Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-06-25


and incidents through which we pass.
In vain, had her father tried to interest
her by remarks upon the most striking
features of the landscape Her eye fol-
lowed the direction Of his finger, and her
lips gave cold assent to his observations !;
but her thoughts were far away and
though her eye took in the whole scene,
yet, like mirror, il only reflected the
beauty it did not feel.
She was at length aroused from her ab-
stract mood, by the stopping of the car
riage at the toll-gate, on the summit of
the mountain. After paying the fee, Mr..
Berne proposed that they should rest
awhile, in the shade Of some large oaks
whose widespread arms had given shelter
to many weary traveller after accomplish
ing the toilsome ascent of the mountain
Helen descended from the carriage, and
leaning upon her fathers arm, they ap-
preached the designated spot, where stood
a young man against the body of tree,
so absorbed in contemplation of the scene
spread out below him, as to be unconscious
of their approach until Mr.. Berne attrac-
ted his attention by offering an apology
for interrupting his meditations.
AS he turned towards them, father and
daughter saw, at glance, that his health
was greatly impaired, though his fine form
had lost but little Of its admirable proper
tions, and his handsome face, though very
pale, retained its wonted expression of
highly moral and intellectual character.
The breeze had lifted his dark brown hair
from his broad forehead, and his blue eyes
sparkled with the pleasure he had derived
from the magnificent view before him, yet
the smile was sad one, that played around
his mouth, as he thus replied to Mr..
Berne:
"No apology is necessary, sir, for 1 pre-
sumo this spot is free to every traveller;
and so far from considering your presence
an intrusion, / am pleased to have some
one to enjoy, with me, the sublime scenery
I have been contemplating with so much
satisfaction. But permit me-" he added,
Gas the first occupant, to offer you and
your fair companion seat.
The rude bench on which they seated
themselves, extended from one tree to
another, and was sheltered from the rays
of the sun by the dense, oyerhanging
foliage. Helen's first impulse, after
hasty scrutiny of the young mans perso-
nal appearance, was to make conquest of
his heart, and lead him, willing captive,
through the gay scenes she was so eagerly
anticipating, at the White Sulphur, which,
she correctly inferred, was his destination.
But her thoughts were soon diverted from
this unworthy theme, by her father, who
thus resumed the conversation;
81 have frequently visited this spot, sir,
and have never experienced any diminu-
ton of the pleasure which the prospect
afforded me the first time / looked upon it.
But, if may presume to guess, you are
not familiar with our mountain scenery
~ am not, sir. And to one-like me-
raised upon the plains of lower Virginia,
this region possesses an interest that must
be felt, to be appreciated" Having made
this brief reply, he leaned his head against
the tree, and became once more wrapt in
contemplation-the very picture of des-
pondency. Helen's better feelings we're
aroused by this silent appeal to her wo-
mans sympathies, and an unbidden tear
was the response. The gay and the grave,
the witty and the dull had contended, in
vain, for hold upon her affections; she
had listened, unmoved, to addresses made
in full confidence of success, or whispered
with difidence, or urged in tones Of en-
treaty; but never had she experienced SEN
sations so subduing, SO humanizing as
those that had reached her heart through
sympathy with noble spirit bowed be-
meath the weight of disease. And Mr..
Berne, too, who never felt happier than
when contributing to the happiness of 9TH
ers, was moved by the young mans sad
ness, and he determined to talk him into
better spirits, and thus renewed the at
tempt:
"Permit me, my dear sir, to say, if you
wish to derive benefit from travel or noun
tain air, you must not indulge such gloomy
reflections, but cultivate cheerfulness and |
total abstraction from care. The mind and
/ body are mutually dependent--the one car
not enjoy health when the other is dis
eased, and both must be acted upon Il
Ia. n