Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-06-03

dare not commit,-to ask an explanation
He is safe. The world knows it not, shall
she blazon it abroad? Itwould call dowr
upon her defenceless head the severes
bolt of seciety's contempt. Nay like
the heroic Sparton, she conceals the des
troyer within her bosom and with pale
but unmoved countenance performs hei
part in the shifting scenes Of life, with
with more than Spartan stoicism for she
has ,ooman's pride, lady's delicacy.-
Thus the calm ocean smiles beneath the
suns bright glance, but the ripping sur
face whispers not of the richly freighted
argosy of bright hopes that lie wrecked
beneath.
Four years have passed since Lily went
from the sheltering care of her mothers
roof tike stray waif upon life's wild
ocean. Four years of outward show and
gayety, four years of inward poverty and
anguish Years of that bitterest of grief,
remoued for time misspent Her vow is
fulfilled and for every drop of sorrow with
which betrayiDg man seasoned her cup of
life hath she meted back an overfowing
measure. But revenge, like the fire.
encircled scorpion, possesses traitrous
sting and the venom meant to have wrought
another's ruin is received in its own bosom.
Do you see that heartless coquette? Once
the light hearted, joyous, trusting child !;
the constant truthful, loving girl, whose
life was a gushing stream of gladness.-
From whose mirthful lips the light laugh,
like the murmured music of the mountain
streamlet, rippled from its never failing
fount-a loving heart.
Note now the restless sparkle of her
eye, the fuctuating color of her cheek
and know, that phoenix like, they have
arisen from the ashes of her buried hopes
Hear the polished witticisms that fall like
burning shafts from her ruby lips, scorch-
ing with their electric fire the worshiping
crowd, who like bewildered moths futter
about the blaze that scathes them. A
slight curl of derisiop fingers in the smile
that dimples her cheek, as though she
scorned her occupation, and hidden far in
the depths of her soulspeaking eye, rests
a mocking light that tells of secret con-
tempt for the audience she is striving to
enchant. Leaning upon the arm of one
who amid that throng of noble gallants
stands preeminent, Lily leaves the crowd
ed room for the more attractive gardens
The full moon scatters its glittering ar
rows upon the earth and deckcd the dis
tant cliff in silvery sheen; minging light
and shadow with more than artistic skill
in grouping
The atmosphere is heavy with the per-
fume Of rare southern flowers, amid whose
petals sport the large winged moths and
gorgeous plumaged nia hthawks, that look
like animated copies of themselves Fit
ting from the fragrant orange boughs
through the peerless magnolia or resting
on the moss -wreathed branches of the
live oak, pride of the southern land, in
Vulnerable mockingbirds, sweet nighn-
gales Of the south, send witching strains
of music through the grove Feecy
clouds float in the blue ether like white
winged spirits and the moonlit waters Of
the out spread lake paint their portrait on
its glowing canvass NatuIe and art has
contributed to render the hour and the
scene beautiful beyond the powers of des-
cription.
Melted from the icy fetters of conven-
tionalism the living fount of poetry wells
up in Lily's heart and throwing off the
mocking mask which the trammels of the
society in which she minges, compels her
to assume, she appears in native truthful
ness. Forgetful of the impetuous youth
who gazes upon her spirit-s speaking face,
unforbidden, she yields to her emotions
and each new born thought varies the ex-
preston Of her countenancc. Softening
with dewy light the brilliant flashing of
her radient eyes or blotting with sweet
smiles the scorn Of her lovely lips as
clouds and sunshine chase each other Ger
an April sky,
The adoring youth, whom it would have
been impossible to convince, a few mo-
ments earlier, that aught could have been
lovelier than she then appe9-sd to his ad-
miring gaze, so bindly d he worship,
lis astonished at the Transformation, for
she now wears the loveliness of truth.
Alas that an illusion so sweet should
be so soon dispelled he is betrayed into
confession of his love,-nay his pas.