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

to authorise some friend to contradict those
reports before they take too deep hold
upon the minds of the visitors? Should
they be permitted to pass uncOntradicted,
they will soon be received as true, at least
by those who need only pretext for ex-
citing prejudice against you"
Helen was offended by his manner,
which she thought implied belief in the
reports he advised her to contradict, and
also an intention to draw from her, in
directly, a repetition of the explanation
she had already given him. Itwas, there
fore, in no very mild mood that she re-
piled
"No, sir 1 shall delegate no such
authority to any one. When my own ex-
planation has proven unsatisfactory to
those who have received it, it were folly to
suppose that the assertions of third per-
son would be of any avail" She bowed
slightly, and was about to pass him, when
he again intercepted her and said
II fear you are offended, Miss Borne, at
the freedom with which l have addressed
you, and, presuming upon the footing on
which we so lately stood towards each
other, prehaps 1 have vcntured too far
But, believe me, | am aotuated by no
selfish considerations. The dreams of
happiness which l have INDUCED in my
waking moments, have lost even the semb-
lance of reality since you rebuked their
indulgence, and nothing but my high re-
gard for your father, and the associations
connected with the past few weeks could
induce me thus to accost you"
"You, sir, who appreciate candor SO
highly, ought not to be apprehensivc of
giving oifense when you manifest it in
your intercourse with others; and since
you have probably learned that l am sadly
deficient in that sterling quality, you will
not be surprised when tell you that, in
my opinion, l have been as explicit, in re-
lation to the rumors of which you speak,
as truth, or candor can require. You will
excuse me, therefore, if l decline any
farther conversation on that subject
So different was Hclen's bearing from
that which Mr.. Lee anticipated, that he
was at loss what to think. Her deport-
ment, on this occasion, seemed totally in
compatible with the character ascrbed to
her; and the slight degree of anger she
betrayed was rather the effect of injured
innocence than of detected duplicity, He
had commenced the conversation with a
view to act the part of a friendly monitor,
and, if practicable, to extract from her an
Iexplanation of the circumstances in which
he felt so deep an interest; but he soon
found thath had to act upon the defensive,
and instead Of being the monitor of his
fair companion he would be forced to de-
fend himself against her censure npon his
own conduct.
81 am the very last person, Miss Berne
whowould press upon youa topic, avowedly
disagrecable; and without any intention
to disregard your wishes, may [ not
ask in what manner / have offended you
You have made some allusion that were
no doubt, intended for me, but assure you
have not the remotest idea of their mean
ing, or of the manner in which they can
apply to me"
"Excuse me, SIR" she answered; "if
decline to make the application. But
were it becoming in me to say all that
think and feel, night demonstrate agains
the injustice of being condemned upor
hearsay-I might undertake to prove tina
truth may be distorted and that goodnes
of heart and error of judgement ma.
, sometimes be found in the same indi
vidual."
aFar be it from me, Miss Bernc, to con
trovort the truth of your remarks but
can not perceive how [ am made amonabl
: to the censurc they convey-for | hav
; not distorted the truth, nor have pro
nounced the heart doprayed because tn
$ head is in error"
81 do not mean even to insiuuate tina
1 you, sir, have perverted the truth; bu
t others, it seems, have done so, and yo
may have shared their culpabilty by Civ
ing n too ready credence to their misrepre