Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-04-14
THE CONFIDENCE.
HT MRS. Il srEwARr.


Aias, hey bad been frieHiI in youth.
-cHHlsTAULE.
NO ; you do no. disturb me, Marion. Com,
But the speaker did rot move from h,
couch, on which she half rsclined, to greet the
lew conner.
The girl called Marion glided softly-stesith-
by, you might almost have called it-scross
Ne Eorg geous carpet, and placed her arm ca
rsssi1gly about the lady's form.
"kou have good news" and her keen, gray
sTss bent eagerly over letter which her friend
bed
Lacy Granger did not speak for a moment,
tough he clasped the hand resting upon her
saoaider. Il was as IL a bright morning
cream. which she feared to disPel, had bound
her viii its gentle thFsll. There was a soft
light in her beautiful eyes, and a sigh, low and
trsmulous, yet not OF pain, parted her crimson
iPS. II seemed to recall her once more from
EtaisFsr rsTeries she bad indulg-d but still
she did not move, and spoke with d'wncast
eTss, and q voice so subcued that Marion
knew The memory Of the pleasant thoughts yet
fingered.
II have a letter from Louis Vernon, ny
fathers ward. have not beard from bin in
Tesrs-yes it is years since be sent me that
little caskst from Venice. u stands upon ny
idls life then and bis letters to ny poor brother
were filed avith descriptions Of gorgeous fsles
and beautiful women, and moonlight seas.
How be loved the beautiful Harry and be
were such frisndsl Then Harry died; and my
father who is so proud and cold-they only
wrots 90 business and, at ast, Louis ceased
10 spsak Of me in bic hurrie,l letters. He is
coming to England again.
Marion did hot answer. She waited as il to
hear more.
aHe is cone, I sbo3ld have stid; and will
b here in this very house Tonight. BE wrote
% kindly ! thought be had forgotten ne; but
be is iuE. the sane as ever. / wOnd-r il be
win thirk me altered. He says be hopes to
fns ne the same; but I an a woman now, and
be len ne school giri. OF, Marion, be ia 50
beautiful Did vou ever wish to be beautiful,
Mariun? To have those who look on you con
fess that you we're 80, with involuntary hom-
ages Somehow, I could almost wish it for
myself this afternoon. Louis loves all that is
lovely"
II Lucy's eyes had been upraised, she would
have seen q shadow, dark and almost nslig-
nsnt, pass over the face that bent over her.
Ungrsceful in person and cold in Der exterior,
tbs companion and depenSezi Of fhe heiTess Of
Granger Park had often cursed iH her heart The
adverse fs'e thst had denied Der sll external
attractions. Often az she had Wreathed the
eonscious, or arrsyed The FORM whose every
melton was grace itself, bitter, envious
lhought poisoned the better fee ings Of Der
nature, until she bad almost cont 10 hate the
gentle girl. who loved and trusted her with az
fbe saTnestness Of an sfectionste, guilsless
nature.
HFortune. beauty, love, an showsrei upon
herr Marion had Inurmnrsd; "while /, born
her equal, must rest in obscurity because 2
1.-THE or these gifts bss been denied ne. Oh
Il / were but besutiful, how would win mems
hearts, How they should acknowledge The
spsU OF nv presence, and bow down before
Ias, forretful that my loveliness was ny only
doWry -
And then ibe mirror would reflect facI
pale With envy, and features harsh and cen
iraeled. Alas for Marion
She remembered Louis Vernon. Could she
ever forget him? for in his rude boyhood be
nd tsuntsd her with her 6ependence-she
could have borne tbat-snd with her piainuess,
of trbich she hated even TO hear. she could
reeaH everr incident Of that scene; his frank
msJllv face. and her own. glance OF defiance
80 be was coming home, and, no doubt, woulC
voc and win bis old plsYfeilow. He was SiF
Louis Vernon now, though LGcF had forgotten
fhst." Thus ran Msr;on's thoughts. "And
she viii be mistress Of al hrT fathers wealth
Ard 7. siIl in the shadow, must stand by anc
i
fhst abe is 10 war, and smile when ] coui'
Vssp, and bless wheh by heart curses"
Oh, il was sad to see = human heart giver
ma 70 such evil guidance; but it was tue tester
iag thcuqht Of q lifetime, and Marion was .
