Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-12-26
A LOUISVILLE BELLE A som.
NAMBULIST.

In the west en0 OF tDe CITY uWcllS
family, as great many families do, but
the enc we allude to belongs to the creme
de la creme of Louisville society. The
lord Of the house is a gentleman whose
name is power on Change, three lines
from whose pen, with his signature at
tached, would make bank tremble to
the lowest stone in its vaults. The lady
was, some years ago, belle among
bellies, the admired of all, the toast Of
the country" Though no longer young,
the mother of grown daughter, time
has dealt lightly with her charms, and
she is yet the possessor OF great beauty,
toned down, tbs true, from the sparkling
freshness that distinguished her youth.
If my lord walks among the money
changers a very king, my lady promen-
AIDES the parlors a very queen. They
have daughter, whose loveliness Ian
guage is too poor to describe.
That this lovely creature is adored by
her parents is not TO be wondered at,
since she is worshipped by all else. I'm
agine the grief, then, that has stricken
their hearts of late, as they watched the
roses fade from her cheek, the glorious
eyes begin to sink in their sockets, the
rounded form grow thin and angular,
and the light, springy step grow heavy
and languid. To all their interrogatories
she universally declared that she was not
ill-that she enjoyed her usual health.
She acknowledged that she was aware Of
great change occurring, for her glass
told her a. much, but it was unaccount-
able to her. The family physician was
called in, bat he could not enlighten
them. At length it was suggested to the
grief stricken mother that perhaps the
fair girl was pining away from hopeless
love. The suggestion gave her hope.
She few to her daughters chamber, and
eonIured her to confess the fact if it were
true, at tho aame time promising that no
imnediment would ho thrown in the way
of the accomplishment Of her wishes,
No. she was not in love. Thank heaven,
her heart was. yet whole and fancy
free. sorrowing more than ever, the
mother left the daughter presence. That
night she communicated to her husband
lie suggestion that had been made to her,
as well as the result Of her interview with
their child. Man is not so easy to con-
vince as woman, and the denial OF bis
daughter amounted almost to o COMES
sion-he was as satisfied that she loved
some one whom she feared to introduce
into the house, as if he had seen her with
his own eyes Stealing out to q midnight
tryst. The clouds were new llited-the
scales had fallen that had hitherto OBJ
scured his vision. II was loss OF rest that
was killing the girl. he would watch
her that very night and discover the
truth. And watch he did, and sure
enough, as the night deepened, saw his
child's door open and she emerge there
from, bearing in her hand q ehamhoF
lanp. and clad only in her night gar
ments. He did not attempt to detain
her. as she turned her steps toward the
door thst opened into the garden, but
determined TO ascertain Who sle Was
going to meet at that unseemly hour ana
in that -unmaideuiy Enise, followed her
a.tip-toe, taking good care 20 keep HIM
self we'll ia the back ground, beyond the
reach of the rays Of the lamp. Steadily
she moved in the direction OF an arbor
in the lower part of the garden, which
was her favorite resort in summer time.
Reaching the arbor she seated herself
upon bench, and, placing the lamp be-
SIDE ber, gazed With vild-stsring eyes out
into the blackness and emptiness Of the
night He waited, and waited, and
waited, out no lover made his appear
ancs. At length, fearing that long expo
sure to the keen, cold air, thinly clad as
she was, might prove fatally injurious to
his already halt dead daughter, he con.
cluded TO present himself to her, and
compel her to return TO the house. What
was his astouishment to discover that
she was in q sonnamhglio state. Gently
he awoke, lifted her in bis arms, and
bore her 10 the house. The mystery vas
explained She is nov under medical
treatment, aud il Is hoped that soon So
cie,y will be gladdsned and adorned by
the return Of its sweetest sEd fslFest or
namenf, freed from the mslady that sas
fast destroying her