New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-07-19
TealounY Is the 1aaviI L

=
Wherever go carry with me my speculative fan.
cies about things and people that see. Perhaps il
Is diseased or morbid state Of mind s1periuduced
by much solitude but whether or no, do not care
70 be delivered from il, ss II IL company f0F me. and
eBgrOsses me as completely rs have observed that
most chronic physical ailments engoss their owners
am looking out upon the Mall, the pleasantest walk
10 the outskirts Of great city where am located
for change and holiday. Its ancient trees form
dreamy shelter from the feTeeHeSa OF the summer
sun, which the lovely fields and open downs lack.
Give me shade and the shining beyond for enjoy
ment; glow just stirred by the air amongst the
leaves; mot the binding tropical glare in which
some people reyel-One lady especially--a lady TO
whom, from her unfailing daily appearance there,
have given the name Of the Lady on the Mall.
At one particular point Of this public promenade,
about halEa-1ozen Of the stately, fullf0aged eIms
have been neutrality-suspicious. by natural decay--bHt
as probably by violent storm and all the blaze
of noon Eeems to concentrate itself upon The bare
spot. It is bit Of arid desert In a land of green
ness the grass Of the bank is seorehed brown, the
sandy path is parched and cracked yet just there,
when the heat Is most feFFent and everybody else is
glad to creep into any place for shelter comes ont
the Lady on the Mall to bask and sun herself.
l noticed her from the first day that entered on
my lodgings. Soon after twelve had struck In the
church clock, saw her advancing slowly under the
trees until she reached the open space and there
she sat down and stared at the dazzling sky for an
hour OF so after which she rose and walked back
in the direction from whence she had come. That
glowing atmosphere burnt on for week, deepening
in intensity daily but regularly az the hour drew
round, appeared the Lady on the kall. That week
was succeeded by stormy weather. terrible tempest
broke over the district and left behind skirmishing
troops Of Clouds which dissolved in sudden showers
of extraordinary violence But the rain did not keep
the lady in doors. She was out on the Nail Just as
usual only instead of resting on the bank, she walk
ed to and fro.
1t was in the course of one Of these heavy showers
that obtained my first close look at her face was
sitting at the open paror window, or the wet drove
he other way when she came past and looked in.
do not hold with that popular delusiOn Of my sex,
that every woman who casts her eyes upon me does
SO with nefaTious designs upon my affections or that
frank, good-humored manner Is guileful trap laid
to catch my unwary hand; so, when the lady passed
and looked in with pair Of remarkable eyes, instead
of hastily c0neealng myself looked after her with
some establishment that she should choose such
weather for her walk She stopped and gazed through
the iron ratings act0ss the bit of garden straight at
me, and then perceived that in those large remark.
able eyes of hers there was longer any charm for
the heart Of man the Lady on the Mall was mad.
Touched with pity, called ont to ask her If sbe
would come in for shelter until the rain was over.
She shook her head but pressed my invitation
more kindly yetshe only smiled, sighed, and spread
ing out her hands With gesture OF Indifference, re-.
piled. Z" Thanks, sir, but can bear the rain. Still,
did | hear aright-that you asked me under your
roof2n
answered, yes that should be very glad if she
would come in and rest but, after another prolonged
stare, she smiled, sighed, and spread out her hand
again saying;
40, / don't mind the rain at all. Thanks Neither
the wind the rain. have been out in worse than
this-muCh worse than ths.b
She did not attempt to move on, but was obstinate
about not shetering. She stood and watched me
through the ratings until every garment abe wore
chung to her with wet Perceiying that she was de.
termned not to come in, suggested to her the pro-
priety of going home.
II will go when it is over, she said, shuddering.
/ told her that did not think it would be over for
a lOnU time IL lnnEnd like a Fnry wet
90 the rain? did not mean that, replied she,
60 no, the execution"
She then made me polite bow, and walked for
ward to the town. AS l o'clock struck she came
back, and stopping in the same place, said:
2" All sir, they have taken his body doHn-he is
dead now After an instants pause, she gFasped
of the rails and shook it, exclaiming vehementy
" Jealousy is the DeVilw and then started up the
Mall.
