Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-09-09

| Chaucer Do you admire him?"
"Well, cannot say that erer sac him.
ooh suppose not, as he died many
very many years ago in England, but his
poetry still lives, will ever live"
The accomplished automaton had sense
enough to perceive that he was not gain.
ing very enviable reputation in the eyes
of his afiianced, but before he could reply
Lila spoke:
Speaking of England's poets among
the later day writer's, admire Hood
Some of his pieces are touchngly beauti-
ful for instance his Bridge of Sighs. "
II DO not recolleet the exact size of the
work, but it rendered him celebrated, an
swered Benton, confidently, thinking this
time he was right
"Of our own American authors Bryant
is one of my greatest favortes.-HOw do
you like his Thanatopsis?'
"What the duce does the woman mean?
Does she take me to be book peddlar, to
know all these old books she is talking
about" muttered Benton, then replying,
he said
81 cannot say that I am acquainted with
any person by that name-but, | must go.
| have an engagement"
"Call again, Mr.. Benton, | do love so
to converse about those familiar old friends
the poets" replied Lila, with a sweet
smile
With an impatience unbecoming gal
liant lover taking leave of his mistress, Mr.
Benton thanked her for the invitation
and bidding her good night, hastily retir
ed . ....I ...
When he was out of sight, Lila threw
herself on her luxuriant chair, buried her
face in her hands and exclaimed bitterly {:
"No. no, death, sudden terrible death
is preferable to living union with such
an insensate being. lie to whom | give
my hand must be at least my peer in intel
lect, and his soul must be fired with some
noble ambition. how fervently and how
truly could | love a man, one in intellect
aud desire McthInks it would be a labor
of love to sit beside him in his study, to
dream the same dream of fame, and togeth-
er with him, win the APPLAUSE of the intel
ligent And yet, | do not love to write
for fame for fame is ephcmeral, and not
worth striving for But we would write
for the same reason that the uncaged bird
warbles in the tree to its mate-for love
Of it. The love of Srch being would
make "life glorious and every Thought a
dream of Heaven" How truly eau echo
Byron words
Oh envy those
Whose hearts on hearts as faithful can reposc,
Who never feel the void, the wandering thought
That sighs DER yisions-such as mine hath wrought
But until meet such man, and my
heart whispers that | will, my heart will
remain minated. Single will live, and
unwedded die, before l go through the
solemn mockery of marriage with a being,
whose highest hope is to be successful
gallant who has no soul to appreciate
genius, and whose mind is as destitute Of
ideas as when he first entered the world. [
retract my promise, not even to please my
father, will | consent to a union so uu-
equal" Thus speaking, she arose and
swept back the black and glossy tresses
which had fallen DER her fair forehead,
and retired to her room.
She did not go down to breakfast in the
morning, and her father not coming home
that day, she did not meet him until next
day Then when she entered the room
where he was sitting, she was struck with
the look of care and'anguish lac wore. She
inquired anxiously what had occurred
He told her nothing, but she noticed he
kissed her more aifectionately than usual,
and gazed with more than ordinary tender
ness upon her She pressed him to tell
her what had caused him pain, but he gave
her no satisfactory answer, nor could all
her afectiona:c questions elicit it anything
farther.
She forbore to speal, Of her determine
tion not to marry Benton at that time, for
fear it would give him additional pain, but
while they were ispatching their morning
meal in silence, servant entered, bring
ing note for Mr.. Moreton, Hastily tear
ing it open, he glanced over it, and when
he perceived its contents, his brow grew
darker while n groan deep and bitter, esca
ped him Rising quickly, Lila FASTENED
to his side, and inquired tenderly the cause
of his sudden emotion. With a sad voice,
Mr.. Moreton replied,
II am a ruined man, everything is gone
and we are beggars. Stop, don't interrupt
me, until | tell you ALL The cloud has
been gathering for weeks, but l would not
pain you, my dear, with the information,
for hoped to weather the storm. Lloyd
Bent is rich immensely so, and when
he solicited your hand, consented because
thought he would assist me to Withstand
the shock, and thus you and your dear
mother would be spared the modification
of knowing how near ruin we were. But,
alas find he too, is all selfshness and
pride. The blow came sooner than | an
ticipated lie heard ofmy disaster yester
day evening, and this note from him, in
forms me that circumstances having aris.
en-, which materially changes Miss More.
tons social position he feels compelled TO
decline the honor of the contemplated al
lance Base, morcenary wretch oh
what madness induced me thus to hazard