National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-08-11
IS which did not quite cover the bald patch

ohccr, anu young man accompanied I
ne young lady The youth must have be-
oe fond, for he was got up as If for Ascot Al
au his shining hat, delicate boots, lavcnd
'e, gloves, and button-hole flower looked We
ea :; incongruous in that lonely spot. But ii
~ peacock spreads his dazzling tail lust
nc readily in the depths of the lonely forest
= r. ON the lordly terrace and he is right.
u, 40 not suppose that an Adonis wants
's fascinate more than one at time with h
J.. apparel; ana II that one is present, VIII,
y does the absence of the twenty thousar
no Others matter.
at When the two emerged from the barrnc
in square, the young lady stopped shor
n looked hard at me, bowed, and then spok
eagerly to the old gentleman in uniform
~ who at once advanced towards me, an
~ held out his hand.
r My daughter tells me that you are Nj
q Tweedie, who so kindly came to her assist
ance when she was lost in London said he
:. and was very civil. So was Miss Duck
\ ling. The young man to whom | was in
;, troduced tried to follow suit, but failed /
a was easy to see that he hated me- He wa
a but an ingenious ensign. and had not ye
learned how to conceal his feelings. Tn,
!, cause of his emnity, need hardly say. wa,
, the cordiallty of the young lady's manner
! towards myself
! so you have left Ireland unnecessarily
observed.
Yes; papa got his step, and was put in
command Of this depot
'By-theby, colonel, said I, what is a
depot! Stores, shades and depots have
been mysteries to me from my youth.
The soIidity Of my ignorance excited a
smile upon the face Of the ensign, but the
old soldier sought to enlighten me.
"A depot? Well, you know-several
regiments have their depots at 1T
| see,' | falsely asserted.
We had pleasant walk to some new
butts which were being set up; and on our
return the colonel and lis daughter both
declared that ! must come and see Mrs.
Duckling. So passed through the bar
rack-gates with the rest. feeling taller
when the sentry presented arms. The
colonel took the ensign's arm, and spoke
to him aside the poor youth nodded, and
presently afterwards asked me to dine at
the mess that evening. am sure, from
the forced character of his smile, that he
felt feeding me to be pushing Christianity
too far
Then he bad to bow himself off. leaving
me to enter the home of the beautiful |
Emma. Neither the beautiful Emma nor
her mamma could have beengood house
wives, for the quarters of the chief were
IN rrlbe mess; and his little ones
who came swarming over us, were
sad contrast to the clean, tidy, offspring
of the non-commissioned officers that had
noticed playing about. As for the youngest
Duckling, a tot that pottered about, drag
ging fresh herring tied to bit of string {
after 1t as toy, he was SO sti,hy that
am convinced that fly allighting on him
would have been lined.
The furniture was anty and common,
and no attempt had been made to set {
things off We found Mrs. Dncklng lying ..
On sofa reading novel. She had been
4 handsome woman in her time, there could .
be no doubt of that, and she had the best !.
part of beauty, kind, feminine, good Z
tempered expression, left. She greeted lie o
With much cordiality, and evidently i
thought great deal of my having paid her IL
laughter's fare. 'Civility have met with @
myself, over and over again, said she s; but Il
i've pounds from an utter stranger u
leverr ii
liked her, she was so thoroughly un- D
tfected; they were poor, but she seemed 81
o think that rather a joke than other u
rise. ST
l will not ask you to dinner, said she u
we dine early, because of the children. If cl
GU are hungry at any time about one III
clock, and can eat cold meat and rice pl
udding, we shall be glad to see you; bnt g
o not expect to be asked. When the
,lonel cannot stand our fare any longer bi
e goes to the mess" CT
1t is very pleasant to be made much of. "a n
nd the Ducklngs were so agreeable that W.
stopped at Cobbleston few days longer a. IA
IAN was strictly necessary. must con ~, 1W
IS that took mischievous pleasure in =. =,
Sciting the Jealous wrath of the ensign, s.'
I'd this appeared to be shared by the fair "a "a
NINA. At least she certainly acted in a y. y.
aid mora atter+;on % ,,,hot Ii - in;
a uara tnaathau .'S a "n". 'aiu asan " nen of
alking with me; but cannot put INTO a.. az
ords the many little perceptible though ~
ldefinable shades of conduct which were al, an
lculated to depress him and encourage l.,
e. / was glad not to be forced upon the nc
lie poor youth as nominal say nomi- 1n Iii'
Il, because, doubtless, really dined at e. e.
&c colonePs expense-as a non nal guest ~ ~
ain. On the second day was made an ioi
morally member of the mesa graceful
t, for it is really difficult to get dinner n
Cobbleston. At the end of the week W.,
wever, | was forced to go, and when | w, w.
nounced the fact to the Ducklings. they ne
re so dumbiounded that it was more ~. ,
an fiattering-it was quite touching. We, -
The time was just after morning parade, of
the family party was complete. The ow,
onel was writing an official letter to sat
lash court-martial, telling the members kin
~ must find something to say more in as ,
'ordance with bis own private opinion wit
$. Duckling was reposing on the sofa, ln's
npling the hair of one of her ttlest ones fea,
o sat on the floor beside her; Emma the
$ winding wool; and the ensign who one
not changed his uniform sat bolt up dom
BIT in front of her, holding Il e skein. his and
$ under the chair, his eyes looking un- 9th,
cradle things at his charmcr, no was tale
'osite, and so close. Her hand touched also
occasionally, and then he positively in i
cred. % .
And why must you go 2 asked Mrs. as w n
ckling with her voice, and Miss Emma inst
h her eyes. The colonel, too, was The
ested, pen IN air; the ensign's lips as u
ted a..
Well, the fact is, my fourth child has the,
rash, and my wife is rather uneasy Won
M, adm
Wife" r..... '''n'