The Republican journal., 1872-10-24


went slowly, very slowly, to sleep.
Tomorrow morning" she thought
when he comes, as he probably will, tt
!; the generals cottage with some message
he will not find me there, and that will
disappoint him. And when he does Sc,
} me he will smile from under his mustacht
his mustache is certainly very becoming
and shall look very blank How dis
appointed he will be - And so Daisy
began to dream.
The next day found Daisy very fretfu
and disappointed Cause-her plans haC
been frustrated. IN the first place he did
not come in the morning; in the seconC
place when he did come, in the afternoon,
he did not smile from under his mustache
partly because having firted occasionally
in his life before, he was prepared for a
feminine reaction on the part OF Daisy
from the graciousness of her behavior on
the preceding night.
But the next day General Burlington
who had made pet in every way OF
Daisy, blindly became an instrument in
the hands of Providence
"My dear" said he, II have found a
horse in the camp that will Just suit YOU.
Horseback riding will do Won good "
"Oh If will be lovely" cried Daisy,
.loyously; and then as an atterthoueht,
added, but can't 90 alone, General"
That is true" said the General 81
have told Sergeant Buler to act as your
escort He is a good, honest sort Of fe-
low very trustworthy; and, while he
rides behind you. you feel quite safe"
II should feel safe. know. General, +"
said Daisy, demnrely; "bnt would it be
proper 9'
"Proper! Oh, confound it ~ said the
General; Il forgot all about that III
ask Matilda"
Matilda, on being asked and ON hear
| ing casually that Mrs Crestle had said it
would we improper, Immediately ex-
/ pressed her opinion that Mrs. Cresle was
Il fool.
''lf it Were with a lieutenant," )" said Mrs.
General Burlington, decisiVolv. "obiec-
tions could be raised ''But what is a
sergeant The idea is absurd
50 it was settled and one pleasant
morning in May, Daisy and Sergeant
| Butler started together for the mountains.
The scenery was barren, the foliage
mostly sage bush; vet Daisy telt that she
was going to enjoy her ride She glanced
| tnrtively ut the sergeant, who looked
| rigidly proper.
| II" did not sneak he was attentive
obedient, energetic; so Daisy herself made
| Il remark.
y suppose General Burlington told
| you that You were to ride out with me
whenever wanted to gop''
Eyes, Miss" said the sergeant.
Now, don't talk in that stiff way"
said Daisy, "when you know | know bet
| far 1Ip1 40 DON'T ba
ram
Every well, then" said Mr.. Curran,
becoming elastic suddenly. ''if You are so
kind as to let me be my old self"
"Why, OF course" said Daisy. "Ser-
geants are not interesting"
''Thanks for the implied compliment"
"Don't suppose that imply anything"
said Daisy. "Only please tell me your
story"
Il have none TO tell" said Mr. Curran
ooh, very we'll, thcnn' said d iisy, and
pouted. She could pout
"Well, really, Miss Gilbert, said Mn.
Curran, "there is little to tell was
born ut an early age"
You can slip that" said Daisy
"Well. then" continued Mr. Cnrran.
Il was engaged to be married by my
uncle, who has taken care OF me since my
parents died, and whose fortune was to
| inherit Now it is u good thing to be
engaged. My uncle and myself were
agreed on that point, but we differed ON
another y
"And that was"-asked Daisy.
"And that was the woman to be select
ed. As ! was going 10 marry tor myself
and not for my uncle, | demonstrated
Remonstrance made u row, and | enlisted
for three years. The lady in question is
married my uncle is ready to welcome
me back; but insist on serving out my
time, which lasts about five months longer.
Now, won't you tell me your story ?"
"Minen ~ cried Daisy. ''Why, nothing
ever happened to me-"
81 am very glad to hear it,, said Mr.
Henry Curran; then there was a silence
for i little while.
at was curious the way we first met.
wasn't it P" said Daisy.
every" said Mr. Curran.
50, after this, Daisy rode out frequently
with her sergeant; and Us people gene
| rally mind their own business west Of the
Mlssisslppi,f nothing was said, except by
the private soldiers, who naturally envied
| their comrades luck. But one July day
when General Burlington sat, radiant in
Panama hat and linen duster. under the
| cottonwood trees on the bank of the creek,
endeavoring to begilile some unWary fish
he heard the steps Of horses and heard
| voices. The voices We're soft and low
lie looked and saw Daisy and her ser
| geant. and he heard them call each other
daisy" and Harry" His first impress
sion was that he was dreaming; then he
| listened in astonishment to what they
were saying. he felt very young for a few
seconds; and then, with an elephantine
bound that threw his fishing pole out into
the creek, he sprang to his ieet and cried
out "Stopm
They stopped. They were on the OPP
| posite side Of the creek and the general
was forced to elevate his voice Slightly,
so that the tableau was not entirely i'm
pressive.
"What, said the General, stermly, ''does
| all this mean ?''
Then Daisy began to cry, and the ser
geant tried to explain in Il straighttor-
ward and manly way; and the General
felt himself growing steadily younger and
younger, and finally said
"You needn't say ally more. | don't
| know about such things myself, but come
over to my house Immediately on your re-
turn to camp"
And the pair rode off, and the General
walked slowly to his home.
81 never was mixed up with ANYTHING
romantic before" he said to himself; and
| never will be again. 'What right has
4 sergeant to be no sergeant at all ? And
what will Matilda say ?"
This is what Matilda said She ad-
vanced, smilingly to meet her husband,
and said:
"What charming little romance this
isl"
"'What !" said the General, ''you like
it."
Certainly" said Mrs Bullmgton it
is an excellent match. "Why, General
he will come into half million And the
wedding is to be here in camp. His time
is up in seven weeks now"
The general sat down and wiped his
forehead. "Well,' said he, Il do not
understand women"
*Ths is an absolute fact.