Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1869-04-22
q 6oud Story.
'Wp & E e 6 N G .
fl Tate Of Chicago.

fl Tate Of Chicago.
! The good steamer Empire" lay
swinging uneasily at the moorings
in the Chicago River, on bright
August morning in l848. Rail-
ways had not then wrested travel
from the lakes, and the best route
from the Northwest to New York
was the roundabout way by Mack
inaw and Buffalo. The old block
house of Fort Dearborn was still
standing. The streets of the
embryo city were innocent of Ma
cadam or Nicolson; indeed, the
streets of to-day were not at all, for
the Chicago of that day has been
buried six feet out of sight. The
old "Lake House" was a prince
among hotels. A glaring white
two-story frame rejoiced in the
Bostonian name of fremont" on
the same corner where its name
sake now rears its colossal pro-
portions, while where the "Sher-
man" now stands, a blowsy red
brick faunted the same name in
pretentious gilt letters on its star
ing sides. McVicker's and tie
"Crosby's" were in the undream-
ed-of future, but the since Mayor
was then proprietor of a Thespian
temple where Charles Dibdin Pitt
and Mrs. Jones, and other histrion-
ic celebrities of that day and
generation delighted the unambi-
tions denizens of what has since
become one of the most wonder
iul cities Of the world.
A busy throng hurried to and
fro on the wharf where the steam
er lay, ready to start on her long
run around the lakes. There was
a summer pleasure-party, full of
merry jest and merrier laughter
Observation-Disclosures of all the
hurry and anxiety and care about
them. The merchant from some
interior town, journeying to New
York to purchase merchandise,
clutched his valise closely, and,
outwardly calm, but inwardly per-
turbed and anxious, lest some
abandoned wretch should steal his
trunk or pick his pockets, walked
into the ''grand saloon"
All social grades seemed to be rep
from the selfpoSsessed,
travelled man of the world, to the
wide-eyed pumpkin from the re-
mote farmhouse.
Threading his way daintily
through the throng, came gentle
man with strongly marked and
not altogether pleasant, though
handsome and smiling features,
with faultless outfit and air of most
imperturbable aplomb. A plainly
dressed and quite pretty woman
leaned nervously on his arm, and
half followed him. Her eyes
bore traces of recent weeping,
and her face wore the halfpuzzled,
halfpenitent expression of enc in
strong doubt whether the present
action be criminal or innocent
from the wharf to the
boat, she seemed to hesitate mo-
ment: but her companion ignored
any such suspicion, if he enter
tuined it, and, moving rapidly
and confidently forward, led her
into the saloon. Here he seated
her with ceremonious politeness,
and, telling her that she need do
nothing but wait until he attend
ed to the disposition of her bag
gage and secured her state-room,
be turned away, but, after step
Or two, returned, and, with an
appearance of respectful concern,
said,
"It would be well, Mrs. Barnes,
f you would drop your veil. 1t
would save you from impertinent
staring, and perhaps from annoy
ng questions"
She glanced towards his face
With a slightly surprised look; but /
le had turned again and was walk
ng away, with the air of jaunty
that sat SO naturally on
lin. She half rose, as if to
ollow him, but Immediately re-
umed her seat, murmuring, "Per-
laps he's right--perhaps he's