Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-05-26
A CHALLENGE.
AND WHAT CAME OF 1T
BY ANNA N. LAWSON.


Two young ladies-both very Handsome
were sitting together in an elegant parlor one
bright May afternoon. Their names were Eva
Darcy and Florence Cary.
The former WAS The young mistress Of The
house, and the latter her most gs;imate friend.
They were like sisters to each other, and
shared every thing IN common.
Eva had recently engaged herself to a yonng
man named Frederic Lee; and, as the ladies
were wholly unreserved in their friendly inter-
course, the betRethment was now the subject
Of conversation.
"I have heard it said that Mr.. Lee is psrsi-
monious, even miserlyl" remarked Florence,
with privileged freedom: "and in that case,
Eva, you viii lead a most sorry life. / am no
advocate for extravsgsnee or inprovidence
but a stingy man is almost invariably a tyrant
and by no means the proper person to make a
woman hsppy.D
81 agree with you in that, FloreAce p
responded Eva "but most emphalicallv denv
the application in the case. Frederick is care
ful and economical, admit-for he has a
laudable ambitioa to get ahead in the world
bu, nothing more; and / would far rather have
him that way than be made 20 feel that be was
more generous than Just, more free thar
Wise.0
"Why, Eva, Fred Lees stirginess is pro.
veTbisl among all the Yourg men ofhis acquain,
tanceT exclaimed Florence al have heard
several speak Of it in no complimentary
( terms"
''Indeesp' responded Eva; "and did they
say in what consisted his stinEinsss 20
Certainly, my dear; he's never ready to
spend rs others De, p reioined Florence, quickly
I @Those may not be the exact words, but thai
was what It amounted to-"
"But that does not constitute siinginess =
/ said Eva, calmly. "If be will not sausndel
I bis limited msass IL idle and useless dssipa.
/ tion, be Is more prudent than parsimoni.
ous, and Far more deserving Of credit thar
csnsure Mr. Lee enjoys himself in all reason
I able and ralionsble ways, feel certain; ant
/ Is never close-handed when the call is Of a de.
serving character. Nor is he at all backward
I iB contributing to the enjoyment Of bis lady
( friends, a. you yourself well know. But, lei
! me ask question, Florence-probsbly tha
( viii throw some light on the subject. Doe,
/ Mr.. Lee accept any faFors from bis friendl
which be does not show a willingness to recip
rocate?''
ooh, no : he neither gives nor receives; anS
/ makes 1t practice to refuse al invitations t,
participate in those pleasures generally ss
/ congeDial to young men Of bis age"
nThsn It seems that Mr. Lees stinginess i
! but a misunderstanding between himself snC
| his friends in regard 10 the true meaning Of th,
word . said Eva, With uDdisturbed serenity
I "His friends think that because he viii no
consent to Great and be treated'-I believl
those are the terms, my sear-because be vii
not actually eqdaHder bis means and iniur
bimself both in body and reputation, that hl
is stingy: and be thinks differently, and with
true, manly independence, conducts himself
according to bis own Impressions. Isn't TIA
lust sos-'lorence?1
Well, yes, perhaps it IS but still he might
be a iiltle more social and liberal, and vet no
hurt himself. and It don't follow, either, tha
he must become really dissipated, as you seen
10 ID Hk, Eva. Now, for my part, feel Ger
tain there must be s0Hething in It more thar
we can see, or such report would never bsvl
got into circulation. Sill, ] have nothing t,
chsrsl against Mr. Lee, myself, and wouid'n
have you think 50 for anything. speak onll
for your own good, my dear. Sliagy men al
ways were ny aversion, however and Pd
hundrediold rather die an old maid than lini
ny fate with one who bears the suspicion 0
such a charactsT.~
" And 50 would 7, Florence lv earnestly re
sponaed Eva " but think you are mistaken
in regard 10 Mr. Lees and fancy. you hav
been led astray by others who do not prsperli
appreciate his notiveB.1
"And, | suppose, you think tnat you do 10
derltand himw
q I hope 50; and,to prove ray words, n
make you a challenge .
" Well, ny dear, what ls it like? Pm ope
to conviction; and, therefore, sgreslo anythin
reasonable" -
At that moment so,bething abcut the perso
sesf Florence appeared to attract Eva's par
'sei cular attention.
81 ,ss What is t, EEzs'' inquired Miss Cary, In
own rtHs slloiicing thecircumstanes.
,ovVs y,