Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-01-20
- rssplarly, and .that was source Of great

pale planet Saturn shinidg, and that star by
is side Is Reguius, in the constellation Of Leo
] have watched it now every night that have
] been confined here. How well | remenbel
/ pointing it out TO her and row lt appears likl
( an Old friend 10 me, and, in spite of rav nan
! hood, my ewes fil with tears when gaze on It.
| And then to think hat Edith, my own loved
ssinted sister, died by--5ut l inust not anti.
cipate; this is q cigress'oR To my story.
Ehcn I lock back oa my life, the days
1 spent with my sister after leaving school. were
decidedly Jhe hsppiest Of my life. We wtr,
lust at thss age % appreciate all the poetry Of
life. we looked upon tie world as q besusi.
ful dwelling place, The ripping stream, th'
Z murmuring breeze, the sweet sccEted flowers
the wsr5ling binds, all whispered music in ouI
I ears, and We felt supreinely happy IA e9ntem.
J plating the beauties OF nature.
Atscbcol I became acquainted with Young
I msu named Alfred LeEraHd- he was the only
4 friend had there, and although cur cbsrac-
| ters and disposiioas were entirely dissiuilar
/ t1is opposition only SERVED 10 draE us more
I closely together. he was gay, hearty, frank
. young fellow, always in high sPiriis, and foil
/ az fun and anecl0te, while j, as I have already
I intimatei, was taclturn. reserved, and almost
morose. Sall 7 loved LsgraRd for his noble
Z qualities, good heart and coBhding disposition.
! Just before Z left school asked him to come
and visit re, having drsl obtained my fathers
I consent.
had not been home more tbsn two weeks,
when nv friend came to pay his promised
visit. Aiy father received him politely, bu.
/ paid very little attention TO him, and left bin
} 10 amuss himself a. be thought best. Alfred
! appeared 10 be particularly struck with ny
I sister Edith, and she was m less savorably
4 impressed with him. I was rsioiced 90 see
Z this, for su alliance between cur families was
] TIE hight OF ny ambition.
/ For tine cverything went on eas merry
as marriage bsl.o AlfreI's feelings had
evidently ripc1et into tle most ardent love for
{ ny sister, and the tell-t8ie blush on her cheek
! wlen he approached, Informed me that sbo
{ entertained the sane sentiment for him. ]
/ left them slons together wherever csuld, and
I their long ks through lls beautiful country
I were, no doubt, the source nf mach enjoyment
/ TO them.
After spending six weeks with MS, Alfred re-
I turned hsue. but not before be had made a
3 deciara .ion of bis love TO Edith, asking her
Z to become his wife. She threw her arms round
7 bis neck and sobbsd Der consent on his breast.
I They did not seek 10 conceal the truth from
me- congratulated Alfred, but advised BIN
I for The p5-sent rot to speak 10 NY father o.
the subject. Ny only remaining parent was
I such a 81 aacs man, that ] thought il would be
l better 10 break the news TO him BY degrees
I In the mCauJuc, Alfred and ny sister were 10
correspond with each other every week.
+ Alfred bad not beea gone away more than a
month. wbea business took Ine TO New York.
Z 7 STAYED at the Metropolitan hotel, and was
/ completely carried away b. all The wonders
i % be seen Ia ths metropolis. ] met with a
f class Of persons known ss fast YoglE men. and
b here Il was hrst CONN enced my career Of
T vice. / siali not dwell on this portion OF my
I history suffice it to say that / drank Of the
I cup Of dissiusE0n 20 The very dregs EVerv
nizht that retired 20 bed &c was in state o.
+ iutoEication. Oatbs, basahsmy and ri5aldry
formed the staple o. my conversation, and ing
bloats4 face and trembling hand showed hat
tds demon DRUEKENEEss had taken ent re
! possession Of ne
4 One evening vas in tie bar-room Of ths
J hotel as Usual, Ia state Of intoxication. when
J 70 u1y extreme Surprise, AIfrrd Legrand walked
I 10. The moment be saw me, be gave a star
Z Of zstonistr1ert, blt recovering himself a'mas-
J fnslediatsiV. be fdralc-d 90 where I stood
and shook pc hT tle hand. I welcomed him
VITA drunken ieer, ard insisted that he sb0ull
drink. lie rsfussd. ! still continued 10 insist
= with eNtTavGZaat language ana gesture. al
{ fret's temper was quick. High words ensuod
( ard tbs discussion ended BY ny striking him
ia The face. Il a moment. before 7 bad TIM
-nitl- a-as-sisstrhed NY whole length on
tle nour, 5l -. .'s-'-srssTsss aClul arm, y
rose no to ayenga The insli5, when vs. weli
7 separated, and I was convegei 20 ny chamber
. In q STATE OF drunken imbaciuty.
/ The ne2t morning when swoks, tie whole
( affair REQUIRED to my mind. Forgetting that
bad been .he aggressoT, the blow had re-
/ ceived ranked in my heart, ami made a voW
/ that ] wo-d be erevsnged. And now strange
/ change took place 10 me. L seemed as if thi.
