Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-04-08

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him through the long season Of depres
sion, succeeding; but hasten on to more
active, if not happier, scenes
Autumn, faded into rigorous winter
and gay season it was destined to be IL
our city. Cotillion parties, musical sciries
fancy balls, and the more quiet conver,
sazione, were rife in upper-ten-dom.-
Hotels and private boarding houses were
crowded with visitors from all parts of the
State. Weekly, almost nightly, concerts
added to the general festivity Louisville
seemed bent upon enjoying the season
sacred to sociability. But one heart, in
that gay metropolis, took little share in
festive scenes, or social rcvels. .a
Fenelon Randolphs nature was not one
to easily recover blow, that had well
nigh staggered reason, and it was only
after months of patient toll, aud self dis
cipline, that he regained, in degree, the
vantage ground over melancholy, which
he had lost. Diligently did he apply his
fine mind, to the searching out of hidden
truths, and the solution of abstruse
problems sternly forbidding all recurrence
of his thoughts to the events of the past
few months, until, at length, the goal of
forgetfulness was well nigh attained.
.One morning in mid-winter, while sit
ting in his sanctum absorbed in his usual
occupation, he was aroused by loud
knocking at his door, and the hasty
entrance of young friend
Good morning, Randolph, come to bid
you to a social party this evening, at
Major Payne's, a kind of conversational
soree, or an assembly for chit-chat l
know you don't take interest in things of
the kind, but 1 want you professionally
you know, want your council in little
affair Of the heart, you understand, in
short, my dioinitg is to be there, and l
must have your sage opinion of her.
Come now no excuse admitted, you'll 60.
Good morning"
Waiting no reply he was gone, and the
next instant Randolph heard the street
door slam in token of his departure
"Well, he soliloquized, cone might
call this bid, a demand, command, any
thing, but an ipcitnttOn. Suppose though,
as the fat has gone forth, l must obey"
The rooms were well filed when Ran
dolph arrived, and he soon found himself
the centre of circle, and having, for
once, determined to try his powers al
making himself agreeable, it were scarcely
necessary to say that he found the attempt
successful beyond all anticipation, nor
was it until the evening was half spent,
that his inpatient young friend found
him sufficiently unoccupied, to allow him
the privilege of presenting him to his
'dirmiy."
Arm in arm, they crossed the room,
and approached little coterie that, having
detached itself from the rest of the com
pany, seemed to be enjoying itself in its
own way. The backs of some of the
party were towards them, and it was not
until he had been introduced to most OF
its members, that Randolph had on op-
portunity of viewing the two ladies in
front, he was now turned to these and
raising his eyes to the first, he encountered
those of his beautiful but unknown en-
chantress, and at the same instant the
voice of his friend fell upon his ear.
"Permit me, Mrs. Randolph to present
to you Mr.. Randolph, my friend"
Oh how inadequate are words to ex-
press the emotions of the soul surprise,
joy, incredulity, regret and shame, each
seemed to hold the mastery in the brief
moment, that the head was bowed low
before that proud woman, and he saw not
the shade of anguish that passed over the
features that had assumed such look Of
distant placidity when he again glanced
toward them. The next instant, he was
introduced to "Miss Mcleod and beheld
in the woman who held the reins of his
friends heart, the one he had mistaken fol
his girl wife. He was seated by Miss
McLeod's side, and in her artless ease
and unrestrained manner towards him
self, he saw, and understood, the noble
pride of the injured 'oite, that had never
, betrayed her idol, by relation of hel
wrongs. Ever and anon he sought by
fnrtive glance, to analyze the feelings
- awakened, by his presence, in the heart o
Amelin, but as well might one lay hi
hand upon the brow of death, expecting
thence to receive warmth and life as he
to have looked to that steel-clad woman
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