The Van Buren press., 1871-06-06
MISCELLANY.
From the New Orleans Sunday Times.
A Drunkard's Fate.
BY LEONA.
BY LEoNA.

1t was In the year 1868. while was
refugee, that ! met DR.. Hildreth. H,
was a surgeon on post duty, and as i
was winter, and our army were in quar-
ters. his hospital only contained few
chronic cases; and he had much time "tc
waste on the girls.
was girl then, very young in the
world. The sight of gray uniform
made my heart 60 pit-a pat, and nearly
turned my brain. l did not then doub,
but every uniform covered a being as
brave and dauntless as Richard Ceur dc
Lion.
1t is very difficult matter to define
the thoughts and feelings ofa ayoung girl
just stepping forth into the world. She
is innocent, for parents take care tina,
their daughters are guar led from all
knowledge of vice. To syourg girl,
men are embems Of nobility, courage
and strength; they are superior beings,
who possess all Of woman's tenderness,
and none Of her weakness. l have tried
to define the girl ideal Of man; at least
some such silly ideas once filed my head
when l fret met Dr. Hlldreth.
A merry party were chatting at the
town hall, where we met to dance was
almost stranger and my escort had
gone to bring me glass of water. when
my schoolmate, Lottie Day, Skipped
across the room in advance Of a hand.
some surgeon, and kissed me-
"Oh, Maggie, how glad ! am to see
yoni heard that ,yop were here, bnt ]
those horrid Yankees to burn your house
Never mind, dear, good times coming
do come to see me "--ih n Whisper
"Tve something sweet to tell you. "
The young surgeon stood by her side.
I knew that lie heard her whisper, for q
merry beam danced in his eyes, and he
bit his lips to hide smile as Lottie ex-
claimed, "Oh y and hid her face, child
fashion, in her lace handkerchief.
iss Lottie, must remind you that
/ have not been introduced to your dear
friend, Miss Gentry" he said, gazing
straight into my eyes. Then followed
the formal introduction which made me
acquainted with DR.. Hildreth.
Was he handsome Then I should
have said yes; for looked through the
magic eyes Of sweet seventeen. Now,
as recall him, lie was straight and well
proportioned in form. yellow hair, soft
earnest blue eyes-too soft for man-a
full sensual mouth, with the red lips
pursed as if ready for kiss.
His face is trife too red, but you
know my dear we cannot expect perfec.
ton on earth. was Lotties sage remark
after she had whispered that sweetest
secret her engagement to DR.. Hi
dreth.
l loved Lottie-girls do love each
other, in spite OF all that old bachelors
say to the contrary. and l rejoiced that
she had been so fortunate. A woman is
accounted most fortunate being if she
succeeds in winning the love OF a good
man but it is only mans due to get a
good wife If man is only kind and
loving husband, people will exclaim
what fortunate woman his wife is
Who ever thinks Of saying, "that man is
fortunate, he has good wife 7" Not l.
for do regard public opinion a little
and | have 10 ambition to be considered
a fit inmate for lunatic asylum; so
leave this theme to q philosophers pen,
and proceed with my narrative.
Yes, d.. Hldreth had red face, and
we girls soon found out the cause.
"He is such a noble fellow, so gener
ous, and frank; il he wanted drink he
would take it before a thousand ladies
but he would not sneak Off to bar room
then eat spice or perfume his breath, .
said Lotte to me one day.
could not deny this. for I often met
DR.. Hldreth, and heard him laugh at the
"sprees" he had been on. felt that
we were all doing wrong in allowing hin
such liberties, for he often entered the
parlor half ntoxicated, and once he es
corted Lottie home when he was thor
oughly inebriated.
was indignant! For there is nothing
on earth so loathsome to a woman as .
drunken man-provided she does moi
love him. No woman can see her father
brother, or lover, reeling and staggering
with drink, without feeling Of shame
Her confidence in man Is shaken, and
some of her faith gone. So felt when
I saw DR.. Hildreth intoxicated. I made
a resolution never to place myself under
his protection. was soon put to the
test.
One evening received call from Dr.
H,ldreth, and he asked me to accompa
ny him to party. In those trying time,
carriages we're out OF fashion, for all oI
the horses had been sent to the front, SC
we girls had to walk to parties. We
we're not vexcd then by satin or lace.
our street dresses were thought quits
good enough for evening. and right mer.
rily did we dance In defiance Of all block.
AIDES, sans gloves, sans flowers, save q
few plucked fresh from the garden.
nr Hildrath l0nkad an hand anna and