The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-10-02
Sixty and Sixteen

General Sc, Aubyn was standing be.
fore his mirror, busily engaged in the
adjustment Of his neck cloth.
"Contound this neckerchief! he eiacu-
lated, giving il pull this way and a
twitch that "Jim, what's the reason
my neck-rigcing won't set as trinity as
yours You young chaps have a kuack
that ! somehow can't get the hang of,
about your dress
am sure ! can't account for il.
unclcl' laughed a handsome youth of
about twenty. Pcrhaps it's something
incident to our youth, like scarlet fever,
or falling in loye."
That's inst it, Jim The tact is
now let me catch you laughing if Won
dare, you young rogue, I'm going to be
married.
Going TO be married, unolo!" ex-
claimed James Ashley, in open-eycd as
toniShment never dreamed of il ;"
How should you, when You only ar
rived yesterday from a years absence in
Europe I'm going to call on her this
morning Jim--cOmc with me, and be in
troduccd to the sweetest sixteen alive ="
Only sixteen, DO you say, uncle z"
Don't look so Mortified, Jim - of
course ! don't expect her to be dcspcr-
atcly in love with an old codgcr like me
that would be unreasonable But
she'll make me o sweet, dutirul little
wife, and There's no use talking, |
can only say one thing-tho Lord deal
with mo as | shall deal with this childW
The old man lifted his hands rever-
emily towards'Hcayen as he,spoke.
Josephine Glare was sitting among her
flowers in the sunshine, blonde and gol-
den haired, with blue eyes, and a deli
cate little mouth, tinted with the soltcst
crimson. One tinyl dimplc cleft her
round chin, and the peachy bloom upon
her checks was such as comes only 10
sixteen. No wonder General St. Aubyn
lost his heart to the wondorously beau
tiiul child-it must have been an iron
sort of machine ifhc hadn't
She rose with varying color to greet
her fine old lover as he entered.
"Josey," he said, cheerily, after the
words Of. .salutation had been exchanged,
81 am not alone to dayr-let me introduce
my nephew, James Ashley"
Josephine lifted her blue eyes to the
strangers face for the first time, with
wild, terrified gaze--the peach blossom
red faded from her cheek, and the first
General st Aubyn knew, she tainted in
his arms!
whats the natter stammcred the
veteran, in brcathess terror rs she
dead? is she dying? For Heavens sake,
get some cold water. Open the windows,
sOmebody-bring burnt foathers"
ado lay the poor child down, Gener.
al T." exclaimed Miss Betsy Glare, Jose
phinc's maiden aunt, who rushed in at
this juncture. "Don't hold her. 80 tight.
There, now, she's comm round all right,
don't you see ~
The general looked on admiringly--
all his military tactics seemed as nothing
to the dizziness with which Miss Betsy
managed matters
"What could have made you faint,
my love y he asked, when she was smil-
ing again.
/ don't know, she murmurcd d" il
was the---hcat | suppose %
And where's Jim - asked the per
picked warrior.
If you mean that tall young shaver"
struck in Miss Betscy, he's gone home
like lellor O sense, secin' he couldn't be
o no use here"
General st. Aubyn," said Josephine,
in a very low voice, al know you will
thinl, me silly little goose, but please
don't bring that Young man hero
again
Josephinc--my own love, why not ~
"Bccausc--bccausc,' faltercd the girl,
playing with his watch chain, and hiding
her flushed face against his breast. otis
a whim Of mine ~
Well, just as You say, Josey." said
tho old General, "but / must remark. irs
perfectly unaccOuntablcw
Women are unacCountablc creatures.
said Josephine, trying to laugh "And
now tell me abont your new pictures"
But long after the General had gonc.
the child-bride lay on her sofa, shutting
out Heavens light from her eyes with
closely claspcd hands, and breathing out
the wild, wailing means that can come
only from a broken heart Poor sarri-
feed Josephine Glare!
When General st. Aubyn returned 10
his room AT the hotel he found James
Ashley pacing the floor with hurried
steps.
"Uncle,' he said, looking up as tho
General entered, ~ have changed NV
mind about that far-away official post in
India. win you obtain the appointment
for me 20
Certainly; but James, you would be
obliged TO sail immediately
Tho sooner the better, sir. Every
hour that ] remain in this country seems
an age 10 me-
james +" said General 81. Aubyp. re.
garding his nephew with a keen, piercing
gaze, "what does this mean? And wbV
does Josephine object 10 seeing yo1
again There is some mystery here %
81 woud TO Heaven ] had died ere /
had gone there to-day gasped Ashley.
ASK me no further, uncle-it il heat
for the happiness Of an 10 bury the mast
in eternal oblYionw
General 81. Aubyn stood moment in
deep thought, as James hastily ouitted
the room. Suddenly new light seemed
10 break upon him-hc grew ghastly pale
and clenched his hands firmly.
81 have it" he murmured between his
toethi this is the girl to whom James
was engaged before he went 10 Europe.
ana that mercenary scOundrel Glare
would have broken both their hearts and
put me in this false position to secure his
own ends. II shall not be