Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-08-08

Vladimir Desparde really does know
of his early history? He had told
yOu, | supposed"
eyes; but it is very little. He
knows only so much as he remem-
bers. lie has heard nothing. Lord
Beaudevere, the only person in po-
session of the facts, firmly refuses
to speak one word on the subject" "
"Lord Beaudevere's reserve is
very merciful."
"What do you say?"
"Lord Beaudevere's reserve is
very merciful to Vladimir Desparde
and his sister"
"What do you mean, Aspirita %
"I will explain presently. But
go on and tell me all Vladimir Des-
parde has told you of his early lie,
Brandon"
"Let me think. Oh ! He re-
members living with his mother
and his little sister, in very poor
lodgings, in the narrow street of a
great city, whose name he has for
gotten, even if he ever learned
it"
"Was it in this country"
"No, for he crossed water to
come here"
"In France, then ?"
"No, for they were English
speaking people who inhabited the
city, and they had black servants.
He thinks it must have been New
York or New Orleans, or some
other American city,"
"New Orleans, probably, if they
had many'blacks. But go on"
"The name Of the city, and even
of the country, is lost to him in the
morning mist Of his dawn Of mem.
cry"
"There was something concern.
ing his father, the elder Vladimir
Desparde, whom, however, he does
not remember ever to have seen
But his mother never held up he
head again. She used to cry owe,
him and his sister, and pray to th,
Lord to take them out of this worl(
and save them from the evil t,
come"
"AhF gasped ASpirita, as sh,
listened to every word of this littl
story.
CAT length the mother took t
her bed, from which she never aros
again. One day a minister cam
and sat by the bed and wrote q let
ter for her, which was sent awal
After that she grew weaker. An
other day a gentleman arrived,
stranger, who afterwards proved t
be Lord Beaudeyere."
Well, Brandon, why don't yo
go on ?" eagerly demanded the Al
tentive girl, seeing that her brotht
paused.
81 am trying to remember wins
Desparde told me of this stranger
Oh! he did not know who he wa
until long afterward. Lord Beat
devere had this mother and he
children Immediately removed to
more comfortable house, and prc
vided them with everything the
could want. Desparde remember
distinctly his mothers peacefl
death, while Lord Beaudevere stooC
with Vivienne in his arms and Va
. dimir by his side, promising II
I dying woman to be father to thel
+ while he should live. Then 70
lowed the funeral and the blac
dresses. Then a long, long voyag
in a sailing.sbip, all vaguely +
, membered by Vladimir"
. "Did his sister-did Viyienr
recollect nothing of this?"
Nothing. Her earliest meme
. ries date from their life at Clou.
land, whittier their guardian too
, them Immediately on their arriv
in England"
"And We know all the rest fro
hearsay-how the bachelor, Lol
Beaudevere, represented these chi
T dren to his neighbors as his lit
: cousins and wards ; how he SCI
Vladimir to Eton, and afterwal
> to Oxford, where the young ms
4 distinguished himself as much
! devotion to study as by skill
! athletic sports; how the guardii
!, sent him on his continental tou
! and at his returp celebrated b
majority at Oloudland, prsseHtlI
. him to the tenantry as the hei
i how the baron procured the me
accomplished goyerpess and ma
tera for Vivienne, and took her
i London and had her presented
Il the queen, All this we know
- these two individuals, whose ear
q est days were passed in q squal
tenement-hOuso in a foreign city
i said Aspirita, scorniully.
"WelI, the fellow is the heirp pI
/ sumptive Of the title and estates
Lord Beaudeverel II it were =
so, he might never have dared
= aspire to the hand of Lady Arie
e. MOnGoie. Or if The had, his asp
n ations would have beeB treat
with contempt"
n nThen il he is the heir of I