Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-05-26

y
ed, turning the bsuble over and over. !" i Is
very handsome, and must have cost fifty dol
lars at least. Dick is vary generous"
"Jsst as free as water, my dearl And, Ike
me, Dick hates stiDgy people most consumed-
+" he hates Mr.. Lee, thenp' rsioined Eva,
az she handed the glittering bracelet back to
her friend.
"0h, no, not hate him, Eva, by any meansp
exclaimed Florence, in depTsca'ing manner.
" He thinks him very close, though, and very
ques9 too, for young man"
Z" Well, | must say Mr.. Lee never goes 70
such lengths as that; nevertheless, I'd be will
ing to make you a handsome present II, upon
trial. my Frea should not display the most real
charty.o
al accept the wager, Eva" rsioined Flor
encei not out Of any particular dislike to
Mr.. Lee, nor from any especial regard Tor Mr..
Freely, but simply with a view to test the
young gentlemen, and satisfy ourselves. But
how'shall the trial be made?''
i "Pll tell you," said Eva, wEo forthwith en-
tered into full description Of her little plan.
" Fred,D she added, In conclusion, " will be
here this evening, and we can put him to the
test at once.1
$50 we can, my dearw
The scene changes.
/ Jest abont dusk OF the same day on which
I Eve and Florence held the above mentioned
conversation, two fue-looking, Handsomely
attiTed young men accidentally mettOgethsr on
+ the corner OF cross streets, q few squares dis
/ tant from the residence Of the first mentioned
Young lady. They were Frederic Lee and
Richard Freely.
They stopped, shook hands, and passed the
usual stereotyPed compliments.
al suppose you're going to Miss Darey's,
Lee /" said Freely.
az am Dick - WAS fhe oafaf rani1r
"Pn bound there. too, my fine fellow /
dropped In to see Miss Cary awhile ago, and
was told that should find her at Miss Darcy's,
whittier I was vending ny way when We
ehsnced to meet. Fine girls, both. Don't you
think so, Lee ?"
'I do, Dicko
Excuse me, Lee; but, now, DON'T you really
think Miss Darcy seems little too old fash
ioned, trife too pTim 20
"NOt to my eyes, Dick, though she may 10
some others p
alike"
"No, thaps true - responded Lee, with an
almost impsrcepfible smile.
At that moment, two poorly, iIly-clad fs-
males, with their faces closely nufisd in old
ragged hoods, came around the corner, aud
halted in close proximity to the young men.
One walked WITH a cane, and leaned upon the
arm Of the other, and both looked poverty
stricken enough in all conscience.
Charity, geHtlemen," exclaimed the ons
who was supporting the other, and who sP-
Psared to be the younger Of the two.
The tones Of her voice were sad and husky
and the young men stopped, Lee haltin first,
however, and Freely following bis example, as
il he could not well help 1t.
Dick paid but little or no attention to The
women, but Fred regarded them earnestly and
Rttentively.
I" Did l understand you to solicit charity .
said the latter, kindly addressing the msndi-
cants. care you really in want?"
Painfully so, sir . was the smothered
reply My mother is very old aud feeble, az
you may see, and my own days are swiftly
passing away. We have no friends at all to
keep us, and Iothing to depend on but the cold
charity Of the world. ! worked as long az I
was able; but this winter I could not find = /
great deal Of employment, end what little |
could was almost too much for me. We live /
in a gsrret, sir, and never pass dav that v e
do not experience the direst want All, me 20 !
aighsd The woman, in conclusion.
The old story, Leslo abruptly, cried /
Freely. "You'd meet a dozen such in every
square Of ths city; and they'll tell the same /
winning. pitiful tale. Don't give 'eEl a cent |
won'tl If they're as bad of as they say they /
are, et ZEN 90 to the poor-house-tha's the |
place for all such vagrants."
"Tou and I, Dick, have different notions oB l
good many subjects :" responded Lee; "and I
contrary 10 your advice, l shall aid these poor !
creatures TO the best Of ny ability II they |
deceive me, the punishment will be theirs
not nine" Turning to the women, at the same /
time drawing some coin from his pocket, be /
added: "Hers are a couple Of dollars for your 1
present needs and il you will call at nv place |
Of business, No, street, and inquire 4
for Frederick Lee, will see if something
more cannot be done to aid you.o
"God bless your kind heart 20 simultaneous /
ly responded the two women, in deep earnest /
tones.
''WOn't you give them triae, Dick? added |
Fred, turning 70 Freely.
