Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-04-14

upon Marion. and both turned instinetively
from the theme Of their discourse.
"Nsy. do not talk to me Of Louis" the lady
had said that night; he has brought bis fine
italian manners, and | like them not. Ms
father must see it, for he sbuns bin; and Il
Z Oh, Marion, be was not so once.o
And when the girl was gone, she took e
slender key from the chain which she always
wore, and unlocked the Venetian cssket. i
was empty, save those few faded flowers she
/ had treasured. She took them up with an
impatient gesture, as IL sae would have tram.
pied them under her feet; but tear fell OF
them; then they were pressed to Der lips in an
instant, and again returned to their hiding
/ place. "NO, cannot destroy them now" she
| said "Hsrry stood near when be gave them
to me will still keep them for my brothers.
sake"
I Sir Louis was already in the breakfast room
as she entered the next morning. Could she
be mistaken in thinking thst he smiled more
kindly when he bade her ''good morniRg?"
/ Certain it is that be held her little prisonsd
/ hand for a moment, and drew Der toward an
open window.
"Hcw vsry beautiful that fsr-of winding
read looks in this fresh morning light" he
said. "I was Just thinking how cften We have
csntered over It, and wondering il the copses
and the heath through which it wound are as
green and lesfY as then. I even had boldeT
thought; for was wondering If | might not
I be permitted to accompany Miss Granger in
her evening ride, and find for myself il it were
So"
It was hard to rsBress the Joy that came
gushing to her heart at these words; but Lacy
I had strong self-contr5l, and only bowed an
assent
''And MsriOn?'' be added, in a tone Of in
quiry.
"Poor Marion?D replied Lucy, 'she will not
leave her room to-day; she is III, and has been
so for a week past, but would not confess IA
I It. l have noticed Der burning bands and
I flushed cheeks; and now will not consent to
her rising until good Dr. Morton has been con-
sulted.0
A new light came into the eyes that bent
over her as she spoke. Il was plain Sir Louis
was not anxious FOR the ihvalid's recovery.
"Poor Msrionl" Lucy said to herself hun
dred times that morhing; and yet she seemed
Z to feel her absence relief, she knew not bow
or wherefore.
] How snxiouslv she watched a dark porten-
tous cloud that rolled slowly from the west az
dinner was announced. But she would not
believe that a shower was at hand as she or
dered the horses. Mere than once, during the
almost iDterminIble meal, she looked snxiously
toward the window 70 watch its progress. Her
father chided her more than once for thought
/ fuIness, and once looked almost angrily toward
ber as Der trembling hand spilled the wine she
was raising to her lips. Il was Just as hsr ear
I had caught the fret long, low mutteriRg OF The
far-of storm. Il wss sweeping down ia al
its wrath when Sir Louis Was released from
his attendance upon Mr. Granger, aud joined
/ her in the drawing-Toom. There was no de-
nying it now the ride must Re given up, snC
gloomily enough they watched The horses lst
away.
But after al it was a very pleasant evening
There was a seRSs Of comfort when the TsiI
beat against the windows, where the heavily
drsped curtsius excluded al but the vOlce o
the storm for the FIRE, which the chillness o
the atmosphere made most grateful, blaze,
cheerily upward and Sir Louis sat near h
fair hostess, and wstched the eolors that be
skillful hands mingled in the delicae EN-
broiderg over which she bent. They did no
talk much but the silence was not oppressive
and, as the evening came on. Lucy sang th
simple ballads Sir Louis could so well remsm
Der, when she first learned to minfle the ricl
notes OF her voice with the melody Of to
4" light guitar.n
Lucy started at last with a feeling Of self
reprosch that she had left Marion alone 81
long, and then The formal separation was eE
changed for the briefsr "good night whicl
NAV be made TO say 30 much
With all her remorfefui psngs, Lucy did 10
linger long at the bedside Of the fre ful inva
lid, and when In hsroWn room, the little caske
vas held once more within her hands SD,
swoke the next morning with that half dreaml
vet underlined conscio .sness that sometbin.
pleasant had occurred, which 81 can reeog
niZe; and when she remembered why she wa
glad to see the cheerful sunshine come strpa1 n
ing In, she sprsng from her couch and com
msnced a buried toilet.
fe~rr al rE sI ~. fnIn.T
sleepless, restless night bad qpickened her al
ready rapid pulse, ane, ibough she moane
8pstieHtiY at the dursHee, she was obliged &
give up ali thoughts OF breakfasting below
Lest something might again frustFste thei
project. S.r Louis petitioned a morning ride
How verg beautiful was Lucy ss she cam
bounding down the stone steps, with a child
like, graceful movement, her habit gsthsre
over her arm, to earess the noble stesd, tha
acknowledged the hand Of his mistress.