I desire Of vengeance drove ont all my olhei
Z wees, leaving that in elfife possession Of m7
& soul. became temperate, and found that
/ Possessed another quality, the existence q
which | was not aware Of bsfore-uamelv-
CUNNING.
quarrel; received Lin WITH open arms, az.
/ 70 al appearances, our feU3 was entirely fer
90 ten. c0uversed with him OF old time1
( and treated bin Is if nothing had secured Be
tween us. We decided We would reairn hom
together, fof the tine had come hen be migE
formally demand ny sisters hand from ~,
father.
We arrived horne next daF, and b,graad al
once bad an interview With ny father. Thl
latter Taissi no objection whatever 10 AliTed'
union With Edith, AMI the day when hey wer
20 be married vas formally decided upon
The ceremony was to tske place two month
from tusl dats.
Two monthsl Ih-d then eight long week
to execute ny hellish purpose-thst purpos
was 10 pIeFeit this union. Much as 7 l0Fo
ms sister, my desire OF revenge was so strou
that I did not for a single moment consult be
happiness 7 believe I could even have sacri
feed her life TO accomplish The end [ bad q
view.
Lsgran5 asked ne to pass two months viii
bin p bis home. I joyfuIly consented, as
would give ne better opportunity to carr
out mv uefarous designs. I was no soone
installed in his fsthss's house, than besa
ny work Ol iliquity. ] cannot enter iHt
particulars az to how accomplished ny puT
pose. I coucoeted my plans with the utmos
siziil, and by iae aid of money lavighlv be
stasTed on a worthless Uoasn, made 4 fre
I Leerand appear before t1e world a a r0u
and seducsr. It was a viie conspiracy, but e.
ss,utely msnsesd That it was In vain that m
sisters afianced husband sought 20 break g
4 neshcs-ai bis Efforts only caused him 10 BE-
come more hUpslessly entansled.
] had effected my purpose. took good car
5hat TIE scandal should reach my sisters ear
withogt my name being mixed up Ia The mat
ter 10 any sFsT uhstever, and the enes sgemen
was immediately broken OF. Alfred Leerani
after making every effort to prove the l4lsit
Of tbe charge, It last gave up IN despair, an
left the country for Europe.
Ny purposs gal6Hsa. did not rstarn nom,
bit s-ail visited New York, and sgai
I plugged in the SEE Of dissipation, IN which
had only been arrested BY my determination r
vengeance. had spent aboGt faree month
there, when one day I received the foliowiu
! laconic letter from my father.
OF you wish 10 sec your sister alive, re
turn homs Immediately"
This conmuBication bad the Immediate el
feet of driving tie fumes Of liquor from 90
] besotted BODY, and I became sober Horrife
and shocksa, started home Immediately.
Iswss a raw Deceu.oer jay-IoW well ] O.,
member itl The sky overhead was c0vere
with q pail of murky clouds, while the col
/ northeast wind seemed 10 freeze The yer
blood 10 my hoty. Il hogled dismal!Y throug
tle ieafess trues az 7 advanced up the svenu
to ny fathers dwelling, and every sob an
/ aigl was al accuslt0ry voice addressed 70 u
conscisuce.
rushed into tie houss, and without a wor
tran the servant who opened The door, I va
Immediately conducted 70 my sisters chau
Der.
RecIaing IN an easy chair, afhich vas piacs
before hick1ry fire. was my sister Bat
I Goal bow changed. She Wss wasted almo.
I % skeleton: Der poor, chin haads were a
. moss transparent, and hectic flush burnt C
each cheek. Wlsn she saw ne, smile OF d
elf5 be uEes'ness naHtiei on her face, and sl
stretched ont her trembling band to welcou
me. rushed TO her, aad eiasped her ia %
+ arms.
s.Tais is kind of you, dear brother she e'
claimed 81 wanted 50 to see you before
, die"
"E5ih, dear Edith,s I returned, "do D.
talk O. dyins-ao, no you shall i've, you mu
iiyep
.asTde fat has gone forth, . she replied, 10
: ssd vjice. "G0d, 10 his infnite mercy, ha
wilisd 20 take nc away, because ihere w'
notl.nz ief me to lige for To y0u, de'
, brother, who know my heart 60 we'll ] ma
confess the trdib. Ysn know how Z loved a
; fre3-you know bow dear be was 70 ms g,
! know that mT cycrf tAeGght and feeling weI
Nfiusrged in b .n And when the knowledza
bis fsisehood reached ne, il was in vain that
/, tried to f0rget him. ] SIN ioTe him, and tn
: love has broken my heart"
The poor girl leaned ber head a9on n
! sdo1lder, and robbed aioud.
{ what terrible blow was this to ne 2 be-
E Wss nv poor dear sister dying before my eve
? and killed By me the same as il / had plant'
J dagger in her breas. It was too much Il
2 re % hssr; the weil-srTings 5f my heart We
} opened and Say tears mingled with hers.
Eiifs. hear me, you shall not die--I an
Z yinain-a black healted viliain--hffed L
grand is innocent. 7 swear T. Il was I 1Fh
coacactCd the vie eonspirirY % ruin bin
] voar eyes." And iu buried manner J rel
! ted 60 Der the whole particulars. She hesl
p them with half g9aderinr, wild look In 6i
y.