rare disBembler.
ffNsv. eonfess il !" she said playfully, as shi
spi looked down upon he letter filed viii
kindly words and glad snticiPations; "you
lave vour fsther's ward. Lucy. Your brothers
sriena-thst is not ali. Well, you VIII be hap
NJ. for BE- could not refuse such homage"
''nf offer hin homage Bot you are jAgting
ftNay: % vou think have been blinded al
,tis white 70 the love-dream that flied you
b.srtP There are orange flowers 10 that LITTLE
rasksi: wilbeced. il Is true; bnt Sir Louis CAV
tbsn 70 YOU ere be sailed from England Tier
IA curl OF brown bsir beneath The velvet eush
Iol.f l. msrveliously Ike some curls hsv'
gen on bis forehead. And peEhapE youforge
ehrsing before the picture that bangs 10 you
br,fhersF room. ere i Tas closed, and sighin.
sfrou turned away :"
10 wonder that Lucy blushed, and withdreg
br band impstently.
akpd vour eyes will welcome him bscl
.afn. and Tour lands may finish The conquest,'
sie half murmurCd.
There, 20, Marion; nv eyes shall never tel
urmsideniy secrets. Did I not love you
~. I should chids you for speaking thus.
f,receive nv fathers gues'a; you must do
70 me- They have entered The drawing
r0m-" ,.
n needed not Lucv's impatient entrestie;
er Narion's heart beat fast with the wish 7
se Louis Vernon frst-aloDe; and yet 90
,-.uriied a. one who coufers favor. Inc
Tvev sank back upon the couch once mort
ssd seemed to forge. what was required G
br. The rich fsi of lace trembled 70 n
frHm : n z
clsFDed The letter neryously. She istene
ss~erIv to catch the sound OF voices from Be
SoS. bet there was nothing but The trampiin
- sterds se tbev we're Jed from TIE court-ysFt
snS The uurfnur Of the summer fountain ina
nisved beneath her window.
q Marion spoke Strangely thought sue
sasFve I been unmaideniy2 Have ! given 10
fog, upsought? Have ] cherished ether tnel
s.i.tsr,s love for Louis? I cannot t'H; Id
- know myself this afternoon. But ! WI
n eoId and formsl-Yes, NY father's ow
ehis3--sDd thus will atone IT, Louis'-th
ns.bs was spoken with lingering accent, q
~ reveris ceased; nor was TIE lady conseiou
bev- rssch that little word revealed.
ebe rose and stood before the mirror 10 "a
-, her robs. She drew one sprigof the starr
--iits isssamine from vase before her 7
t-ire suorg her curis, and in another nomel
hd gIided down The old oak staircase, sireso
cstv with evening shs doWs, and STOOD oei oi
terubisct Of her thoughts
&, gave her band lightly TO tai, dark
,.r.sd stranger, 90 different from the Louis
h ttenorv. who bowed as hauebtily IS hs
49, could have done, sad LED her 70 scar
a. cojdiV his formal inquiries tel upon ne
- - measured tone was an unfamtiia
Her heart, that had Huttered 50 WlidiJ
- frozen in her breast. Poor Laey
ev mad parted ss brother AID sists
4b lisa and loving clasp Sae woAi
- -r-,l- -.f-ou either nov, 4 is trnei o'
- nd beneath Der silken boo "a ls
-, Efnd .s-ed her FOR this uniookeo-Ie
q pot p.s,s weary moments passed neas sii
f1ucHE- rapportsd the conversation
- Hsris.i..- & the others seemed 70 tak
,icIi 1fr.rsfef, LucV wss glad 10 hear =
,raet l-4af 81 Der father sounding - y
J, hss+ss.fff f.sffg forward to- meet hir
n setd 20 che k bsrs and 81
ibe ehtfsnce, more emhsrrasse
80 ssfors.
sf-rur srass ss Lucy had chsrseterisi
1S proud. There vas strength
EEure and massive head Mass
4r. now beginning 10 silver, we
from nls square forehead: a.
sat . retoiite ccmnreEsion that q
80 bid tie yousg sfrsf'ger We
was lifile soeisbiiifv sddsG
u entfanee and when, after
~ evening, they separated, q
- Be z oncs more alone.
- Ia cold enough, = mutter
the open Hindof
ng out upon the