The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-10-29

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| life, man whom any woman might choose with
credit to her taste. Moreover, the Colonel had
high principles, sound sense and prudence, was
a Fosbrook of the same descent, the helr-at-
law after Miss Letitia, and most suitable to
to perpetuate the name and line.
He was expected to stay for some weeks,
but could not arrive before the evening of the
birthday. l remember being introduced to
him in the crowded all-room, and observed
that, though attentive to all the ladies' as be-
came Southern gentlemen, he showed a par
ticular regard for the daughter of the house,
and the belle of the evening. forgot how
long her mother and famale friends had been
occupied with what she should wear. The
young ladys comslexion puzzled them. At
last they fixed upon amber satin, with gold
ornaments, in which | must say, Miss Letitia
looked well. They had at the same time
agreed-because nothing else would serve the
heiress-on dressing Lefty handsomely, but
in white, which no Southern lady would wear,
being, wonderful to say, the negroes chosen
color, and allowed her to appear in public as
Miss Letitia's personal attendant.
| ! suppose Colonel Fosbrook had never seen
the girl before but at the close of the first
dance, as he was conducting Miss Letitia to
her seat, Lefty came up in the discharge of
her duties. How contentedly and happy, yet
| timid withal the sweet girl looked, as she
handed the heiresS her expensive Partisan fan.
Never did man approaching forty look $50 struck
as the Colonel he said nothing for few min
utes, but his eyes were fixed on Lefty she
saw it. blushed deeply, and stole away behind
her mistress, while he inquired of Mr.. Eos
brook, who came up at the moment, "Where
on earth did you find that lovely girl ~
! ooh, my daughters maid" said Fosbrook,
with his accustomed ease. .....
'She is not negro?' said the Colonel.
eyes, l assure ou. l bought her mother
| in Charleston She is wonderfully fail, l must
| allow, and very good girl. Letitia has al
ways liked her. and would have her here to-
night" ..f s- - e-
The rest of MIR. Eosbrook's communication
was made in tone too low for my hearing
but all that brilliant evening, wherever Let
ty came Or went through the handsome suite
of reception-rooms anxious to make herself
useful, and on her promotion, his eyes follow
ed the girl. saw him gazing after her while
Mrs. Fosbrook was preaching to him about
doing good, and Miss Letitia tossing her head
and showing off her jewels. 1t became man
ifest to me, also, that both mother and daught-
er could see as we'll as |, and the sight was
one to bring the worst part of their natures
uppermost. Can any woman commit great
er sin against another than to get admired in
her stead The Colonel did admire Lefty,
maid and of negro origin as she was, and there
was many an eye in the ballroom thatfollow
ed the slight graceful figure, and fair winning
face, as well as his, though on nobody was the
impression so marked. The man could not
help showing it. for all his sense and expert
ence and was not prepared for the effect it
had on the young heiress. She grew positive
ly ugly-awful, as the Yankees say-with i'll
temper and jealousy | thought she would
strike poor Lefty when the innocent creature
came to settle her wreath, thrown back by a
naughty toss. Miss Letitia, froWning fierce
ly, said, Il don't want you here any more"
and Mrs. Fosbrook desired the nearest servant
to tell that girl she might go down stairs
Poor Lefty went on the instant, looking as If
she had committed murder. The Colonel, who
had witnessed all, seemed astonished, angry,
and little out of his discretion, for he rose
from Miss Letitia's side with very brief apol-
ogy, walked straight out to the verandah, and
stayed there, pacing about, for half an hour
or more. When he came back, Colonel Eos
brook was himself again. We saw no more
of Lefty, had magnificent supper, and all
went home at daybreak. Miss Letitla SEEM
ed to have recovered her good-humor. The
Colonel continued his visit, as expected. They
were never without company to dinner or tea
was always invited, Mr.. Fosbrook having
taken particular fancy to me, and thus had
ali opportunity of see that attentions were still
paid to the daughter of the house; but her
playfellow and fOster-slster was not In the re-
quest she had been; Lefty was manltestly |
kept out of sight, and under surveillance; and |
when the poor girl did chance to become Wis
ible, it was sad to see the resigned and help
less sorrow that had settled on her fair young
face am not sure the Colonel had not in
terested her also | observed her peeping out
at his conmgs and goings from back windows
and hidden corners, though Lefty had not
much opportunity for that, as Mrs. Fosbrook |
now sent her to work with her mother, re-
marking that 'tElva was prudent, sensible |
creature, and would keep nonsense out of the |
girls head"
don't know how Elva fulfilled the expect |
ed duty but coming to talk on particular bus |
mess with Mr. Fosbrook one afternoon |
time when Southern ladies are generally fast |
within doors-I found the Colonel leaning ov
or the rails of the back verandah where Let |
ty sat at work. He was evidently talking to
the girl she had let her muslin fall and was
picking it up all in flush. The Colonel saw
he was caught, but was too much of gentle
man to show it-bade me good-day without |
changing his position, asked if | had seen the |
morning papers, if there was any news but |
did not observe that there were pair of fierce |
cold, Jealous eyes taking note of him from the |
window above, where the Venetian blinds |
concealed his excellent hostess. The Colonel |
walked Into the house with me- and Lefty |
went on with her sewing. l saw her sitting
there when my business was done, stitching
away but the flush had faded then, and she |
looked sad and thoughtful.
All the way home [ had thoughts about the |
Colonel's intentions, and Mrs Fosbrook's next |
move it was no affair of mine, but one could |
not help feeling an interest in poor Lefty and |
the ill-luck that seemed closing round her.
That same week the Colonel went off to join |
his regiment | happened to be particularly
busy with the affairs Of broken-up land com
pany, and had no occasion to go to the Hall
for some time but Mr. Fosbrook called at my
office one morning, seemed very friendly, talk
ed of two Or three trihing matters, and had
something else on his mind
thing disagreeable, and hard to begin speak
ing about He looked at his watch, looked |
out of the window, and then said
'By-the-by, Mr.. Clarkson, you must man
age piece of business for me-a particular
and unpleasant one, must say-we are 60
ing to part with Lefty. Yes. he continued,
catching my astonshed look ''Mrs. Fosbrook |
will have it so-she says the girl has got up
setting notions, and will give trouble can
not see it myself, but Mrs. Foshrook is an I'M
commonly observant woman. At any rate |
and the man looked desperately worried
''there is no putting women off thing once
they take it in their heads
''And Miss Fosbrook p said l.
''Oh, she agrees with her mother, which is |
very proper; but it goes against my conscience
and the girl is so young Do come over,
and try to talk her out of it tomorrow even
ing: a lawyer should be able to do that, if
ANYBODY can"