Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-07-30

"to pry into your affairs, and, but for an
accident, l might never have known that
Miss Berne is an object of interest to you,
or that she is playing, with you, the same
game she has so successfully played with
Others 81 r
"That you are acquainted with some facts
which 1 hoped had not been divulged,
will not deny" Mr.. Lee answered; "but
the extent of your information, and the
means by which you obtained it. 1 have
yet to learn, and you will confer favor by
explaining
"I might hesitate to do so, Mr. Lee,
knowing, as l do, that you are prejudiced
against me, in consequence of charges
preferred by some with whom you associ-
ate, did not possess the documents which
will preclude the necessity Of any reliance
upon my veracity, which you have, doubt
less, heard called in question But pre-
vious to exhibiting the proof | must in
sist that you examine it here, and return
it, for l am resolved to keep it for any
emergency that may hereafter arise. Do
you accept the terms?"
"It is true, Mr. Estelle, that have
heard your yeracity impeached, and your
motives impugned, but whether justly or
not, have no means of determining and
without any intention to wound your feel
ings, unnecessarily, | must assure you
that feel delicacy in longer conversing
with you upon this subject. We are straD-
gers to each other, and know not your mo-
tives for interesting yourself in my affairs.
1t cannot be from regard for me; andif it
be from ill-will TO others, l shall be at a
los how far to credit your statements" :"
"This is plain dealing, sir" Said Es-
telle, his face red with passion. "But as
l have no desire to quarrel with you, ]
shall take no offense at language much
harsher than the occasion requires. L
will, however, be as candid with you. l
am actuated by no particular partiality for
you, sir, in rendering to you the facts in
my possession, but am simply retaliating
upon those who make no scruple to injure
my character and interfere with my do
mestic affairs. And as chance has thrown
in my way the means of enlightening you
on the subject already referred to, resolv-
ed to avail myself of the advantage afforded
me. If you are willing to receive the in
formation on the terms proposed, it is at
hand; nor do / see why you should be
scrupuious about the source whence il
comes since it so nearly concerns your hap
piness to know whether or not you are fair
ly dealt with by one to whom you have SO
recently offered your heart and hand,-
The proof | have to offer, is letter writ
ten by Miss Berne to Mr.. Eskridge, assu-
ring him of her unchanged and unchange-
able affection, and informing him of your
recent offer and her unqualified rejection
of it, Promise to read and return it here,
and you shall see it.
II have listened to your proposition,
Mr.. Estelle with apathy rather than pa
tience, and have conversed with you me-
chanically-being too much engrossed
with my own reflections to know exactly
what was saying, or what you were pro-
posing. But am aroused now, and shall
deal with you firmly, but without anger,
because am willing to believe that you are
not aware of the true import of the prop
osition you have submitted to me. You
ask me to read a letter-obtained, know
not how, nor by whom written-and tc
receive it as proof of Miss Berne's du
plicity; yet am required to read that let
ter and to promise to say nothing about i
to any one. Have / stated the case fairly
sir?'
"You have stated the proposition fairly
sir" Estelle replied, with an uneasy ex
preston of countenance;" but you have
accompanied 1T with an inslnuauon no
warranted by the facts"
''No matter about the insinuation, sir
Mr., Lee replied; "that is matter of mer'
inference. But before give you an an
swer, l have a right to ask how you OBJ
tanned possession of that letter, and hov
you can identify it as the handwriting o
Miss BerneY'
Joseph Estelle began to feel uncomfor
table under this calm scrutiny; but ha
shrewdness enough to perceive that hi
only chance of success was in bold eiIron
terry, assimilated, as nearly as possible, t
candor; and he accordingly answered;
~ admit the propriety of the question
you have asked sir: and as have nothin