Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-04-01

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piled Linnie with mock seriousness
"Come come if you don't get along
more amicably, | shall put my veto upon
next Wednesdays proceedings" And
with cheerful, almost merry laugh, she
left the room The young mans eyes fol.
lowed her with kindly sympathizing ex-
preston as she passed out. Then reseat-
ing himself by Ivas side, he spoke of her
gentle sister, and all of levity, and gaiety
we're gone, and as he spoke, in earnest
words, of her misfortunes, and heroism OF
forbearance, his voice betokened the deep
sympathy and respect, with which every
high souled gentleman regards an innocent
and suffering woman. "Tell me the cir
cumstances now, Iva, you know you've
long promised me to do So"
II will; but speak softly, for I would
not have her know that we were talking
of it, for altho' it is well known through
out our circle of acquaintance, it is sub
iect seldom mentioned in our family, and
never in her presence. 1 was but eleven
years of age, when Feneloh Randolph
came to pass summers vacation at my
fathers. He was the stepson Of my
mothers brother, and claimed the position
of nephew and cousin in our household,
l remember him as slight, handsome lad,
for he was scarcely more, being only abont
two and twenty, with gay, careless dis
position, generous and nobly inclined, but
spoilt by an injudicous mother, who dotted
upon him, her only and fatherless child
His will was her law, and his every wish
Vas, to her, an undeniabe mandate. Was
,itstrangc, then, that he grew up self will
ed and obstinate Deeming every desire
a.necessity, forgetting in his own gratifca-
tfyn, that others had feelings and desires
equally dear2 And yet, he would obey a
generous impulse, even though it led him
into serious Inconvenience, and in the
pleasure derived from its bestowal, forget
all about the favor Sister Amelin then,
was quite different being from what she
is now-wild, romping, forever jesting.-
Father always called her his sunbeam" I"
and truly she was a sunbeam, shedding
/ light and gladness wherever she chanced
to come, l really do not believe that Lin
ME ever had serious thought, or feeling,
until Fenelon Randolph came, and taught
her to loue-and she did love with all the
wildncss and ardor that her child-heart
was capable of, for she was but sixteen
years old then, and it is not to be wonder
cd at, that when he knelt at her feet, and
in his own peculiar 'eloquence, told her of
his love, and offered her his hand now,
and fortune when he should make one
tina. she accepted the one, and looked for
ward to the other, with all his own en-
thusiasm. Father gave his consent, and
the more readily, as Fenelon promised,
that although she should become his bride
then, he would not take her from our
home, or claim her as his own, until he
had spent one year in endeavoring to ge.
on in his profession, the Law. ...
"They were married, and that evening
he left for his city home. And now never
was Linnie happier, or more gay; joyously
did she set about improving the mind,
which had before been allowed to run
waste, for although she had had every
advantage, father used to say, that all she
learned, was what was obliged to remain,
being too large and palpable to slip through
her wild brain. But now, eagerly, she
devoured all the elements of learning
within her reach, and when these were
disposed of, father was ever ready to place
more and deeper ones in her hands thus
was laid the foundation of that fine super
structure of knowledge, and accomplish.
ments, which has so often been the theme
of your deserved praise.
"For month, or two, Fenclon's letters
came frequent, and ardent-and then
though always affectionate; they reached
her more rarely, and when they did come
they seemed but the momentary arousing
of mind totally absorbed, in some other
pursuit. until at last, months, and months
would pass, and then three or four would
come in quick succession filled with sell
reproaches, for his neglect but pleading
as an excuse, pre- occupation in his studies
and business, Then they ceased altogeth
er. The time for his return had long
since passed, and after two or three vair
efforts on fathers part, to gain Linnie''
consent to his going in person, to see and
have an explanation with him. his nam,
because obsolete in our family circle and
Al L. 4 L..