Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-10-01
CHAPTER XVIII.

"HELEN," said Ann Lee, as she sat one
evening, bolstered up in an arm chair,
"there is one thing have been anxious,
for day or two, to talk to you about, but
my heart has failed me whenever l have
attempted to broach the subject"
"Then let me broach it for you, dear
Ann; your painful bushes have told your
story. You were jealous of me, and under
the influence of that feeling, you offended
Mr.. Motley. Is it not so ?''
\ eyes, it is so, and I blush to acknow-
! ledge my egregious folly. But don't CEN
sure me too severely, Helen; was led
widely astray by injurious reports Is it
notstrange to whatlengths that base passion
:, will carry one2 Now, l can look back
upon all the circumstances with a clear
:, vision, and am astonished at the delusion
under which L labored. But believe me,
did not yield without a struggle. And
Mr., Motley, Helen" she continued with a
deepning blush, "do you think he is ire
conclldply ouehueu
81 do not, Ann; and though man of
great decision of character when decisive
action is required, Mr. Motley is man of
large charity for human frailties and will
endure and forgive much, if satisfied that
the motives are good. Did he believe you
wilful, or capricious, the case would be
altered but he knows how earnestly you
defended me when malice first assailed
me, and he will be slow to believe that yea
at last deserted me without reason that
seemed satisfactory; and believing that
your conduct, though seemingly contradic-
tory, was the result of honest conviction,
he will excuse your heart at the expense
of your head"
"But if he is willing to do this, Helen,
why has he not made some demonstration
to that end?''
"In saying that he is willing to do it,
Ann, you must not understand me as say
ing that he will make the first move. He
is not conscious of any wrong done to
you, but feels that wrong has been done
to him, and, as the injured party, he is
not willing to make the first advance"
"And would you, Helen, under such
circumstances, make the first advance"
Certainly, if felt myself in the
wrong"
I "But then the misconstruction to which
one is liable, from such a course p
i "Is a matter of no weight, Ann, and if
your conscience accuse you of no improper
motive, do not hesitate. Should he mis-
construe you, it will be proof that he does
not know you, and without such know
ledge union might be great misfor-
tune"
"But, Helen, the thought of writing to
him-could we meet, feel that could
make the confession without difficulty or
much embarrassment; but formal letter
there is a vast difference, Helen"
j ON the feeling, there is, Ann, but none
in the fact. You need not write, however,
as you will soon meet him, and in this
house You know that Jane is to be mar
ried next week, and Mr.. Motley has
promised to wait on Mr.. Eskridge, and if
you will get well fast, Jane wishes you to
wait on her"
J, A glow of pleasure lighted up AIMS
countenance, and smile played upon her
lips; but she hoped to appear uneonoerned
f by asking-"Where is Mr.. Motley, now,
Helen p
"That you may fully understand his
movements, Ann, little explanation is
necessary. You remember Mr.. Dolt at
whom you used to laugh so heartily p
Well, Mr.. Motley found out that Joe
Estelle had cheated the poor fellow out of
handsome property, and had a mortgage
upon all he is worth Jane is heir to Joe
Estelle's large estate as next of him, and
my father is her guardian. Mr.. Motley
laid before them the true condition of
Dolt and he is now gone, with full au-
thority to lift that mortgage, and reinstate
him in his possessions"
|, "That is a noble act" said Ann, "and
such an one as was prepared to expect
from the parties ncerned.-But, Helen,
have you heard my brother say anything
about Mr.. Motley, in connection with my
self2 He has not alluded to the subject
in his conversations with me, and feel
, somewhat anxious about it,
"No, Ann, he has said nothing to me
about it-indeed, have had no converse
. ton with Mr., Lee out Of your presence
; lie seems to avoid anything like private