The Lincoln County herald., 1872-05-30

utter dismsy from Nlinna, while even
grave Laura calculated, ~, Aunt Bessie
how very fat" ''.. ~ -'' aa.'' .''l "a
was silent q moment, feeling sorry
in my heart for the poor children's dis.
appointment, and then said sooth.
iugly: I'l..' .. o. .., =. ,.I."g .'.,' 4
"if you will wait aoIittls, ssd listen
patiently, my dears, you will perceive
that the individual in my STORY 10 whom
| expect that you will the most interested
10 not the handsome major, Sho, for .
short white, turned all our heads, more
especially that of Gertrude Ruck mann
Whom this girl, whom ! wa. silly enough
to call my dearest friend, was Hrst Intro.
duced 10 Burfofd Compton -he had
Irish blood 10 his veins, which may
partly account for the peculiaritiss Of his
conduct-shs had not been many days 10
Hamburg. Her youth and grhood had
been passed in England, and the German
relatives with whom she had come to
spend the winter months being quite un
worldly people, there was little chance Of
their young ssoos heinR early initiated
into the gossip and on ditto Of n.mnnro
society.
The ball q. which Gertrude Ruck mann
made her debut was as brilliant an affair
as money and liberslity combined could
make il. The festive entertainments was
given by the gay young mercantile bach
elors Of the city, foreign as we'll IS Ger
man, and the cost of it WAS said to be
prodigious. By some it was estimated at
| 1nn mn .,L. hat th - snuak | thsuk
have been an sxaggeration. l shall
never totally forge, our 6rst dinner at .
, table d hote, for that dinner was at the
Hotel Petersburg, where q number Of
young men, who we're seated opposite to
: our party. gave free vent to their high
| animal spirits, while they discussed
now in English, and now in German
; arrang gsments for the already famous Jete
. which was in few more days to come
! off, Among those who we're most re-.
: markable for their reckless talk and ex
f travagant propositions stood first and
4 foremost a young ofhcer-for such he,
4 even to our unlnitiated minds. appeared
Q to be-whom We were destined to know
e later as Major Burford Compton. l cat
u see him now 10 his fair Saxon beauty
y blue eyed, brown haired, tawny. bearded
Z That handsome beard of his was. recol.
!; lect, subject for good humored chatting
9 among his friends; for, as it would ap.
Q pear, foreign officers are obliged to be
o closely shAven, and Compton, who had
t been six nonths on leave in England
could hardly venture to report himself
Q at headquarters with that decided y orns'
g mental appendage to his face. The din.
; ner, as is always the case in Germany
was very long affair and rs it pro-
e grsssed, our ueighbors grew more and
e more uproarious, sending the champaigne
le corks right up, when the startling pop
" came, to the vaulted skylight above oul
d heads and at last, when tn. numerous
y courses had been discussed, and only th'
, desert remained upon the table, coolll
8, taking out their cigars, preparatory t,
,e then and there enjoying tho smoke il
d which their souls delight You ma!
ID suppose that after such demonstration OF
is their parts. our stay among those noisy
c light hearted, and, l fear, little excite,
ID young men, was but short. Your dsa
e, father was evidently trifle put out; TO.
ly as he said, he was an old fashioned per.
ce sou, and could not bring himself to ap
rg provo of tobacco smoke being puffe'
Il. from strange mems lips into the faces o
" his womenkind. ,,..I s.-..l..
n. "And what o conceited looking littl
e, fellow the fair good looking ono is |!
it said your poor dear mother, when "
is began talking them over. .al
Id In this opinion vas inclined to agree
by but your father, although strongly op
1y jecting to anything approaching puppy
o ism, ditFsred--s little to my surprise
~ from Us both. r,l' 20 .t.l.v sroi
! II don't know when have ever see
re so pleasant face" was his remark as b
ve warmed bis hands over the big whit
I. sartbsnware stove 10 the corner Of ou
,n sitting room. $50 thoroughly English
Or A oouutensnce which makes one feel
b !; would Do 81 impossible to nis.rust tn
he man III must inquire who he is--n
sg common character, IN be bound2" ;.
y It, was thus that ny BROTHER spoke
Ne the handsome soldier, who, little MOI
NJ than week later, watched evidsutl
d making himself 90 agreeable TO G Gsrtrut
y Ruckmann, on the night of the famo,
Ier bachelor ball. She had dancsd With hi
Ne twice, and was admitting IL hope with
= out q shade Of envy---ths lbosutiful coll
lsr which exercise and pleasant szcitesne'
ry had callsd to her cheek, when your de-
10 mother who had been for sous time
'pt close conversation with Hamburg hd
cy who vas conssetsd With her BY marrisa
ed approached the plsos where was stsut
.ss lug, aud said in . low voice: toii
70, IL have been hearing the strange
be story about Mj"r Compton. Hs seen
ug to bs unfortunately situatsd. He is
'ar married map--whieh I, for oas, new
ID should have gussssd--but his wife al
'as hs--ovine, a. most people Gay. 70 her b
70, conduct-lliys apart. She To- 10 Ruglar
ify At present., and I should think 1t wou
be just % wsll to give Gsrtsuds Rucl
,as m. nm n hint of her existence. Ooly lo(