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

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her, gentle reader, but let the weight Of
your censure fall upon the adverse circum-
stances which stamped that character upon
her. Remember that disease may blanch
the ruddiest cheek--the brightest flower
may be nipped by frost; yet neither the
faded cheek, nor the withered flower is the
agent of its own ruin. So it is, in no
slight degree, with individual character !;
for the materials furnished by nature may
be fashioned, by circumstances, into the
most beautiful models of moral excellence,
or into the most hideous shapes that vice
can assume
We say that Helen was firt--a charge
Of no weighty import, at this day, when
the standard Of morals is so lowered that
fashion can sanctify vice, and even virtue
needs its support to stand erect. But in
Helen's day, the reputation of coquette
was sought by few, and, when won, was
found to carry with it a something SO
offensive to public morals that those mis-
guided few were anxious to be rid of a
burden unwittingly assumed. But not
withstanding the estimation in which that
character was held, our heroine took great
delight in displaying her superior skill in
playing off one lover against another, SO
as to keep up constant feeling of jealousy,
Jas amusing to her as it was painful to her
victims.
The love of admiration is an inherent
element Of woman's character; and a
desire to listen to the impassioned langu-
age of love may constitute feeble apology
for that seeming indecision which often
passes for becoming modesty but she who
can, deliberately, strain to the utmost point
of endurance, the finest chord in the hu-
man heart, and then carelessly snap it in
twain, is dead to that sympathy which
lightens the cares and heightens the
pleasures of society by constant inter
change between heart and heart
1t was said of Helen, that she never
discarded lover, but would hold out to
him such Hattering hopes as induced him
to persevere in mis- suit. Now and then,
however, she would have to deal with a
young man of sufficient frmness to de-
mand a decisive answer. In such cases,
she did not hesitate to enter into an en-
gagement which she never dreamed of
fulfilling. For more than year after her
return home, she kept up this game, and
so adroitly as to escape detection; but the
exposure came at last, and the punishment
was proportioned to the offence.
1t happened that young gentleman,
residing in Lexington, was among the
number of those with whom Helen had
entered into an engagement; and as he
lived at some distance from her, he resoly-
ed to make confdant of friend who re-
sided in the immediate vicinity of Mr..
Berne. Great was the surprise and in
dignstion of both, at finding that they
stood upon precisely the same footing.-
This startling discovery determined them
to wait upon Helen, together, and know,
at once, how far each might rely upon her
promise. Being thus reduced to the
necessity of acting decisively, she told
them, with the utmost calmness, and with
seeming innocence, that she looked upon
all which had passed between them, as an
idle jest, on both sides, and that if they
had been deceived, it was their own fault,
as she had received their address in the
spirit which, she supposed, had prompted
them. But since they had satisfied her
that she was mistaken, she must candidly
say to them that she could not affirm, in
earnest, decision made in jest.
This incident was soon made public, and
was followed by many similar explanations,
each more fully exposing the extent tc
which this game of deception had been
played. One after another, Of her lovers
Withdrew, and the ladies who had reyolved
around her, as inferior satellites; rejoiced
that the star was about to go down, perhaps
forever, which had so long been in the as
cendant, A brief struggle satisfied Heller
that she could no longer maintain hei
supremacy as the reigning belle, and
deeply mortified, retired to the solitude O
|, a home that had lost its chief charm as tn,
scene Of many triumphs,
Mr.. Berne could not be blind to tn
change in his daughters habits, as well a
her loss of spirits; but, in ignorance o
the cause, ascribed it to the rayages o
disease, and declared his purpose to carr,
, her forthwith to the White SulpherSprings
al mn A.