Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-10-06
CHAPTER XVIII.

rest we uGt6EullnGu I'D TGIIldlIl sew
eral months in this wonderful city.
Clerval desired the intercourse OF
the men of genius and talent whe
fiOurished at this time; but this
was with me Il secondary object. I
was principally occupied with the
means of obtaining the information
necessary for the completion of my
promise and quickly ayailed myself
of the letters of introduction that l
had brought with me, addressed to
the most distinguished natural phi
losophers.
If the journey had taken place
ness, it would have afforded me in
expressible pleasure. But blight
had come over my existence, and /
only visited these people for the
sake of the information they might
give me on the subject in which my
interest was SO terribly profound.
Company was irksome to me /;
when alone. could fill my mind
with the sights of heaven and earth !;
the voice OF Henry soothed me, and
| could thus cheat myself into a
transitory peace. But busy, unin-
teresting, joyous faces Brought back
despair to my heart. | saw an in
surmountable barrier placed be-
tween me and my fellow men; this
barrier was sealed with the blood
of William and Justine; and to
reflect on the events connected with
those names, filled my soul with an
guish, -E. ...
But in Clerval I saw the image of
my former self; he was induisitive
aud anxious to gain experience and
instruction. The difference of man.
ners which he observed was TO him
an ineXhaustible source of instruc-
ton and amusement. He was for
ever busy, and the only check to
his enjOyments was my SOrroWful
and detected mien. / tried 10 con-
ceal this as much as possible, that
] might not debar him from the
pleasures natural to one who was
entering on new scene of life, un-
disturbed by any care or bitter re-
Election. l often refused to accom-
pany him, alleging another engage
nent, that l might remain alone.
now also began to collect the ma
terials necessary for my new crea-
ton, and this was to me like. the
torture OF single drops of water con-
tinually falling on the head. Every
thought that was devoted to 1t was
an extreme anguish, and every
word that | spoke in allusi0n to it,
caused my lips to quiver and my
heart to palpitate.
After passing some months in
London, we received letter from
a person in Scotland, who had for
merly been our visitor at Geneva.
He mentioned the beauties of his
native country, and asked as if
those were not sufficient allurements
to induce US to prolOng our journey
as far north as Perth, where he
resided. Clerval eagerly desired to
accept this invitation, and i, al
though abhOrred society, wished
to view again the mountains and
streams and all the WondrOus works
with which nature adOrns her chO-
sen dWelling-places.
We had arrived in England at
the beginning of January, and it
was now February. We according
ingly determined to commence our
journey toward the north at the
expiration of another month. In
this expedition we did not intend
to follow the great road to Edin-
burgh, but to visit Windsor, Oxford,
MatlOck, and the Cumberland
lakes, resolving to arrive at the
completion of this tour about the
end of July. packed my chemical
Instruments, and the materials |
had collected, resolving to finish
my labors in some obscure nook in
the northern highlands of Scotland.
We quilted London on the 9th
of March, and remained a few days
at Windsor, rambling in its beauti-
full forest. This was new scene to
us mouHtaineers the majestic oars,
the quantity Of game, and the herds
OF stately deer, were all novelties
to us. u1.
From thence we proceeded to Ok
ford. AS we entered this city our
minds were filled with the renem-
brance of the events that had been
transacted there more than eentu-
ry and half before. 1t was here
that Charles i. had collected his
forces. This city had remained
faithful to him, after the whole ma
ton had forsaken his cause to join
the standard Of Parliament and lib
erty.
The memory Of that unfortunate
king and his companions, to amia-
BILE Falkland, the insolent Cover,
his queen, and son, gave a peculiar
interest 10 every part of the city,
which they might be supposed to
have inhabited. The spirit of elder
days found a dwelling here, and we
delighted to trace its footsteps. II
these feelings had not found an im'
aginaryl qualification, the appear
ance of the city had yet in itself
sufficient beauty to obtain our adj
miration. The colleges are ancient
and picturesque; the streets are
almost magnificent and the lovely
Isis, which flows beside it through
meadows of exquisite verdure, is
spread forth into "a placid expanse
of waters, which reflects its majestic
assembiage OF towers and spires
and domes iInbosomed among aged
trees. - ta4vssy ts.gg4e -,,,,
j enjoyed this scene, and yet my
enjoyment was imbittered both by
the memory0f the past and the an.
ticipation OF the future. / was