Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-01-07

Gus Of her tribe had sought her hand il
marriage, but Jessy was deaf to each over
ture. Several Christians also offered to la,
their riches and their titles at her feet
but here Manasseh angrily interposed
since, from principle, as we'll as inclination
he bitterly loathed the followers Of on,
whom his nation stigmatises as the false
Messiah. Yes, the Jew would have acted
if possible, a sterner part than Virginius
he would have strangled his beloved and
only child' ere he had seen her polluted by
an union with a Christian.
Shakspeare's wherry glided on, and in
few minutes, having entered the deep
shadow Of the arch, he landed on the wide
projecting startling. Jessy's sleeping
apartment was far above; but the girl, un-
known to her father, had the key of a low
er chamber, which opened upon small
balcony, and thence let herself down iuto
the arms of the enamored poet.
Shakespeare resigned his SOULS to his
young attendant who knew his duty too
we'll to listen to the conversation of the
lovers. The beautiful Jewess was wrap
ped in velvet mantle, bordered with min
ivere. Her large, dark, passionate eyes
were now raised to the heaven, spangled
with stars, and now fixed in melting ten
derness on him who sat by her side. And
thus they glided on-soft light above, ,mur-
muring waters around-conversing in
tremulous whispers, and experiencing in
those stolen moments of reciprocated af-
fection all the bliss that man is capable of
wringing from the feeting hours of this
fevered existence.
We shall not detail at length the conver-
sation which passed between Shakespeare
and his Jessy. Thus nightly had they
met, and breathed their vows of faith and
in each others presence had forgotten the
world and its cold restrictions. Jessy on
ly trembled lest her father should discov-
er her amour, for rarely day passed
without Manassehs bitterly reviling and
hsaping curses on the Christians.
~"If thou dost love-" said Shakespeare,
pressing the maiden's hand, "thou wilt
never again enter the habitation Of one
who, harsh, bigoted, and cruel, is unwor-
thy, to cali thee daughter. Jessy, dear
one, true onel Gee with me this night /
will protect thee against thousand faith
ers. This bosom shall be thy home; and
in return, thy love shall be my paradise.
"Not yet" said the girl, timidly; ~
will pray to him--I will strive to bend his
perhaps he will relent. More
over harsh though he be, I love my father,
and would not desert him in his old years.
"Sweet one, distress not thyself-be
true to thy vow--continue to love me, as
[ worship thee, and, whatever betide, /
shall be happy"
The moon had nearly set, and deep
gloom was falling over the river. Jessy
was anxious to return; and the wherry
shot back to the bridge AS they approach
ed, Shakespeare perceived the figure of a
man standing on the broad startling beneath
the Jews residence.
at is only waterman, love; there. he
is gone he has sprung, doubt not, into
his boat" -.... I....
Jessy trembled but the man had indeed
disappeared around the buttress, giving
them reason to believe that he was no 9TH
er than the individual named. The beau
tiful Jewess was lifted by Shakespeare out
of the wherry; the startling was damp
through the splashing of the rising tide,
and hethrew his rich doublet on the wood
work for the girl to step upon. .r-
Farewell, love, forget me not" whis.
pered the poet of Avon, kissing Jessy's
fair forehead but at that instant Shaks
peare started, for he felt his arm seized and
compressed as in a vice by a sinewy hand,
while words like the following were hissed
in his ear.
christian dog hell-hound have i
found thee 2" ..r ...
Shakespeare, by a violent effort, flung
the human viper from him. and as the set
ting moon shed glimmering ray through
the granite arch, he recognized the father
of his Jessy. His first impulse was to
draw his sword, but he instantly placed
rein on his inclination The Hebrew was
so convulsed by the passions which ragged
within him, for some minutes, he was un-
able to address his trembling daughter OF
her lover the former taking advantage of
the silence of her father, fell on her knees