Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-04-30
AN ORIGINAL STORY.
LILIAN'S ATOM EAl ElVI'
By DAISY DEAN.

SUIT
Greatly, Mr.. Everton, you take things
too much for granted. do not think 1
have given you sufficient cause to infer
that your suit, should you press 1t, would
be favorable one"
$50 your acceptance of my attentions
during all these weeks has had no more
meaning on your part than idle pastime,
the qualification of adding one more vic.
tim to your list of colquestsi"
''Mr. Everton, have regarded you in
the light of valued friend, and deeply
regret that you should have misconstrued
my motives; l am daily expecting the re-
turn OF one 10 whom am afianced, and
thus cannot favor your suit"
''Since you have go far honored me
with your confidence, Miss Somers, may
l inquire who is the happy mani" was
the bitter response.
81 cannot as yet so far extend my con.
fidence, Mr.. Everton, but on the consum-
nation of the happy event, l will be
pleased to see you among the wedding
guests" csrelessly replied Lillian, un-
needing the gathering gloom on her COM
panion's brow.
"Trifle no further with me, Lillian. /
have trusted and believed in your sinceri-
ty, for you cannot deny your encourage
ment of my addresses. You knew
loved you, for | have not disguised my
devotion, and you led me to believe ]
was not Indifferent TO you. Now you
cast me aside as you would a wilted
flower whose fragrance you had crushed.
Untrue to your womsn's nature, untrue
10 him who shall call you wife, should /
not rather rejoice that / have thus es-
capedg But your image has been too
deeply eDgraven upon my heart to soon
forget; yet ! viii never rest until that
image is torn from its shrine. You have
taught me the bitter lesson of lost faith
in woman, lesson not good for man to
learn. 1t is hard to love as have loved,
TO pour the deep devotion of my heart at
your feet, to be spurned and rejected.
Is human love 50 cheap that you can thus
trifle with an offered heari2 Are you so
sure of the constancy of one, you fear
not to sport with others2 But may Heaven
avert from you the paDgs of unrequited
affection. Farewell, forever. We part
not as friends, no secondary place can
accept, where | had hoped to reign su-
preme," and with hurried steps and
troubled brow, he left ere her trembling
lips could syllable reply.
Lillian SOmers was a favored belle of
society. Naturally amiable and even
tempered, she had been spoiled by the
injudicious flattery of friends, and was
inclined to flirt with her numerous ad-
mirers. Amongst the latter was Clarence
EYertOn, an exceedingly handsome man,
who, though quite young, loved her with
all the ardor of his native South. OF ex-
celent and wealthy parentsge, though g
stranger in the city, Lillian had been fiat
tered by his attentions, and encouraged
them with no thought as 10 consequences.
She had been betrothed at an early age to
Gerald Lacy, who had been absent year
in Europe, but this engagement was still
a secret outside of Lilian's family. Con-
sequently, she accepted the admiration
Offered her, with no thought of proving
false to her sffianced lover, yet wounding
the hearts of others by her couqetry. She
felt delight in having lured the rich
young SoutherGer to her side, but he was
not one TO accept disappointment lightly.
A few weeks after the rejection of
Clarence Everton, Lillian bestowed her
hand upon Gerald Lacy amidst the con-
CALCULATIONS of friends, and proceeded
upon an extended tour, while Clarence,
In his far-off home to which he had
speedily returned on finding his hopes
futile, lay battling for life in the delirium
of brain fever. Yet death was cheated
of her victim, his naturally strong consti-
tuition prevailing, and wan and emaciated,
in the excitement of travel he sought OBJ
giyion from his sOTow.s
Five years have sped away with their
trials and changes, aud we behold Lillian
happy in the possession of all she holds
dear, while a tender blossom has been
added TO her store of household treasures.
Blessed with fond parents, loving hus-
band and beautiful child, the cup of
earthly happiness seemed OVERLOOKING.
Little Lily was precious bud of pro-
mise, and in her the hopes of the enrap-
tured parents centred. They seemed to
think no harm could reach their idolized
child, but sorTow, that was destined to
crush their spirits, lowered DER them,
and came, ere long, with overwhelming
severity. When Lily had attained her
fourth ye&F, her parents were making
tour through different portions of the
country, and while stopping at N
Lily strayed from the hotel, attracted by
band of wandering musicians in the
street. II was some time ere she was
missed, ana then immediate search was
instituted, but without avail. Poor Lillian
was half crazed with the anguish she en-
dured. For days constant search was
made, large rewards offered, aud adver-
tisements inserted in all the city papers.
A detective force was also engaged, and
the river dragged, but though all means
were tried, they gained no tidings of the
lost one. For mOnthC they fingered, IN
the vain hope of gaining some intelli-
gence of their child, and at last wended
their way TO their now darkened home.
But here everything reminded them too
strongly of their lost Lily, and the stricken
parents sought the repose OF Mr.. Somers'
sheltering roof.
But we must follow Lily in her wan
behring's. The music which has ever such
an attraction for childhood, drew the
child forth into the crowd around the min
sstrels. She persistently followed them,
square sitter square, no one noticing the
tiny child, until the leader, seeing the
child who had wandered to his side, and
was gleefully clapping her hands at the
sntics of the inevitable monkey, and
struck by the loneliness of the cherub
lace. conceived the idea of kidnapl ing
her and rearing her as a valuable acquisi-
lion to his band. With an eye upon the
child, msneUEering to keep her in their
midst SO as to avoid attention, he hurried
toward the outskirts of the town, ex
claiming il his native tongue to his wife
who was vigorously beating the tambour-
inc, "Quick Meta, let us leave this place.
Zee that child, we must coax her along
without drawing attention, and many a
penny ween, will hef bonnie blue eye
draw 10 our Golfers"
$50, so, Anton" the woman replied.
ScYou have wonderful head for bust
ness. y aud she kept wstchful eye upon
Lily's movements.
The shades of evening were beginning
10 darken the horizon, and the crowd be-
gan TO dispense, and finally Lily alone
was left with them.
sfPretty child,n said the woman called
Meta, giving her a cake, "come with
-