Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-08-05
nv n11r1 WITH CAPTAIN ELLIOTT

short account of my previous history
"Elliot and had been rivals and enemies from
our very boyhood. We were educated at the same
public school Before arrived, he was the pet, the
hero, the Napoleon to speak, OF the school; the
leader alike in study, in sport and In mlscnei ne
was proud, imperious overoearlng ooy, tnoug11
ont of school his will law to the boys, as that OF
the teacher in school,
When Iarrived, however, being about his own age,
and lad of considerable spirit, refused to submit
TO his authority and there being many
in the school, who secretly dlsliked him, they one
by one enrolled themselves under my standard, ana
we were thus divided into separate factions Num-
berlcss were the pitched battles winch we nau' @s
well as the personal for supremacy numoeriesS Che
bloody noses and cracke crowns, numbcrlesS the re-
primandS and even tangible infections OF the
teachers Elliott and were, in fact, always at va
rance, always crossing each other, ana agreeing IN
nothing except in hating each other cordially.
When we left school, he went off to West Point
and to the Medical College, and We lost sight OF
each other for some years. In due course OF time,
commenced practising as a physician; but hndlng
it did not paw very WE'LL and being besides of some
what rowing and adventurous disposition, L applied
for and obtained the appointment of army surgeon,
and was Immediately ordered to Fort--.
had been there but short time, when the Com
mandant, brave old Gurley, whom some OF you,
doubtless remember died of fever. An officer OF
the name of Elliott, was appointed to succeed MN,
and you may judge OF my northcatlon when Iou1 H
was obliged here to submit to his authority; but
did it, 1 assure you, with very bad grace
Elliott was essentially changed since had last
known him the impetuous. overbearng boy, had
become grave quiet, reserved man, who COULD II
he chose render himself a very agreeable compan-
ion but who seldom took the trouble to do lit Many
of the officers however, and all the men, liked him
very much; but somehow, there seemed to be an
impassable barrier between him and me. disliked
his reserve, which attributed to pride and he com
planned of my bosterousness, as he was pleased 10
call it. He did, indeed, make some efforts to conc-
I,,kc rlSpn
drew himself behind his entertainments and treated
me ever after with GOODNESS absolutely freezing.
Things were in this state when uncle OF Eli
otis, with his wife and daughter stopped tor snort
time in the vicinity ofthe fort their way to Wash
ington. The daughter, Miss Eviline, was charming
young lady, and every unmarried man in the garr-
son Immediately fell in love with her. 1t would weary
you enumerate the picncs, the water parties, the
drives, the balls that given in honor OF her
good humored rivalry prevailed among us Tor her
preference and bets taken as to whether Davis
or Jones, the Doctor, or the commandant himself
had the best chance.
For myself was, do think, seriously in love
with the charming girl. TO be sure she did not give
much encouragement but tried to encourage
myself / rode with her, walked with her, danced
with her, and kept with her as much as possibly
could saw that Elliott scowled darker than ever
upon me- but did not care for that; in fact L was
glad ofan opportunity ofgiving him pain, and show
ing him that his dislike for was not shared by all
his connections.
On the evening before her intended departure,
there had been farewell ball, had danced with
her the whole evening, while Elliott, who did not
dance at all that night, sat moodily conversing with
her father. Twas so fascinated with her and SO
greved at the thought of her leaving, that before
slept that night resolved TO see her in the morning
snd make her tender of my heart
Accordingly, early deceRcy permitted,
lled and was by the laundering servant shown at
into her presence, where extraordinary
scene presented itself On sofa IN the room her
face buried in the cushions, her dress dsordered,
her beautiful hair, which cuIled naturally, al III
tansc,' and her attitude denotng the very prostra
ton of despair, lay the charming girl l had parted
from last night in the eXuberance of youthful and
light-hearted joy On the table beside her, and on
the floor scattered innumerablc letters, and
portrait, aocket, blue ribbon, and withered rose
lay carelessly among them.
She my entrance, and would have denied
herself but it was too late. Her eyes were blood
shot with weeping, and her fair cheeks swollen and
discoored. l took her hand and with much solicit
tude inquired the cause of her sorrow. 4 fresh
burst Of grief her only answer, and it was some
time before she sufficiently composed to give me
explanation.
1t appeared that she had been for long time en-
gagged to her cousin Elliott and that he had, in fit
of mad jealousy, returned her letters and tokens,
and formally broken the engagement.
1t my fault said she sobbing, all my fault. !
l did wrong to play with his noble nature.
His noble nature said /, bitterly; for, as you
may suppose, l did not feel in the blandest humor
at the discovery had just made.
On, LIT. w., SAID she, you 90 not know |
him. lie is the best the noblest of men; and have
lost him lost him by my own mad folly Here she
fell into such passion of weeping again, that for
got my own disappointment in my socitude for her.
suggested that perhaps an explanation could be |
made
Impossible she said 1T was my flirting with |
you, and Mr. Jones, and Mr. Davis, that offended |
him-and how could that be explained? am sure !
it was not that cared cent for Of you, Clancy
my feengsD but am naturally fond of admira- |
ton. have tried to myself of it, but cannot.
Oh, DR.. G., my heart is broken. Here read |
his note
She gave me piece of paper, crumpled with her
burning hand, and wet with her tears, on which |
read as follows:
"MADAM-ln returning you the letters and tok- |
ems, which have had the honor to receive from |
you, wish you to understand that the engagement |
between US is broken Off now and forever. You are
now at liberty to frt with whom you please can
not share heart with twenty Others
just like himr said l, with bitterness when fin
ished this laconic and sententous epistle and was |
going to indulge in philippe against him. but she
checked me with such spirit that was fain to
hold my peace. I then offered for her sake to 90
to Elliott and endeavor to explain the matter.
Alas! said she, you cannot; he went off this
morning before daylight on three months furlough
leaving that cruel note and the packet of letters to
be delivered to me on awaking. He has gone, pre-
sumo, to New Hampshire where his friends reside
Hero we were interrupted by the entrance of Miss
Efeline's mother and took my leave, quite cured
of my love fit, and very thankful that had not SUBJ
jected myself to the pain of refusal
But am spinning out my story too long
When Elliott returned from his Through he treat
ed me with even greater GOODNESS than before: in
fact we never spoke to each other at ALL exceut
when duty compelled US to do So This made II 40