Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-08-20

lives are spent In expectation of that
which has no real xistence-uninterrup
ted happiness"
"Then you may set me down an old
bachelor" said Mr.. Motley, "if such is the
consequence of matrimony. understand
now, the meaning of the term single
blessedness,' which 1 have been silly
enough to believe was used only ironical-
lly."
"You misunderstood my father, Mr..
Motley" Helen replied, "and, 1 suspect,
Intentionally. He did not mean to say
that such is the necessary consequence of
marriage, but that it is the fate of those
who expect from it degree of happiness
that does not belong to earth, and who
have revelled so long in the Aowery fields
of fancy as to unfit themselves for the
sober realities of everyday life."
"That is what I meant, Helen, and Mr..
Motley SO understood me; but he is ever
on the look out for something to laugh at
in every subject, no matter how grave
as there is no malice in his composition,
girls, you must bear with him, especially as
l have appointed him your guardian dur
ing my absence"
Jane was about to enter good-humored
protest against the appointment, but was
prevented by the arrival of Messrs. Esk-
ridge and Lee. Mr.. Berne asked them to
excuse him, as he had some arrangements
to complete, and consigning Helen to Mr..
Lees care, returned to the cabin.
II hope your father does not intend to
leave us for any length of time" Said
Mr.. Lee to Helen. awe shall all miss
him very much"
"His stay is uncertain" She replied
"He is going on James business, as you
are aware, and does not know how long he
will be detained, because he is ignorant of
what is to be done, and of the obstacles
that may be thrown in his way"
"Mr. Estelle is missing this morning,
and l wonder if he has anticipated your
fathers movements! IF SO, he may give
him some trouble"
81 hope not, sir" she replied, "for my
father told no one, of his intention until
this morning, so think it scarcely possible
that Mr.. Estelle can know anything of it.
But Mr.. Meddler is still here, and that is
a guarantee that he is not far of"
"I think it will not be long, Helen, be-
fore both of them will be driven away
Mr.. Estelle has made himself obnoxious
to more than one person here, and he will
be held to strict account for his vilainy."
"He is desperate man, Mr.. Lee )" said
Helen, in tone of anxiety; "and fear
that the result of difficulty with him,
will be serious, if not fatal To-" She
stopped short, as if she were about to say
too much.
"Fatal to whom, HeIen?" Mr.. Lee
asked
"To Mr.. Eskridge," she answered with
some hesitation; twas it not to him you
alluded" ?"
ayes, in part, Helen" He replied in a
tone of disappointment. "But why are
you anxious for him alone? ?"
Because I took it for granted that diff
Guilty grows out of the forged letter and
that he is the one to call Mr.. Estelle to
account for it, and as I am the cause of
the difficulty, it is natural that I should
feel anxious about the probable conse-
quences to them"
"And do you think, Helen, that am
so wanting in respect for you, as we'll as
for myself, as to suffer an outrage upon
your feelings to pass unavenged ?"
"Had l right"-she asked, in return
Ito expect you to step forward in my
defence, when you fully believed the con
tents of that letter to be true2"
"But I acknowledged my error, Helen,
and obtained your forgiveness,-is it right
still to hold me responsible for an offence
you have once pardoned?"
"I do not hold you responsible for that
offence, sir; but your question threw me
upon the defensive, and, in selfjusti6ca.
tiOn, l was compelled to mention that cir.
cumstance-not to criminate you, but to
exculpate myself"
y thank you for the explanation, he
said, "and never again shall my folly sub.
ject me to your displeasure, or my own
self-reproach."
"You have yet to experience much that
is unpleasant, Mr.. Lee, unless you abandon
a suit that can bring no joy to either OF
us. / give you this advice in all sincerity
and with an aching heart. So long as