The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1872-02-29
Bona Eide Circulation, 1.sOO.
A General out Thanked.

a General EJI1Ihed
Mrs. Clio. Marshall fluttered down
into one of the sOmbre parlOrs Oi
Willard's and settled her vOluminOus
drapery on damask lounge.
She made liberal display of gold
eyeglasses, gold bracelets, gold chains;
indeed, the superfiuity of gold upon
her person gave yellow tinge to her
cOuntenance.
Mrs. Marshall was called by some
the "gOld widow" She was dark and
handsome, with wonderfully beauti-
full eyes and brOws. Her money drew
all, and particularly single men, to-
ward her.
Virgins Harold, young lady board
er, was playing fantasia, at the re-
quest OF a rather stylish young man,
who, though not looking equal to
brains of any calibre, was considered
a rising author.
Lady GOss, a late arrival, ratified
her heavy silks in a lonesome corner,
and was dying for some one to talk
to; but she had not been introduced to
either of the ladies present.
Miss Harold finished her fantasia.
$50 tiresOme ~ she said, little af-
fectedly, tossing her blonde curls from
shoulders bewitchingly shining under
costly lace.
"Obliged, weally,n responded the
gentleman, with a nOndescript sort of
bow, which he had been raeticing
for weeks, and which was a servile
imitation of titled dandy, attached
to one of the legations, and he lifted
another sheet of music with "May l
beg?"
"Jenny, come here; I want you"
sounded Mrs. Clio. Marshalls imperi-
Gus voice, and Jenny lifted her fine
form lazily and sat down by her
| friend.
fDon't let that silly fellow court
you so publicly" said Mrs. Marshall
"You are too handsome to waste any
sweetness on him. Now, don't bride;
that is not what wanted to say. Do
you remember General ChatIield ?"
81 think do. Blonde, isn't ne, with
very fine, blue eyes, and a lovely,
tawny beard? Oh! yes; came very
near liking him last summer, but
somebody told me he was married"
eyes, yes; and its so strange that
he should be here with his wife," said
Mrs. Clio. Marshall, wrinkling her
forehead. $50 strangew
''Pray, why strange, Clio ?" asked
the young girl, bending over the clasp
of her bracelet. at see nothing so
very strange in gentlemen bringing
their wives to Williard's."
-, ST know. But when saw Mrs
Chatheld only Three months ago, -sho
was the veriest shadow, poor soul
half dead with consumption. I can'tl
think how she was revived sufficiently
in this short period to visit Washing
ton. I am sure she never expected to
do so."
"Perhaps she is dead and the gall
liant General has taken another" said
Jenny.
"Oh, no that would be monstrous;
| You know I have been in the far
West, hunting, with Uncle jeff, and
/ it was in town in Nebraska where l
saw General Chatfield's wife. They
were boarding, or rather she was-fOr
she told me her husband was north
transacting government business
and ] never should have made myself
known only-I saw a gorgeous, full
length portrait of the General in oil,
and knew him in a moment. Mrs.
Chatfield is tall, intelligent woman,
and must have been very handsome
once. She worships her husband.
Well, 1 shall be very glad to renew
the acquaintance"
At that moment there sauntered to-
ward them a little dried-up mummy
of man, brilliantly arrayed, and who,
rumor said, was fishing very indus
/ triously for the rich widow.
"You ladies will have to look to
your laureis," he said, with a smirk.
'I have seen General Chatfield's wife.
Heavens and earth! She is like a
! fresh rOse.plucked from some sunny,
southern garden. / never gazed on a
fairer face-'pon my honor, never"
Mrs. Clio. Marshall looked beWil-
dered; Virginia Harold, who was a
beauty, and a petted one, shrugged
her white shoulders.
ffStrange 90 said Mrs. Marshall, when
she spoke. "Is she tall and rather ell
derly ?"
The little man laughed, as he twirI-
ed his watch chain.
'iSweet sixteen ! not an hour over;
not that yet, if am a judge. Must
have found her in some parsonage, or
at school, and married her at sight. /
would, blame mel-such a pretty
creaturel But you'll see her at din
ner, and there's the gong"
Mrs. Clio. Marshall adjusted her
/ fiOunces with dexterOus shake, and
gave the finishing touches to chain
and laces and bracelets; Lady GOss
ratified dreadfulIy, as she went forward
to hook her arm within that of very
high-nosed old gentleman, and Vir-
ginia Harold, all grace and gentleness,
/ knowing that the dinner was her
hour of triumph, moved gracefully on
by the side of Mrs. ClOtilda Marshall.
"Beautiful as a picture" said the
/ latter after they were well-seated,
looking down the long table. "There
is no denying it, Jenny, but not his
wife. Oh, no; impossible"
"He couldn't have two, you know"
whispered Jenny, choosing fIom a
trio of gentlemen, all intent on serv-
/ ing her, 81 shouldn't like to think the
worst of him." and then she looked a
long, liberal look, that by some people
might be called a stare, at the rosebud
girl to whom the gallant General dI-
rected all his attention.
mo style-not a bit-thOueh some
repose of manner" she added, under
cover of slipping water; ''a country
girl as sure rs you live. And he he's
like lover. See how he anticipates
every want; look! he scOwled at the
waiter for spilling drop of water on
her precious hair. Oh, dear ! there's
too much of it. But the general don't
seem a day older and he is handsome
a regular Adonis-yet how she ap-
pears to worship him Clio, dear, what
can it mean?"
at means there's rascality some
where" muttered the widow under
her breath, "and Imean to find it
out-n
That evening the parlors were brill
liant with company. There were raw
ishing toilets from New York; Ian
gushing Southern beauties; strong
featured English travellers, extremely
reserved in their manners; two elegant
twin sisters from California: Lady
GOss, the only titled woman present.
all slyly taking note of each others
dresses; all secretly conscious of look
ing little better than the rest.
Mrs. Clio. Marshall, who generally
had the pick of the company about
her, had been captured by bright lit
tie brunette bride, who had jour
neyed a few miles with the General
aud his wife-tO whom Mrs. Marshall
lent an attentive ear.
$50 sweet and pretty and utterly
unwOrldly,m said the brunette, as Vir-
ginia Harold slipped into a chair
which she had rolled toward them.
''She must have been quite recently
, married. she continued. "fOr she
talked a great deal about her pretty
country home and pa I even had q
description of pa who is a noble.
looking old man, very pale and tall
and a clergyman. He has a long,
white beard, and blue eyes, and hi:
, hair shines like silver. According to
her statement, she was his own eve
lamb, and 1 hope General Chatfieid