Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-24

How the wreath Of Hope was Torn
from the RroE or Love.
A Rejected RivaI-A Forged Letter
o.,a s.wo Rea IT'S gjrushed

A Rejected Rivai-A Forged Letter
ana Ewo Hearts Crushed.
From Memphis, The strangely constituted
metropolis OF Tennessee, often come start
ling tales Of crime. romances of hero deeds
and sadder ones of wild and untamed af
lection. Among the many Of recent oc-
cIlrence there is this, which for its desper-
ate degradation concerning one of the ac-
tors, and the misery of two others has
not within the gnomic cipherings of jeal-
GUS passion counterpart in the checkered
annals of that city, the Bluff Queen of the
Mississippi, nor from the lone low lands of
Arkansas, the land beyond the river do
more mournful echoes than this breathes
often come to startle and to appaI.
Read it all who love the coqstancy of
youthful hearts, and are wont to sigh in
tenderest compassion DER the misfortune of
outraged confidence. Among the grada-
ates of - College, q year or two ago, was
a young man of pleasing face aud brilliant
literary attachments. Unlike many edu-
Gated fellows, he selected the dry goods
trade, and entered Memphis store in the
capacity of clerk. A dry goods clerk GER
tainIy is the ideal character of LIES
younger pleasures. Who of this yo-
cation has rot been envied, especially
when it is known the upper crust of society
Is brought TO his social taste and feast. a
lawyer sighs for fame among ais ginrer cake
colored books and his Off knows not the
smile of beauty's presence. The young
disciple of Esculapius is equally sbarated
from the brighter social pictures of life, and
even whom made the recipient of bouquet,
places it before some grim skeleton. An
editor; alas for one Of this profession. He
never has time TO indulge In social pleasure,
and when an oceasion-usually at a bali,
picnic or orphans fairs allowed him to face
the fair six, he is in splendid misery all
the while, thinking what be shall Say in to-
morrow's paper about the UdleRciennes, the
point applique, or the edging Of that sur
plus dress, and the Announcements pertain
ing to the style Ola la prOmpado1tr. So
with those in other vacations. But the dry
goods clerk; he is ever at their command.
The young man, who is the subject Of our
sketch gained the confidence
of his employers and by
due attention to business was fast making
a reputation, when he formed the acquaIn-
lance of an elegant and fascinating young
lady, whose father resided on the - pike,
near the city. OF excelIent morals and veil
cultivated in other respects, the young man
pressed his suit for the hand of the young
lady, and was soon an accepted lover
When the warm suns rays had tuE1ed the
last spring days TO summers heat, the young
lady went with her parents 10 the pfings IN
East Tennessee to spend tie hot months.
The Young lover, however, rem sined in the
city and consoled bis ever dreary moments,
81 laSJ hu indnlOi NJ
| in tender epistles to the ideal of his dreams.
| As their wedding had been set for October,
it was necessary fer the young man to go 10
| New York to make some Preparations not
stating, however, the purport of his visit
and the day before leaving re-
ceived from the destined bride letter re-
lative to the arrangements intended by her
self and parents for the wedding. Tie
| letter carrier, on entering the store, care
lessly threw the letter on the counter, the
| young man being at the time engaged in
folding up a piece of cloth for an enderly
lady. The letter, which escaped the eye #
the young man in his haste, was folded up
| in the cloth and carried home by the pur-
chaser, whose son was rejected sutton for
the hand and fortune of its authoress.
Tnis victim of disappointment, recognizing
the chirography on the back of The envelope,
| tore it open, aud at, er reading the contents
determined to defeat his successful rival
Actuated by the basest motives, bimstli a
man Of dishonor in having opanei the les-
ter, he addressed the following reply:
MEMPHIS, Aug. 4. lS72.-My Dear -!
| It is painful for me to have TO have to state
that the contemplated cerem ny cannot
take place. l have Just learned that ny
aunt, Mrs. Trueheart, of New York, has
died, leaving me property to the value o.
three hundred and seventy-fVe Thousand
dollars, and as am Unexpectedly made the
sole executor of her will, 1 must leave fol-
that city at once. may not return to
Memphis again. Yours, with profound re
spect. I. S.
The young lady was surprised at the con-
tents of the letter, which she believed was
from her ungrateful lover, and could have
no reason to suspect the fraud peIpetraiel
by the william, as she had not been informed
previously that the dry goods clerk intend
ed to visit New York. Her father went
forthwith to the city, but could only learn
from the proprietors that the young MAJ
had left for New York. The OBJECT of hi!
visit no one could tell. Now was the
time for the consummatiOn of his scheme
and the cunning rival again Offering hi:
love to the young lady, was accepted, ant
the fathers consent easily secured to the
marriage, which is 10 take place at tbs
same time and in the same church WheI
and where the injured lover was to have
been made happy being. The young lady
is now a miserable being, for Tuesda'
night the dry goods lover returned from hi
visit, and with hope and presents FOL
the queen of his heart, repaired to he
residence, being unconscious OF The
deception practiced. What was his NOR
tiication, his disappointment when in
st al Of warm and generous welcome to
to- presence of the loved one the door wa!
rudely slammed in bis face by the irate IA
Their who ordered him away TO re, urn never
more. Driven without cause or explana
ton from the presence of the one
he adored, his anguish OF sou
can better be imagined than des
cribed. A wretchad man, robbed OF lifei
fairest hopes, he returned to the city, an
though still behind the couater by day, at
night be mingles in the prevalent dissipa
tions If Memphis, seeking mid their bril-
liant alluEements an ease from misery, and
like Calous-
proudly scorning
To court the pity of the multitudes,
Degraded, stigmatized, and pointed at
BY the bought fingers of those brainless shape
Which call each other mem"
Much excitement has been caused amos
the more intimate friends of the two rivals
whom it is thought will make the duel fi5l'
the arena for the honorable adjudication q
the affair. The young lady Is said to b.
almost wild with grief, and may resort t
suicide. This is truly a story which,
painted by true genius, would convey in it
illumined thought much of practical gooG
and fearful warning to those whose passlo
sacrifices the souls honor for its own in
famous triumph.
A New abroad from Chattanooga
to Rome, ia.
Well may Chattanooga be called th
empire City Of Tennessee" For d
place of similar size in America has evince
more determined pluck ard energy in re
latien to railroads and other enterprises c
public character than has this little city
In addition f0 ofhnr y,arr rnoda fro,,, HJ,at