Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-04-02

8 interrupt their teSe-a-tete.p Sosaying, h
turned around and, with his astonishe,
, companion, retraced his steps.
4 Ida meanwhile, without suspicion 0
treachery, or doubt Of the propriety 0
a step taken in all the purity of hear
that harbored no evil, hastened, with
light step and clear conscience, to NEE
, the man--as she fopdly believed--wlon
she loved and honored. When, however
she had approached near enough to see
! by the light of the moon, the figure that
stepped out into the walk, her quick eye
perceived that the man before her-slender
and below the medium height-was moi
Charles Wilmer, and without hesitation,
she turned and fed back to the house.
In her hasty fight, she did not see the
figure Of her aunt, who stepped aside to
let her pass. Now Mrs. Holmes, who had
gathered enough, from the dialogue be-
tween Ida and the messenger to infer the
contemplated meeting, had resolved to be
witness Of the same, and followed Ida
into the garden for that purpose. Being
woman Of vindictive feelings, Mrs.
Holmes had resented strongly the rejec-
ton of her SON by Ida; and though
motherless and under her protection, she
was rather pleased with the prospect of
discovering cause for censuring, if not
openly quarrelling with, her niece. The
meeting she had not Witnessed, because
it had not actually taken place, but the
intention was manifest, and the indiscre-
ton as palpable as if the parties had met.
Whilst Mrs. Holmes slowly returned to
the house, her son hastened home by the
front street. and they met in the hall, and
walked togther into the sitting room, where
Ida had preceded them, thinking that she
would not see either Of them again, that
night. Her cheeks were flushed and her
manner excited, but by a strong effort, she
Immediately regained outward composure.
'Ida," said her aunt, with look of
triumph, and in sarcastic tone, 'I sup
pose your lover must have been rude,
judging from the shortness of the in
terview, and the haste with which you re-
treated"
Ida was taken by surprise, and remain
ed, for awhile, in deep thought, and with
eyes bent upon the floor. At length she
met the eye Of her aunt, with firm look
and countenance composed, aud said:
81 have enemies in the city, aunt; but
did not expect to find them in this house
hold. I received, this evening, note,
Ipurporting to have been written by a.
gentleman who, when last We met, entrust-
ed to my care these miniatures, with re-
quest that l would keep them till he called
for them. The note contained request
that would meet him at the garden gate
and presuming that his object was to re-
cover these portraits, set out to meet him
and to deliver up the trust. That note"
she continued fixing searching look upon
Edward, "was forgery, and in place of
the gentleman l hoped to see, there stood
your son, madam, a party to this base
fraud, instead of a natural protector; and
the aunt, to whom I looked up as to a
mother, condescends to take part, as
spy" to.-sas .r' -a-.i
"If a fraud has been practiced upon
you," Mrs. Holmes replied-a good deal
abashed, but not softened-"I had no hand
in it. True, l suspected the meeting, and
determined to witness it, that 1 might
know whether you could be guilty Of such
gross imprudence. There was no meeting,
but that was not your fault, and feel
constrained to tellyou that can no longer
respect you as have DONE"
"Mother," said Edward, ''your language
is too harsh. Ida has been deceived, and
1 confess that, in an evil hour, consented
to play part in the fraud, of which am
heartily ashamed, and penitently beg par
don. My object was not to betray Ida
into an indiscrition, but to ascertain
whether, or not, she loves another, that /
might determine, thereby, whether there
is hope for me-" f
"Well, my son, 1 hope you are now
satisfied that there is no hope, and even If
there were, and ever so Aattering, / trust
you have too much discretion to desire,
for a wife, woman who would consent TO
meet man at this hour, who is not worthy
to be received as guest in my house"
"But there is no such a man in the
case, mother; it was all fabricationr' "A
"No matter If it was--Ida didn't know
it, and it is just the same, with her, as if