Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-07-02


valued above all price, he lost whilst pul.
ling down the fences across the road
This is the circumstance, sir, which In
duces him to speak so harshly of piece
of mischief, at which he would otherwise,
have been highly amused"
"And am NO longer surprised at his
harshness, Miss Berne; but rather wonder
at his ability to control his feelings so well
while speaking Of an occurrence that must
be very painful to one of his affectionate
and romantic disposition. His is heart
that can feel intensely to-day, the joys
and sorrows of years ago. OF course, he
has not recovered the mihiatate-why did
he not advertise for it2"
"He did but, so far, without success"
"Would you know it, If you were to
see it2'
Certainly I would, sir But why do
you ask ?" She exclaimed, with eagerness
of voice and look.
Before he could answer, Mr.. Berne re-
sumed his seat in the carriage, and, as if
by way of apology, thus addressed Mr.
Lee:
81 am afraid, sir, that you have come to
the conclusion that possess more temper
than discretion, which, I reckon, is pretty
near the truth. But 1 must state, in self
vindication, that, by means of the ad-
venture, related, ! sustained, what was
to me, a very heavy loss; and it is the
recollection of that loss, which makes me
ill-natured, whenever l recur to the sub
ject."
"Your daughter, SIR" said Mr.. Lee, at
my solicitation, has kindly informed me
of your loss, and lest she may suppose me
guilty of impertinent curiosity, l will now
assign the reasons that prompted the en-
quiry. I visited friend, few days since,
at the University; and he having occasion
to open his trunk, my eye fell upon min
iature, when rallied him little, suppos-
ing it might be love token from some
fair one who had won his heart. "You are
Mistaken" he replied, for found it in
the road, one night, about a year ago,
as I was returning from Charlottesville. I
was told," he continued, ia month or two
since, that there had been reward offered
for lost miniature, by gentleman near
Staunton, but have never learned his
name. Now as you are going in that
direction, 1 wish you would take it and
try to restore it to its rightfui owner.
~, of course, complied, with the request
to take it, but failed to trace the owner
As soon as / saw Miss Berne, was struck
with the likeness she bears to the portrait,
and concluded-erroneously / fnd-that
she sat TO the painter. And now, sir, let
us halt awhile and will get it out of my
barouche, and the question of identity
can be settled in moment"
He alighted and in FIVE minutes, stood
at the carriage door, and placing the por-
trait in the hands of Mr.. Berne, remarked
that he would walk to the foot of the hill
where he saw a spring, and get drink of
water. The delicacy of the maneuver
was most highly appreciated by his COM
panions, who were left to the indulgence
of their feelings unrestrained by the pres
ence of third party. And when Mr..
Lee again resumed his seat, the thanks he
received from the lips of the father, and
from the eyes of the daughter, told how
grateful they were to him, and how high
an estimate they placed upon the article
he had restored to their possession.
This incident, in itself not worth recor-
ding, had the effect to make our little par
ty better acquainted, in few hours, than
they would otherwise have become in days
of ordinary intercourse. All restraint
was removed, and Mr., Lee, as if to atone
for his previous silence, gave free scope to
his superior colloquial powers, until Hell
en- forgot her anticipated conquests, at the
Springs, and even her designs upon the
heart of the man who was now delighting
her fancy, instructing her mind and ele-
waiting her heart. So we'll were they pleas.
ed with each other that, when near night,
they reached the end of their journey, all
concurred in regrctting that their travel
was not to be prolonged.
TO BE CONTINUED.