Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1868-12-03

u
/. nance about them, and conse
: quently they are the last place
, where the world looks for. the 70
mantle. But very recent develop
ments in a Richmond establish
ment have very beautifully illus
trated that line of Walter Scstt's
that 49, .~.u 77
: "Love rules the camp, court, grove, and mart,
and sheds its influence untram
melled as the sunshine, investing
with its warmth and brightness
the darkest and most uninyiting
places. -, ...s.e.s
Two months or more ago, q va.
cant clerkship in the house refer.
red to was applied for and filled
by youth apparently about six
teen years OF age. He appeared
in response to an advertisement
of the firm-"Wanted, a youth,
who can write good hand, and
| come well recommended" Out
OF sixty odd applicants our hero
(or heroine) took the palm for the
neatness, legibility.. and regulari-
ty of his chirography; was sent
for, presented himself, and was in
stalled in the position of entry
clerk. He displayed remarkable
aptitude for business was quick
and accurate at figures ever ready
to run an errand, or lend hand
at anything that was to be done.
In manners he was polite; blushed
when looked at or spoken to; wept
when chided by his employers, or
chartered by his fellow-clerks be-
cause of his peachy cheeks, fem
inine figure, and general girlish-
ness of appearance. Time wore
on. The busy season came and
brought with it o gentleman
from beyond the Blue Ridge, who
had occasional dealings with the
house. Desiring TO examine the
stock, the entry clerk was called
from his stool, and instructed to
show The gentleman over the
floors. Their eyes. met; the
strange gentleman. stammered
"Great God!" and staggered into
a seat; the clerk blushed scarlet
to his ear tops, then burst into
tears. Then came the denoue-
ment. The gentleman explained
that he recognized in the clerk
the lost daughter of, q citizen of
his county; that she ran away in
August last, and had since been
mourned by herparents and friends
as dead, as they could gain no
tidings of her whereabouts or fate;
though all the considerable towns
of the State, including Richmond,
had been searched by the father
in person, aided by the police.
The daughter in clerkly dis
guise then explained, as best she
could between sobs, andit was 's'tbe
old story told again." She had
loved, and seen her love. thwarted
by parental opposition; the most
relentless and unfeeling. Her
lover, youthful as she, being also
opposed by his parents, left his
bone soon after, and came to
RichmSnd, where he was not
long in obtaining employment. A
secret correspondence was opened
between the two aided by other
parties. IcA
This lasted for some time, and
strengthened the cords of affec-
tion, drawing the twain nearer
each other, though separated by !
the misty mountains and many
miles of cruel space. At last,
in one of those fatal moments OF
a girls weakness, she resolved toi
give up all for loye-home, ana
heaven. too, if need 'be-and left
.bo bo,,sazs one evil night. when the
family were absent, equipped IN
her brothers Sunday. suit, determ-
ined to Join her lover in Rich,
mond. This she, did do; and
though he-timid boy--was at first
frightened at the step bis sweet
heart had taken, she, by artful
stories of her, treatment at home,
infused into him q manly spirit
and he-bodoI boy-resolyed 10
become the protector OF innocence,
while he buried the secret OF her
sex in his own bosorp He took