New Orleans Republican., 1873-05-04
n 9EITE'S STORS@
992ron the Kansas Monthly NagaAinSSg

s9srom the Kansas Monthly hagazin@S
a. was little sweet face that came 20 one
gsat at A time when my bark was fast near
spg the billoWa 1t was but a short time
shrea year.-.hat | called her mine; bu;
7ooking back upon all the past, l tremble
20 think what might have been had heI
presence never brightene5 ny life 8nd
caught me my duty.
5n9 North aud South that became the wife
arf apavy otlicero JIe was many pears my
senior, but it was a onion Of hearts tor allc
aIe was reserved and dignified as became
sis position; b was gay and light-hearted
almost to fIivoiity, l think now. He often
pleasantly chided me for my gayety; saying
ought to settle down now had such an
old fashioned husband But | knew he
was most pleased when was most cheer
iul, 40 accepted his chidings in the spirit in
which they we're administered.
At the breaking out of the war my hlis
e,and had been ordered to L, sEall
station created for the emergency. there to
take command OF a vessel being fitted up
ler service in the Mississippi squadron. Ot
.uurse, | accompanied him. l. was a
small town, OF no note until the war con
ycrted it into naval station, thus bringing
labor and money to it's inhabitants. OF the
society the least said the better.
There we're quite number OF officers sta
3ioncd there, most of them married men,
who. with their wives, made up our society.
We were constantly resOrting to ways and
means to kill time. There was one family
OF some pretensiun5 in the place who tre
uuently Joined our circle, and at whOse
shonse we were quite as frequently invited;
but owing to my husbands retired habits.
we ourselves seldom went. This was not
altogether satisfactory TO one OF my tenn
Derament, and when ] would hear the Off
GERS wives talking over these festivities,
Z longed with all the feTyor of child to
participate in them
You are burying yourself alive,O one
would say; and another add, You are old
a. your husband now" And Mrs. Stan
hope. the wife of our surgeon. once advised
ene to 20 without him; .'other ladies do,
she addedo But my. pride and common
sense forbade 6bab had always consid
cred it a wife's duty SO Sespect the wishes
af her husband, and was a liStle ourpristai
shat Mrse Stanhope9 9 Rady as lease tfteSg
, sears my Senior, should thus advise9nes.
One night che officers were to gi6e 30 9aI
ON dDoari the boat 9heO in Any husband Z
yommando 1t wac the first reguias SaIl
they ha6 given-the pre- - Sntertaim
onents were merely social partieso Arrange
Pnents had been made to make this quito u
Grand affair for that out of the way place
NV husband bad not altogether approved
OF the measure, although Se had consented
80 it.
you WIZ surely attendSo | remarked. as
S,e expressed to mt his disapproSationo olt
being on board your own vessel Ii would
2ardly look we'll to stay away"
oYcs, will go; but, Cla4a, heartily dis.
9pprove of such festivities at a time when
ear countrS is so overshadowed with war
The evening Of the ball at length arrived
4ll SO far had been entirely tavorabltDand
% delightful time was anticipated.
The dance had already commenced when
su orderly came in search OF my husband
There had come dispatch, ordering iny
husband to report to M at once. 81
5nave you in charge of LieutenantoMorris,
he said. as he impaired the news to me. a,
Che same time bowin. to the lieutenant
Gbo was with him,
/ o,oces8 the SrusSO So oeplied gro'd
Guiiyo
oi shaH probably be SS,ack the day after
9amorrow at the iarthest," he continue,c
and, bidding NE good by, We parted.
Lieutenant Morris was tie oldest officer
On the squadron there except my husband
5i9 was unmarried. very afiabe in lila mas
arSs ana upright a depootmeoSo an6 % slat
@0Psal iavOrite0
Flushed with ga9eSso 2 en9eqed 3nac aae
98joymcnt of the hour with a keen relishO
0You are fine ,iancere Mrao B o oald lnb
@s,tSspanion. as DE Fed me to seat after :he
Ss,5adrilleg eHov is is oou have nevaS Stc
8cnde& QUE flttie segec7 slances beioles"
aOMo hnshSn,6 docs Aot enioS chem"
29,swercdo
oIs tha9o sofcdena ssaso,s g S,s asSeS %
. half-whisper.
I'd Qhink so."q 2 repiieG ?Tetie nsn.ati1g
%1hen you are 10 champion for wSma& ;
gights. he answered gaylyo
''ls it fair to Judge me bv that:~
7sPerhaps not But see, they arc 9G.2 z
ar waltz. You waltz, do you not ? 0
9oNot often, and / must Geg to be eSsSsqtS
gsuighr.'
He boweS. and wero to GEEK an qnier pert
sserD and soon ] saw him whirling down the
cabin with Miss o'heesehro, a neice Of Co.'S
sruOr Vests.
To say that was pleased with nr9 entere
sainment and the attentions 1 received,
would but express very family my delight.
z was charmed. intoxicated with it. and.
loyal as was, scarcely gave one thought
20 my absent husband, who, at the time l
sought my state room, wso riding fearlesslv
1fuce to orders.
The day on ybieh mo husband had e1-
s,ccted to return came and passed. and the
next also; still he came not; and l, though
accustomed to disappu,ntments C6 Obs
character. grew restless and uneasy.
To return the compliment 10 the officers.
Sfovernor West had Issued invitations to a
Dall, to be given at his residence just enc
week from the mig hi nf ours.
4 number of the elite trom the neig g9bor-
eng city had been ;n,iteu. and the Anal:
promised to be a very brilliant one.
THIS may be thoIght IL very short Hme in
which to prepare for u bal, but it must be
remembered that the b,Rts wer" daily .xo
pected to leave tho station, and there Gas
90 time to spareo
= 9of course you vii gc59 sai8 05fro Stan
aope to INTO
Il am nndecided!o0 I replied OFF onY
husband return, it shall he az he says i
lie does not return l hardly eApec; TO geo
But you ale IL my charge saId Lee
tenant Morris, oand % as your gIal i;al,
aahall IN sist upon your sou "
"Stop, Li-uterapt! us l ,n2rs.anS oo ]
was oh.y put il ycur charge tor mat 600
Mng," answered playfl lily.
Oh, no, Mrs. i there as 10 time spoci
fed. Yuu ars sill under the shadow Of ~
ving."
We bartel.a each Other for time. faY
from feeling the gay spirits as un.oi, @.
AZ, .retly i "c.y mach wished t,oittend tbr
hall. and knew il INV hrsbant. ret.un,G
nv going was doubtful. Tae day passtt,
md another. Wh,D. Instead o: my husband, |
here came this dispatch:
a am Unexpectedly detained. 1t viii be !
r,possible icr me ~ be with you cor 400