"Not fsrthing, Leel can lay my money |
out to better account than that, tell !
yOul"
Well. if you won't, you won't, SUPPOSE /
reisined Lee; "but il such case, think the 1
money is well invested.''
And don't, my boy; so there's Just the /
difference between Us - responded Freely, /
turning upon bis heel and moving off.
After again requesting the mendicants to /
call upon him, Lee followed his selfish, heart |
less companion.
With very little conversation, and that near
iy all on the part Of Freely, the young men !
reached Miss harcy's residence, and were /
shown into the parlor, with the assurance that /
the ladies would make their appearance in a |
few minutes.
immediately after parting with the young
zen, the beggar-women turned down the cross !
street out OF sight; and it was strange to see
what a great and sudden change came over 1
them. The decrepid old woman s.rsigbtened /
herself mp, and both appeared to forget their /
feebleness and regain new life. With rapid 4
steps they FASTENED through q smsI, back /
street, to the rear Of Miss Darcy's home /
which they entered through the back yard.
Need / tell the reader that the beggar-vn-
men were personsted by Miss Darcy and Miss 1
Cary; or that the former made good her word /
in egard to Frederic Lee ami Richard FreelyP 4
] think not
Upon reaching Evs'r apartment, the young /
girls hastily threw of their DISCUSSES, and pre- /
pared to 90 down into the psrlor.
"Wel, Florence, are you convinced 30 de- /
manded Eva, meantime.
ENTIRELY so ~ was the emphatic response
"and II ever any one says. in my presence, /
that Fred Lee is stingy, shall contradict /
them. As for Dick Frsely-he's brute, and |
Pm done with bin !"
al am pleased to hear You express such SEN
timents, Florence % responded Eva, "and / /
hope that our adventure will open your eyes |
fully. Now, let us 60 down stairs but not a /
word or sign about our escspade. Il was rath- /
ous world might not give us proper credit for |
our practical experiment" "
"pll be quite dumb on the subject nv dear !
Ega-though | shouldn't wonder at all if |
were little hUffy to Mr.. Dick Freely just /
to think Of the puppy spending fifty dollars for 1
a bracelet FOR me, and refusing pittancs to a 4
poor, sick woman -
Oh but he's SO generous $50 free p re
sponded Miss Darcy, with a slight laugh.
Don't now don't Eva, If you love mep1
The young girls tripped down stairs and |
into the parlor; and an hour or so afterward ]
Florence departed for her home, ACCOMPANIED !
By Freely, whose escort. under the circuu- /
stances, sbe could not well refuse Frederic /
Lee, however, remained all the evening with I
Miss Darcy, but neither before, nor after the |
departure of Florence and Freelv was any
reference made TO the mendcant women. I
Richard Freely, probably did not give the mat 1
ter a second ithought-Frederie Lee too fire. /
ouently exercised bis charitable feelings 70
think the subject Of any particular importance /
and the girls had their own reasons for
avoiding the topic Both the Young ladies'
were little cold to Dick, however; and, out /
for fear OF bstraying their secret, would pro-
badly have displayed their feelings still more |
pointedly.
On the plea Of headache, Florence excused
herself for not inviting Rich'rd Freeley into
the house, as usual; and the next day-being
really woman Of right mind and good princi-
pies-she returned the young gentleman bis
bracelet, and respectfully, but decidedly, de
clined the honor Of bis company, In any other
respect, than az an acquaintance.
Dick was very much put ont at this unlock
ed for turn in events; but though he tried bard.
be could not change the fat that had gone
forth. At length be yielded to bis fate and
went bis way, and without the satisfaction Of
knowiag what bad led to his dismissal.
A short time afterward Frederic Lee and
Eva Darcy were married, aud the happy
young bride never bad the slightest reason to
regret her choice Of husband To few
years, Lee Became man Of means and infu-
encs, and was much beloved abroad as be was
at bis own pleasant fire side.
Florence Cary soon found another suitor
but her new admirer was an entirely different
man from Freely. A year or so after Eya's
marriage, she, too, gave herself awsy-con-
6icnt, this time, that she hai made good Sc
lection, and would not be disappointed.
{" He's Just ike your Fred, am sure I, she
whispered to Eva, on her wedding-niebt; and
happily, after-tiges proved that her words
were prophetic.
He seas like Frederic Lee and two better
men,or two happier women, the sun ns'er shone
upon.
Subsequently, the gentlemen were let into