Sir Louis could have kissed The dainty foo
be held for an instant in his hand as she vaul'e
to ths saddle, and in one moment more The
were lost in the green vista that opehsd befor
+ them. They did not know from what Wild
strange gaze they were thus hidden; but ID
"evil sveso were those of Marion, whose lin
, trembled az she fell back once more upon be
pillow.
The spell could not pursue them that cloud
, less. sunbright morning The air was losds
with fragrance from the blooming lodges an
the rich clover fields by which they passed
| bird song thrilled through the eopse befor
them, and far away the ss-oke wresths Of ID
ham et curied lszily upward Taere was eX
citemeut to horse and rider az on they swep
and Luey's curls hoated back with ihe dar
, plume that fell upon her shoulders, and b.
, ewes spsrkled with a clear, Joyous light S
Louis had not seen in many day. After
time. their road lay through an Old fores
,Vhere the sunlight and The bird song wei
, softened while almost unconsciously the
/ rsined their siseds, and side BY side rode Of
ward more quietly.
There was enchantment in the very atmo
phsre In the solemn, emerald light in Il
: soft shadows that 'rembled across their patti
wsy. Then they hesnl the murmnr OF li't
brook. and Sir Louis dism0unted, while b
stesd bent to drink. II was most plessan
grassy glade through which the brook sparkle
and Lucy needed no second Invitation to re-
/ awhile in its shade. Bat she gathered vi
fowsrs-whiie Sir Louis stood beside her on
, 70 crush them-and, quite unconsciousl
. dipped that pretty foot mo The stream befo
! her.
ImprudeDt Lucy
At last she was again seated in the saddl
, and she gathered the rsins through Der slsnd
!.
. vieI them, and stood leaning against beec
: tree and looking up into the fair face that be
over him.
apo YOU know what happy dream bad
he said at length, "ss we sat on the bank 8
, gegber? Il was a memory o. 'dsyt long Tal
isbed., when a blue-eyed fairy child first sto,
trembling with fear at mounting steed lil
. this. saw those blue eyes fll with tebIss a.
; tarn to me besesebingiy. Once more ] cor
sorf.d The trembIer, and lifted her to the "a
? Fs Oncs more placed the Teins in ham
: sir,ost too tiney to grasp them. and led &
sfsed along with one OF those little hands res
! jrg mon nv shoulder. Then q sweet vol
called me dear Louis ? and ! forgot FOR q
: nomept that could not take the child 10 a
! arms. az then held Der; that she was "
I nan now, and the pledged wife OF anothe
Dear Lucy, forgive me il envy him"
ssWhoS OF whom 90 you speak, Louisi''
: ssTbe child Is here DO longer-of you, and
:. vour betrofhed, the heir Of Stanton bali"
: nMv bsiTotbsdl fon are dreaming notg.D
4 ssWould that could find i a dream. sul
t-,oyr fnII we'll who claims this hand, and
j kissed it involuntarily az ee spoke;
/. Tacv aid not sTiih TsE IT., and the curis b
= ,hs sssn blushes OF her cheek a. she bent 70
: ward, and whispered
A 81 see all now. She lied to y0E~
4 ssApd YOU are not TO be his bfideT"
= aNeyarl 7 would die hfstW
! aDsay Lucy p and his arm eneiFeled her
i " The 9,s' lsag's head bent s'ill lower, but b
N heart BE- srT fast
q ( Tie h,ros heard strange tales that day
Of .sebwood Foresii and they migbh have VIII
x p 4 hat a bride was won Aenealh