Here was the germ of some mysterious tragedy
before the facts of which speculation recoiled baled
She seemed to be from forty to forty.fve years of
age with tall graceful air and shape her features
were thin to emaciaton, but regular; and her eyes
were as black as midnight, with an insane light in
their depths now dreamy, now glittering. Her hair
was perfectly gray, and sEe was dressed in plain,
grave cOlors, like haifmouTning. She had the gen
eal aspect of belonging to the educated classes Of
Ciety, and spoke with correct accent and rather
pleasant information. When she cutehed the railing
had observed upon her hand the glitter of we'd
ding ring.
Most idle persons are inquisitive am nquisitve
but more, think, from habit than nature still the
result is the same: This poor lady ways, words and
appearance excited my curiosity wildly, and the
next time my land lady made her appearance in my
room, asked e Can you tell me who that lady ia
who comes out upon the Mall every day at noon q"
20, she is crazy, sir she is Mrs. Bond and folks
do ssy that her husband was hanged much as six
and.twenty years ago. can't undertake to speak to
the truth Of it myself, but that is what I've heard.
She is well enough off for money and lives up at DR..
Cruses. She came there young widow as long since
as tell you-better than sixand.twenty years.
had, thought, no right to penetrate further but
out OF these prominent though slender outlines, my
Imagination sought to construct complete and fin
ish I'd edifce. That white worn face became reuVe
mated with the bloom of seventeen those passionate
eyes beamed with innocent love that gray hair
| crowned the sweet brow with grape.like clusters;
those dry haggard lips sWelled with the rosy warmth
of budding yOuth-aboye ALL that maiden heart had
not branded upon it, in unavailing remorse and sor
row, that keynote of her histofy--Jealousy ia the
Devil. saw her happy iu happy home the viYi
flying sunshine of the family; quick of temper !;
lavish of affection, and exactng OF it too proud in
character brilliant of intellect witty Of speech gen
erous of hand abeautiful human creature; faulty,
but capable OF great things either for good or for
evil, as the temptations of life might turn. The
grand crisis of woman's existence had not taxed her
strength with any disappointment she loved, and
she had love Mt her desire. Happy days of courtshp
whose slight showers only serve to brighten the sum
shine floated over her in blessed calm. have ten
der sympathy for all young creatures dwelling in this
sweet Weymouth Of life it peases me ipexpreasibly
to watch the shy delights the quick alarms that
tremble like and cloud on the opening flower of
love like to see them gathered tenderly and stored
for their enduring sweetness in two hearts united
but to them rudey torn up and scattered TO the
winds, OF trampled down with reckless feet, or
blasted by east wind Of pitiless misfortune makes
my sonl shyer rather let them blossom as blossom
all the passion flowers ever loved, upon solitary
grave.
Let me trace this girls story on. No donbt re-
mains with that she gave her whole soul with her
love hers was no stinting nature, as I read it
in those gloomy eyes; it was bountiful and warm
and mellow as July. Yes, think once it was rich
ineShaustible treasure, from which might have been
gathered, by hand faithful as well as tender the
heartsustenance Of long, long life but it was
hand worse than wasteful that could pull down its
safe enclosure, and let in upon the ripened harvest
such sea.food of suffering and wrong as has made
her soul des0late forever, Rs a land sown with
salt. see her passing forward from the gentle, all
hoping, altbeleVing time of maidenhood to the fair
blushing hrde-sweet, loving Whenever, O never
q mother! That holy grace came not to her, else
there would not be that fatal remark on her heart
to-day Jealousy is the Devil
/ little while of the great the intense happiness
and then, methtnks see WEAKNESS in the lover
/ husband, distrust in the young wife, and cloud
rising, lightly at first, but deepening and increasing
until it becomes haokuess of darkness forever. She
is on the watch, always on the watch. Every bright
captivating w0man's face he lets his eye rest upon
1 moment is to her worse than hasiskis. At first
all women then woman in particular, is her dead
ly rival. he can mock at her pain he can parade
his mower: he can show her others and EaFeF thar