Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-08-12

peasants door. His purse had been suf-
fciently we'll flled to enable him to pay
amply for the shelter he had enjoyed, and
indeed the cottager thought so agreeable
and profitable visitor quite a god-send
to the house. One day, stranger passed
that way, the soldier accosted him, and
was for a long while alone with him,
deeply engaged in conversation; and
when the traveller had passed on he was
moody and thoughtful, until at last he
| told Imorene and her father that he must
bid them farewell, and once more join in
the noise and hustle of the times.
"Oh, shall we see you no mors?" ask
ed Imorene, with heaving breast and a
tremulous voice which startled the sol
dier.
81 must go to my friends and home l
am needed there" he answered.
"Perhaps you will some time return
this way" suggested the cottager, "and
then we may sit down once more togeth-
er."
81 trust it may be So was the reply of
the now thoughtful guest.
At that moment his eyes fell upon those
of Imorene, and starting as though an
arrow had pierced his side, he said:
"Come, gentle one, let us walk once
more through those loved and long to be
remembered scenes before I bid all fare
well"
A secret seemed to reveal itself to the
soldier as they now sat together beneath
bank where oft they had sat before for
hours together. He read now the heart
of thescntle one by his side, and placing
an arm about her waist, and looking into
her blushing face he won from her the
secret. And then, as if his whole feelings
changed, he told her that he was unworthy,
vastly unworthy, of her tender affection,
that his had been a wild and reckless life,
and his hands in battle had often been up
lifted to spoil his fellows blood that he
had travelled much, and been hardened by
contact with the world, and in fact, that
he could never make so sweet and gentle
a being happy.
She had no reply for his eloquence but
single tear drop.
The soldier, while at the cot, had said
little of himself, as it regarded his former
life, while Imorene and her parents were
} too considerate, humble as they were, to
seek for that information which it was
evident the soldier did not desire to com.
municate. But now, as Imorene sat by
J his side and realized that he was about to
; leave her, she could not but ask:
And where is your home, Senior Gomez?
for thus he had given his name to the cot.
: tager.
5 "In Valentia, Imorene. Ah, Imorene,
t continued he, pressing her hand W t h i n
1 his own, ~ wish that my life had been
differently cast, that I might dare to love
' thee and wed thee. But alas I am unfit
to do either. l am unworthy of thy love
and yet, within this hour, realize how
e sweet has been the brief period | have
dwelt with thee, and, alas, that do love
e thee upwittinglyl
f The following morning, when he left
5 he gave the cottagers the contents of hi'
a purse, reserving a mere trife for his
= journey; and pressing a small but costly
. ring upon Imorene, as parting gift hi
:, touched his lips to hers, and wended hi
o way along the mountain road to his dis
tant home.
J. x 4 x 4
e Six months had passed since the woun
p ded soldier left the hospitable cottagers
C when one of those devasting tornadoe
peculiar to the climate swept over tn
It spot, and left not one vistage standing G
y that peaceful habitation. Cattle were des
l, troyed, vegetation blighted; everythin
% was a wreck and, alas : xith the res
1t was lost Imorene's IL herself an
ID father alone escaping. hould the
er do-whither should they sP Imoren
ID suggested Valentia. The father was ha
al broken hearted by the loss of his con
lt panion and his all He cared not whithc
n they went; and so on foot they turne
es their way towards the distant city, whic
IS, Imorene believed held him she loved.
Mt She hardly expected to find him, or
es she did so, she knew not that he still love
her, but then she thought that she was 5
a near him-the idea that she might possibl
ed see him, gave to her loving heart incit
d, ment enough to carry her thither, ov'