Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-01-31
FIRST AND LAST LOVE.

triumphal car, and q fairy genla5 ap-
peared to attend him, giving the highest
attainment to every wish, this mighty
lord of creation madly abandoned his
sovereignty, and surrendered himself,
without struggle, to the monster habit
that "weaves the winding-sheet souls,
and laws them In the urn Of everlasting
death, from no cause known, and none
that could be supposed, save peculiar
organization of brain that untitled him
to bear success. His wife, a woman Of
surprising lovehness, was possessed Of
sensibilities of such exceeding delieacy
as proved little more than ETHEREAL in the
rough experience through which her
lines had fallen. Like fragile fuschia
touched by the breath Of winter, the
roseate bloom of her bright, young lite
paled and wilted beneath the first frosts
of grief every energy became numbed,
and every spring of hope ran dry. When,
therefore, Malcom Mcleod became q
hopeless drunkard, and his beautiful
wife confirmed invalid, their only child,
deprived of fathers guidance and pro-
lection, and a mothers sympathy and
tuition, was consigned to an orphanage
substantially as pitiable as that oeca-
stoned by the actual loss of parents.
Between the double veil Of suffering
and shame which misfortue often casts
upon youth, is sometimes concealed, by
way Of generous compensation, sort of
magnifving glass that gives to the un-
tried vision supernatural power to dis
tinguish the nature of things hitherto
wrapped in mist. So it was with Donia
Mcleod. A clearness of perception and
balance Of Judgment belonging to years
of maturity seemed superposed upon her
naturally fine understanding, and at the
age of twelve years, she bacame the full
crum as well as lever Of her darkened
home. On her tender shoulders every
care rested, and it was by her patience,
energy and love that every domestic diff
fculty was lifted Such a situation, for
one so young, we would at once pro
nounce most lamentable and yet its fre-
ouent fruitions are Of such a character
as to make it almost an enyiable one.
The noblest chords Of human feeling
acquire a strength and richness by ex-
ercise and endurance, to which the full
est notes of hearts suppressed and walled
in by circumstances Of hereditary pros
perity are but appogiaturas.
Soon the proud head of Malcom Nc
Leod lay low in an unhonored grave
few months more, and his heart broken
wife had Joined him in the far country
of the soul
Donia was received into the family Of
her maternal Uncle, Dr. Mcqueen, where
her life was so latticed in with tender
ness and love, that the sad recollections
of her childhood we're soon denied en-
tertainment, and, one by one, found
graves beneath the expresses Of the past,
while many a star Of brightest promise
lit up the shadowed streets Of the silent
future. DR.. Mcqueen had but two chill
dren-Illa, fragile blonde Of sixteen,
and CaHie, a bright-hearted beauty OF
fourteen summers. In the latter, who
was exactly her own age, Donia found
many responses TO her own nature, and
soon their lives flowed on together like
one ripping, crystal stream Of existence
Both had been christened Caledonia, but
the name was subsequently divided be-
tween them. 1t was now that the hard
discipline Of Donias early life began tC
bear the richest fruits her influence and
example operated Bcnderfully in devel-
oping the best traits in the characters Of
her cousins. Her presence was lamp
of oheerfulness in seasons Of gloom
sweet, refreshing shade TO the weary pill.
grims who CHANGED to meet her in theil
tourney through the arid wastes of life
A few doors distant lis.:.;.t lived Archie
Adair, the beloved bachelor brother Of
Mrs. Mcqueen; lawyer Of rare talent
great benevolence, and extended Popu.
Iarity. He was a common friend, ready
benefactor-in every relation of life the
finished gentleman but some heavy
disappointment had lowered upon hi:
youth, and teemed still to rest, like Cos
samer pail, upon his manhood. He stu
diouslF avoided the society Of ladies
and ere he had reached the dignity O
forty, was, with much show of justice
considered a confirmed misogamist; yet
to the interests and pleasures of his three
nieces. as he numbered them, he was alb
sorbingly devoted.
In the summer of 1860 he received
visit from an old college mate TO whom
he had long been very much attached
The foreign-looking appearance of Don
aid Malloy awakened more distrust thar
admiration in the minds Of the wiseacre
of that unpretending little town. Upol
the faeetious Calhe, in especial, his fer
eyes, jetty hair, and swarthy complex
ion made most unfavoFable impression
and she soberly affirmed that one nigh
] easily believe him to be a daring exil,
from Erebus. lila, by reason of pre-
occupied heart, was totally Indifferent
Between Donia and he, however, dis
patches were instantly exchanged ol
the magnetic telegraph, and one meeting
suficed to effect a most agreeable anC
complete understanding. To her alon,
the excellenGies Of his singular characte
were revealed. In conversation witt
her, his sentiments assumed a tone st
beautiful and exalted as to convey to he
delighted mind the impression that sub
Unity was the very Yernacular Of hi
soul. He was, indeed, a man Of unusu
ally high mental culture, and there wa
strange fascination in his eccentri
manners but, to enjoy his society,
was necessary to first become familia
with his general disposition, and recon
ciled to the fierce glance Of his scindl
lating eye, as well as a nervous twitchinl
of the muscles of his face, which woul
too readily pass for afectation. His at
tentions were concentrated upon Donia
she sang his favorite songs, read his ia
yorite books, engaged in his favorit