Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1872-11-08

two days"
"That is an ungallant remark" said
DR.. Gilbert.
l can't help it," said Gen. Burlington.
" Matilda is the best woman in the world;
but when she comes-well, gentlemen,
how do pass my afternoons now?"
You sleep, and you go trouting," said
Col. Crestle.
"Wen, after Matilda comes,' said
Gen. Burlington, 81 shall 60 trouting al
together"
With these oracular words, Gen. Bull
ington ceased. Men were detailed to
paper and carpet the officers cottages; and
week after the General received his
wife's letter, that lady was deposited at
the door from the ambulance which had
been sent to the railroad station, trif1ing
distance Of sixteen miles, for her.
At the same time Mrs. Crestle alighted.
The General knew who Mrs. Crestle was,
and greeted her cordially.
"Your husband will be here in a few
minutes" he said. 81 see you and my
wife have travelled together part of the
way, so that | suppose you are ac-
quainted."
eve have not yet been introduced, ,"
said Mrs Gen. Burlington, severely.
The General felt vaguely that there was
natural antagonism between Mrs. Crestle
and his wife, and introduced them with
the air of a martyr.
Lam happy to meet you, Mrs. Cres-
tle," said Mrs. Gen. Burlington.
"You are very kind" returned Mrs.
Crestle. Mrs Crestle was a small woman,
Mrs. Burlington a large one, but size
is not always victorious in feminine con-
tests.
" Is your husband stationed here ?" in
quired Mrs. Burlington.
eyes, Mrs. Burlington" replied Mrs.
Crestle. Colonel Crestle was transfer
red to this place by the same order that
sent your husband here"
"Ah remarked Mrs. Burlington, in q
slightly surprised tone. els your husband
a Colonel, then?"
"That is his volunteer rank" replied
Mrs. Crestle, sweetly," just as Brigadier-
General by brevet is Captain Bullington's,
you know"
The skirmish had proven successful for
Mrs. Crestle. Mrs. Burlington realized it,
and wondered whether that audacious wo-
man, as she inwardly designated Mrs
Crestle, would ever dare to address her
as "Mrs. Captain Burlington" AS for
the General, he felt that there had been a
battle, though he could not comprehend
how it had been fought.
The arrival of Colonel Crestle, who
was affectionately greeted by his wife,
suspended hostilities for time, and the
couples went into dinner.
Now, what Mrs Burlington said to the
General at dinner, only she and her hus-
band know; but, after dinner was over,
the General was seen with his fishing
| ta0 fn
stream.
Two days after this, Mrs. Dr. Gilbert
arrived; and with her came her sister-in-
law, Daisy Gilbert. Daisy Gilbert was
uncommonly pretty. She had curls and
dimples and smiles fluttering around and
across her face. She was lith0 and grace
full, though petit. She had considerable
independence of character. She seldom
asked advice and still more seldom took
it. She was, in a word, a spirited little
beauty.
By tbe time of her arrival there was a
distinctly recognized hostility between
Mrs. General Burlington and Mrs. Crestle.
They still greeted each other politely
enough, but Colonel Crestle did not
smoke an after dinner cigar SIS formerly,
on the piazza of General Bullington's cot
tage; and adistinct boundary line seemed
now to be drawn between the respective
premises of the two gentlemen.
The arrival of Daisy Gilbert produced
marked effect on the camp. In the first
place only did it inspire the two unmar-
| ried Lieutenants with wild passion,
which made them drill their men for the
most part directly under her windows,
especially when right or left wheel was
desired Thereby Daisy's lawn was in
iured, and her temper slightly ruff1ed
But strong as was Daisy's effect upon the
gentlemen, still more marked and intense
was the impression she produced upon
the ladies. Mrs Gen. Burlington remarked
to Mrs. Crestle that Daisy was so gentle
and modest Mrs. Crestle replied in
acquiescence with Mrs. Burlington, init
mating that chief charm of Daisy was
that che never gave herself any airs. To
this Mrs. Burlington retorted that Miss
Gilbert wasn't always working and con-
triving to gain gentlemen's attention,
Mrs. Crestle;" and Mrs. Crestle responded
that she wasn't so old that she had to
exert herself to do so. The ladies were
| fast becoming a little broad and elegant
in their manner of scratching each other,
being so far removed from civilization.
Each looked on Daisy as an adherent that
must be won to her side. But Daisy
would not ally herself to either the Bull
lington or the Crestle faction; though
she was great pet with the General, and
accepted numberless little attentions from
| Col. Crestle.
Now, one day, when it happened that
Daisy and Mrs. Crestle were on Mrs. Bul.
| lington's piazza together, a Sergeant came
up with q message to the General, which
he delivered and went away.
"What handsome soldterl" said Daisy.
as he?" said Gen. Burlington.
''My DEAR" said Mrs. Burlington, ''you
really ought not to notice II common
soldier"
''He wasn't common soldier" said
Daisy; "for he had braid on his arm"
''The principle is the same" said Mrs.
Burlington.
"But he was handsome, ".insisted Daisy;
and Mrs. Crestle laughed. But Mrs Bull
lington did not laugh.
She delivered o sort of lecture upon the
evils which might arise from young ladies
looking at young people of the opposite
sex; and then, with swift, feminine logic,
asserted that such evils were intensified
when there was great social inequality be-
tween the looker-on and the looked-on
Daisy stood there, very pretty and slight
ly vexed, pulling bouquet to pieces, as
the calm stream of Mrs. Bullington's dis
course meandered gently on. Again the
Sergeant appeared, and stood before them.
Daisy saw him look at her admiringly,
and colored; then she observed that his
eyefell upon the flowers she held. Sud
denly, almost abruptly, she held them
out to HIM.
''Do YOU like flowers ?" she asked. ''If
you do, you can have them" And the
Sergeant bowed, and glanced expressive
ly at her-his eye was blue and express
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