Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-07-21
Fallen, but NOble-An Episode from
Real Life.


From the Nashville Banner. 15th.l
A good many weeks ago there came to
Nashville and engaged rooms at one of
the aristocrstic uptown boarding houses
young and prepossessing lady of evil
dent culture and education. Her appear
ance was striking-a fine form, bust like
the Venus de Medici, aud a carriage
graceful and scinating in the extreme,
were hers. A wealth OF raven hair fell
about her shoulders, or was looped up
la clasiqre; mild, gentle eyes, full OF
an intelligence all their own, told plainly
that she was of the higher classes of So
ciety and woman of culture and intel
lect. She became at once general favor
ite, and as she exerted herself to please,
aud manifested spirit of refined kind
ness and regard for others, admirers were
not wanting. Among the latter was a
worthy young man Of Nashville, who
made her acquaintance, and after short
time, to make the matter plain to the
comprehension of all, fell desperately in
love with her. She seemed TO recipro-
cate the passion, and match did not
seem at all improbable.
The young lady, whose name we shall
not mention, gave out that her father,
rich planter of Georgia, would call for
her in the course of few weeks on his
way to friends in Kentucky. The young
man of whom we speak pressed bis
claims with ardor, and had doubtless
made up his mind to meet the old gen.
tleman with q bold face and ask the
daughter in marriage. He took her out
to fetes and parties, introduced her to
his friends, and was close and constant
in his attentions. She appeared usually
happy and brilliant in his presence, but
there were times when clouds of melaH-
choly gathered over her face and when
the laerry laugh was silent and the smile
quenched out. At last the young gentle.
man received one afternoon at his place
Of business note which called him to
the young lady's boarding place at once.
1t was from herself, and briefly asked
him to call as she had something impor-
tant to impart He, Of course, with
something of wonder, promptly re-
sponded with bis presence, questioning
what it could all be about, as he had
promised that evening to take her to an
entertainment.
81 cannot 90 with you tonight" she
said. " cannot act double part any
longer, and though | never expect you to
speak to me again after what | tell you,
| feel impelled to undeceive you in re-
gard TO myself. To-day my illegitimate
babe, born in little country town miles
away, and brought here for keeping, died
at the house of the nurse in South Nash
vile. Tomorrow l shall attend the
funeral. and then | shall go far away, and
shall never see you aga:a." And then
she told the story, the old, old, eft're-
peated story of mans deception, of the
wiles of false-hearted wretch, whom
she had loved too we'll, and who had aed
never to return. She told him how her
life was hlaatei, how hope had fed from
her bosom, how all the brilliancy and
vivacity she had exhibited was a cloak to
hide a broken heart, and then the two
parted, he bent to the earth, Borrowing
and wretched, she with the stern look OF
settled despair. A few days later, the
brilliant woman Gom Georgia lef. the
city for Kentucky, and there was much
wonderment about the broken off match
which had been terminated so suddenly.
Beneath the placid siFsam Of daily life
what tragedies and goefal dramas are
constantly enacting.