it to your good sense to de-
termine, from the past, what should be
your conduct for tho future. These re-
marks, believe me-, are dictated by an
earnest solicitude for your happiness; in
this spirit | hope you will receive them,
and excuse the blunt franknoss of your
friend, GEORGE ESKRIDGE."
40 G.uo.o,,. =, okla IA haarioA ,,,.o - u.tA.