Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-02-02
.TEtsceEIameOms Reading
From the Overland Monthly.
= GENERAL OUTTLANHED.

tied her volumnious drapery on a damasi
lounge.
She made "a liberal display Of gold eye
glasses, gold bracelets, gold chains; indeed
the superHuity Of gold upon her person CAV
yellow tinge to her c0untenance.
Mrs. Marshall was called by some the gol,
widow She was dark and handsome, witt
wonderfully beautiful eyes and brows. He
money drew all, and particularly single men
toward her.
Virginia Harold, young lady boarder
was playing fantasia. at the request Of ;
rather stylish young man, who, though no
looking equal to brains Of any calibre, wal
considered a rising author.
Lady Goss. a late arrival, ratified her heayl
silks in a lonesome corner, and was dying
for some one to talk to; but she had not bee
introduced TO either Of the ladies present.
Miss Harold finished her fantasia.
50 tircsome 8 she said little ahectedly
tossing her blonde curis from shoulders be
witcbingly shining under costly lace.
"Obliged, weakly responded the gentle
man, with a nondcscript sort Of bow, whict
be bad been practicing for weeks, and which
was a seryile imitation of titled dandy, at
tached TO one OF the legations, and be lifted
another sheet Of music with "Alay beg?
Jenny, come here; | want you, sounded
/ Ms Clo. Marshall's imperious voice, and
Jenny lifted her fine form lazily and sal
down by her friend
"Don't let that silly fellow court you s-
f. 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 y0l remember General Chat
teld?"
81 think do. Blonde isn't he, with very
fine. blue eyes, and a lovely tawny beard
Oh, YES, ! came very near liking him last
summer, bug somebody told me be was mar
ried." "
Yes, yes; and its 50 strange that he
/ should be here with his wife," said Mrs.
CIo. Marshall, wrinkling her forehead. "Sl
strange"
Pray, why strange, Clo?" asked the
young girl, bending attentiyely over the
clasp Of her bracelet. Il see nothing so very
strange in gentlemen bringing their wives Il
| Willard's
Il know. But when / saw Mrs. Chatfeld
I only three months, ago, she was the yerIest
shadow, poor soul half dead with consump-
ton. can't think how she has revived suf
fcientiy in this short period to visit Wash
ingtou. an sure she never expected to dc
So
Perhaps she is dead and the Gallant Gen
eral has taken another. said Jenny.
"Oh, nc; that would be monstrous You
know llave been in the far West, hunting,
with uncle Jeif. and it was in a town in Ne
/ braska where | saw General Chatieli's wife
! They were boarding, or rather she was-foi
/ she told me her husband was North transact
/ ing Government business-and / never shoul,
/ have made myself known only saw a gor
| ge0us tull-leneth portrait OF the General il
/ oil, and knew him in a moment Mrs. Chat
! field is a tall, intelligent woman, and must
/ have been very handsome once. She w0r
ships her husband Well, ! shall be very
! glad to renew the acquaintance
At that moment there saunterel towarl
them little, dried-Up mummy Of man
/ brilliantly arrayed. and who, rumor said, wa
fishing very iadustriously for the rich widow
"You ladies will have 70 look 70 your lau-
rels, be said, with a smirk. 81 have seer
General Chatields vile. Heavens an,
earth she Is Ike a fresh rose, plucked from
some sunny, southern garden. ] never gazci
upon iairer face pom my honor, never.
Mrs. Clo. Marshall looked bewildered; Viz
ginia Harold, who was beauty, and q ue,
ted one, shrugged her white shoulders.
Strange " said Mrs Marshall w1en 81,
spoke. ''ls she tail and rather clderly?'
The little man laughed as he twiriei Die
watch ehain.
''Swect sixteen not an hour over; mol
that yet, if am a Judge Must have f0uu,
bs4v4
! ricd her at sight. would, blame me ,-suct
a pretty creature But YOU Il see her ar din
ner, and there's the gong
Mrs. Cl). Marshall adjusted her h1uuca
with a dexter1us shake, and gave the finish
ing touches % chain. and lace- and bracelets
Lady G1ss ratified dreadiully, as she wen
forward to hook her arm within that of
very high-nosed old gentleman; and Yrgini.
Harold, all grace and eentlencss, KNOWN.
that the dinner was her hour of triumph
moved gracefully On by the side Of Mrs Go
t.lda Marshall.
Beautiful as d picture. said the latter
after they were well seated, looking down
the long table. "These's M denying it
Jenny: bat not bis wife. Oh, no: impossi
bic i''
tHe couldn't have two. You know, Whis
pcred Jenny. choosing from q trio of gentle
men. all intent on serving her. Il shouldn
ike to think the worst Of him" and thcr
she looked a long. liberal look. that by som'
people might be called stare. 40 the rose hu,
girl 10 whom the gallant General directed al
his attention.
"N0 style-not bit-th0ugu some repO5
of manner, she added, under cover Of sip
-v-s .orf,s s-~- .rfr1 og cr,ro
live. And he-he's ike q lover. See how
at the waiter for sIilling a drop of water OF
her precious hair. Oh, dear there's To-
much of 1t. But the General don't seem
day older, and he is hands1me-a regula
Adonis-yet. How she appears to worship
him Cl0, dear, what can il mean ?''
"Itmeans there's rascalty somewhere,
muttered the widow under her breath, IAN
] mean to find it out
That evening the parlors were brillien
with company. There were ravshing toilet
from New York; languishiug southern beau
ties: strong-featured English travellers, ez
tremely reserved in their manners; two ele
giant twin sisters from California: Lady Cos
the only titled woman present-all slyly tax
ing note Of ca ch others dresses; all se1retl
conscious Of looking a little better than th
rest.
Mrs Go. Marshall, who generally Lad tn
pick Of the company about her, had bee
captured by q bright little brunette briI
who had Jou-neyed lew miles with III
General and his |iie-to Wnon Mrs Aal
shall lentan attentive ear
so s. Eeet ana pretty ana utterly pn
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