The New Orleans crescent., 1869-01-17
THE DEVILS In ITs
BY A. T.

issued orders for leaving recruits at Granada, a
famous city OF Spain. A g soon as the men were
enlisted they received billets for lodging at the
houses of the inhabitants until the following day.
when they were sent of to the army. Amonr
others, they enlisted young man possessed of
great personal beauty, and endowed with consider
able wit, as the sequel will show. After receiving
his billet. he repaired to the house to which It
was addressed; but it was late in the evening be-
fore he arrived. Having knocked at the door,
servant made her appearance and asked what he
wanted. To this lie replied that he had the kings
order for passing the night there. The maid hav-
ing acquainted her mistress with his business, she
came down stairs, and told him as she was recent.
ly married and her husband absent from home,
she could not think of receiving man into her
house on any account whatever. The soldier,
however, unwilling to admit the justice Of her
delicate scruples told her that he was extremely
sorry to put her to an inconvenience; but it was
now too late to seek for another lodging his com
rades had all retired to their respective places of
destination and he felt no inclination to sleep in
the street. "Put me where you please" said he,
al will endeavor to give you as little trouble as
possible; but remember my orders are positive,
and if you persist in refusing me admission you
VIII reduce me to the disagreeabe necessity Of
having recourse to violence" The lady was ex
tremey mortified at this declaration. which threat
eped to interrupt her evenings amusement; but
finding IL in vain to resist she told her maid to let
him in, and put him to sleep In the garret.
" have not supped. madam" said the soldier,
L
or suppose that you are obliged to furnish me
with supper-that the king takes care of--but as
1t is late, and il would be impossible to get any,
thing in the town at this hour-or be it remarked
that the cities in Spain are not so well supplied
with public houses as those of other European
countries)-if you will be kind enough to provide
me with something, will cheerfully pay what
ever you may require"
" What ~ replied the belle, with an air of dis
dain, a" do you take my house for wine house,
Go 10 bed quietly, for you shall have no supper
here"
The soldier, knowing search for supper else.
where would be fruitless, and fearing. moreover,
that on his return he should find the door shut
against him. resolved to bear his fate with pa
tience, and retire to bed supperless. He was ac-
cordiDgly shown into earret, half filled with
lumber. in the corner Of which stood q miserable
bed. Though the accommodations were not such
as, from the appearance of the house, he had ex-
pected to find, be was obliged TO accept them
without murmur for, besides that, the soldiers
dare not give themselves those airs of Importance
in Spain which they are apt to display in other
psrts of the continent; they are more circum-
spect in their conduct, when qusrtered in large
towns, than when they are posted in villages,
where the Inhabitants have means of resistance.
1t is no wonder that, on such a bed, and an
empty stomach, our hero was little disposed to
sleep; he accordingly continued turning from
side to aide, without closing his eyes. About one
O'Clock in the morning he perceived light
througha crack in the floor of his garret prompt
ed by curiosity, he got out of bed, and applying
his eye TO the aperture, discovered handsome
apartment well furnished where there was a
large fire, with two spts loaded with game. The
best part OF the sight was the mistress Of the
house clasped in the arms of young advocate,
at least. such be appeared By his Dress II Is al
most needless to observe that the maid was EN-,
ployed in attending the game, and that the whole
of the farce was exhibited in her presence.
" Zounds3" said the soldier to himself. " is this
the woman whose delicacy would not permit her
IN q M borh rfn hal br,o-
bands absencep' But as he perceived the ne.
cessity of remaining still for some time longer, he
observed everything that passed without speaking
a word, and already devoured with bis eyes the
supper which he saw at the fre-a tantalizing
sight for hungry man.
At length he saw the cloth laid and after some
bottles of wine cooled in ice according to the
Spanish custom, had been placed on the table, the
lady and her insmorsta took their seats. Before,
however, they had time to begin, a loud knock
was heard at the door, and the maid, running to
the window to see who was there, hastily returned
and announced to her afrighted missres the ar
rival of her husband.
"Aiss, madam" said she, "m my master, whom
you did not expect this week, is now at the
door!"
Fear and sstonishment were now strongly de.
picted in the countenauce of the fair inconstant
who was at a strange loss what TO do with her
lover. To conceal him was not possible, as the
whole house was let, except the chamber ia
which they then were, another behind it, where
the maid slept, and the garret. where they had
put the soldier. If she bad hidden him in the
maids room, he could not have got out without
being seen, as he would be obliged to pas
through her own apartment, and she justly
thought it would be risking too much to intrust
the soldier with secret she was so greatly inte-
rested to conceal; nor was 1t possible to let him
down stairs there was but one stairc sse in the
house, and were he 10 attempt to descend il, he
must infallibly meet the husband who now left
no time for elaboration, as he continued TO thun
der at the door with all bis might. The only
thing she could DO, therefore, was to hide her
lover under the bed, and to put the supper. wine,
fruit, plate. dishes, ETC., into large wardrobe by
the bed side, after which she seated herself with
great cOmposure by the fire.
At length the husband, having gained admis-
SIGN, went up stairs, and the moment he entered
the 70 m his wife ran toward him, and throwing
her arms about his neck, exclaimed:
Hs, my dear, what joy do l experience at the
pected."
"why. my DEAR" replied the good man, al
finished my business much sooner than l ex-
pected, and was so anxious to see you that
returned with all possible speed. | have ridden
eighteen leagues a day, being resolved to get
home al any rate. that | might not have to sleep
in any of the miserable inns on the road. But
how comes it that you have such fire at this time
II have got violent pain in my bowels" re.
marked the wife, and / had the fire lighted in
order TO warm napkin to apply to the part. |
believe the pain proceeded from a fright occa.
sioned by soldier coming here to demand lodg-
ing in the kings name; | could not bear the idea
OF admitting man into the house IN your abb
seDce, my dear"
The soldier hearing his name mentioned, thought
this was the proper time for bis appearance; be
therefore dressed himself, and coming softly down
stairs, applied his ear TO the key-hole of the door.
TO listen to the conversation, which still contin-
ued
:" But this is not all, my love-" said the hus.
band " / have had no supper, and am half dead
with hunger; have you anything to give me -
There Is not anything in the house," replied
she. You know i did not expect you and,
when you are from home generally content N.Y.
self with a roasted apple"
alt is very hard, said he, Z" to go to bed with.
out supper; and it seems must, for there is moth.
ing to be bad at this time of night"
The soldier, hearing this, knocked at the door,
which being opened. he saluted the husband aud
spologized for the inconvenience which he had
occasioned his wife. he told him he had come
hther by the kings orders; and. lest he might
suspect his yerscity. produced his billet. "Nev.
fhaloo ~ sfT a.