The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-09-27
SUCH Is LIFE.
An Old COlOnel's Story OF Two New
Port woman.

The;Newport correspondent of Bos-
ton paper tells this story, which may
not be true, but it is good reading for
summer evening:
The piazza of q seaside hotel Is the
place to study human nature, and to
amuse ones self in q quiet, cynical
way. ] have derived much enjoyment
in this direction from the remarks of
queer old gentleman have met here,
and who seems to have taken quite
fancy to me. He is a fine, military
looking man, tall, with iron-gray hair
and grizzly mustache, knows every
body, and seems thoroughly at home
here; but if some of these stylish peo-
ple could but know how he lets day
light into their character and actions,
and how merciIessly he ridicules their
assumptions, they would have good
cause to hate and fear him.
Last evening, while smoking our
after-supper cigar on the veranda, ny
attention was called by the old gentle
man bowling to pair of young ladies
who swept by, arms around each
others waists, in all the elegance and
dazzle of full dress. One was blonde
of the purest type, petite, golden hair
ed, with a complexion like alabaster,
and perfect features the other tall,
naughty brunette, whom "piquant"
best described. l made some remark
about their attractiveness. "Yes," I"
returned the old soldier, "pretty, grace
full, and one of them rich, but no more
heart to either than to toy balloon" "
"Are they not sisters, them" asked
"Oh, no and their being here together
puzzles me, for they have always been
rivals and enemies. You saw how
lovingly they held each other as they
passed. Well, that's woman.style the
world over They are simply friends
pro tenn, for purpose probably max
ing common cause against some OF the
fair sex. Five years ago that tall one
was engaged to a young fellow from
st. LOuis-her parents choice: 1 al
ways liked and pitied him, for he was
a good fellow, though rather soft and
nerveless. He thought his eyes OF
her, and she-played with him and
loved another man, with whom she
had clandestine meetings. To her affi-
anced she was by turns cold, loving,
cruel, and ndifferent-and it broke his
heart. 1t did really, for when she
broke off the engagement, as she Ola
of course, despite her parents prayers
and entreaties, when the other man
was fairly eEsnared, he just went into
quick consumption and died.
"Did she marry the other?" asked.
ayes, three years ago, and Is reason
ably fond of him, I believe. But the
other, her blonde companion, and
sort of cousin, / believe, has a stranger
history still. Four years ago, when
she was sixteen, she fell in with poor
Young fellow, of two years more expert
ence. hut no more sense. They loved,
according to the novels, wildly, mad
ly, passionately, and life seemed IN
supportable when separated: But cir,
cumstapces, and her fathers removal
to the West, seemed about to sever
them, when an elopement, a secret
marriage, prompt confession, and the
orthodox, Bless you, my children,
cut the Gordian knot. They lived like
babies year on her fathers bounty.
when they discovered they did not
love each other SO madly, &C., as they
thought, and a divorce left them free
to seek other mates. He has already
got one; she is here on the war-path,
as YOU see, and-such Is life.
The old Colonel bade me goodnight
here, and / walked over to the window
of private parlor whence issued
strains of music. Here half-a-dozen OF
| the jeunetse doree had a cabinet piano
| a fruit and champagne lunch, and, in
side, several interested spectators, one
waiter included, outside. One of the
Young ladies was singing "Ah, NOR
| fils,n from the "Prophet." with voice
and method that would grace the lyric
stage, and the gay scene in the room
was but another phase of hotel life IL
this city by the sea.