Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-09-24
/. MEMS VINES
A Tale Of Two eitiss-Truth strasser
than Fiction.

At the outbreak of the late war between
coast cities, there resided a young LADY,
the daughter of one not unknown to
fame, and who had occupied a high civil
position in the State of --. The
young lady was engaged to a gentleman
In every respect worthy of her hand and
heart. But the course Of true love never
does run smooth. Naughty guardians
white lies-s system Of merciless perse-
cution on the part of the guardian to-
ward the fair and accomplished ward,
destroyed the existing engagement be-
tween the plighted lovers, an act
fraught with the bitterest conse-
quences, as the sequel will establish
The young gentleman at nee became
reckless of Hfe-f0ught with the greatest
gallantry on many . blood-stained battle
field in the cause of the South until the
close of the war. Like many others who
had loss all upon the result, the advent of
peace did not bring back to him hope or
joy. Having lost Everything on earth be
valued, he plunged into every excess of
life-became a noted and confirmed fast
man, Al inveterate gambler, noted for his
desperation at play-one whose heart was
as hard as steel and as cold as ice. The
young lady, to avoid b persecution of a
heartless guardian, fed from her
home. M false step followed an
other in quick succession, until
at last she became an inmate
of one of those noted Memphis establish
ments, too well known in our fair city.
To sum it up, she had fallen into sin and
shame-a victim to persecution-s Votary
at the shrine of crime and folly. She had
been q resident OF Memphis but about
fOur weeks when b gentleman (her
former loyerb arrived in the city. OF
course re- frequented the fashionable
gambling house of the city, in pursuit Of
his profession. A few evenings ne visited
the house of Mime. -, q noted keeper
OF a bagnio. Seating himself at the
piano, he thummed over an old air I'M
consciously, "Kinioch of KinIoch," q
f~avorite in times gone by. He had struck
but a few bars when a lady rushed into
the psrlor, and seiZing him by the shoulder
turned him half around, gazed into his
face, and exclaimed in a tone of agony,
"My God, is this MI. -" t
They had met once more after a lapse of
ten years, but how changed were the
positions of each. The accomplished belle
toned and chivalric gentleman had be-
come a noted and desperate gambler.
Tbs gentleman overcome by the sudden
apparition, dropped his face into his
hands and wept like a child. The tide of
years swept back over his past life and
memory dragged up the drowned recol-
lections of former days, when he stood by
the side offs fair, pure maiden, her chosen
lover.
Mutual explanations followed this de-
nouentent. The love which had in better
and happier days been the fruitful
source of Joys and woes unnumbered,
sprsng at once into existence. In fact, it
had never died, but smouldered in the
bosom of each yer past recOllections sad
and unfortunate. They retired to a private
apartment for a short time to hear the
story of their lives, as each detailed 1t
with truth. They left the house of shame
at once, and a few evenings since were
married. Ere this, hundreds of miles
separate them from Memphis, the scene
Of this sad but romantic reunion. 1t
matters not who they are
mere incidents in q heart history-and
certainly no Christian man or woman
would desire apublication of names when
it would but follow tho erring man
and give rise to tales of mystery and dis
grace. The society of ''outrageously
virtuous," headed by Miss Prim, will, no
doubt, cry u shame" when they learn
hat wicked people struggle back toward
the paths of virtue and reformation; but
what of that? Let the innocent cast the
first stone," and we will rest satisfied that
no direct attack will be made upon our
hero Inc heroine. This is a true history,
strange and romantic, proving again that
it is never too lste to retrace our steps,
and that no human being is ever lost
while life exists. We nave no doubt that
this strange and accidental meeting will
work a reformation as to both parties,
for our philosophy teaches US "that from
the nettle danger we often pluck the
flower of safety"