New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-11-16

"You did,
t "Forgive me, then, Hayden trying t.
/ raise his feeble hand.
l took it.
, ASK her to forgive me, too would no,
have accused her if / had not been CALLED
It's bitter thing for man to love a wo
, man who cares no more for him than she
does for the dust under ner feet, and that
woman his wife and the mother of his child
| But l wrOnged her. Yes, by Cd,
wronged her cruelty. She loved my brother,
you see, and I-never mind. She would
never nave borne me in her sight after she
found it out but for the child she was going
to have. We kept up the farce for his sake
Poor little fellow, he'll be rid of me soon,
and his mother will be respectable and
happy widow. Hayden, stay with me a
little while. You see I'm dying"
He was. indeed. | gave him water and
wiped his damp forehead-and the next
morning we buried him. An hour later, as
L touched the stirrup and leaped into the
saddle, felt that couplet as indeed true:
| :" Wars chance game
| And weeping is vain"
Two days later we were in camp with the
| remainder OF our regiment. AS soon as pos
! sibe l wrote to Mrs. Dacre, informing her
OF her husbands death, and placing NJ selt
at her service tor any favor / could iu-
! directly render her. After long delay a
little note OF thanks came back. was very
| kind, but I could do nothing She was
| going back to her friends
l was only in volunteer service. The
| next year l had lett the army and gone
home to New York. l had an aged mother
and a sister there l had left home a strip
| ling of twenty one, and coming home swart,
| sworded and shoulder-strapped was some
| lionlzed by my friends.
l was on my way home one night, when a
servant girl accOsted me:
SO sir, have you ST en- chiIjs'
"a child"
"Yes, your honor-a bit of a boy-four
years old he is-and he's lost from me. .,
musha, musha . what'll do &c
lis it your child -
"'Indeed not, it's the mistress: she'll 90
crazy for the boy; IT,
where did you lose him.
II just left him at the corner yonder
while went into the block there 20 see me
cousin, Ellen Maroon. whose child has got
the measles, and l told him not to stir, and
he said he wouldn't, and he as good boy
to mind as ever l see. And when came
back he's gone for sure. o, whatll do"
do you see that lantern projecting over
that door down the streets'
Eyes, sir
''That's the police station. Go there and
tell them your story, and then go home and
tell his mother as fast as you can.
The girl hurried away with thanks and |
lamentations equally smothered. had not |
gone fifty PAGES before met the forlorn |
figure of little child standing alone on the !
sidewalk. naturally supposed it to be the !
lost boy. 10 my establishment he San to
me, exclaiming:
80 Captain Hayden. won't sou :a,:s ms |
home!"
1t was Florian Dacre.
''Are you lost, Flo!" asked. lifting him
in my arms, exceedingly glad to see the lit
tie fellow.
Eyes, sir; Maggie left me and didn't come
back, and tried to go home. but couldn't
find the way, and I'm lost
asked him if he knew where he Yiysd, !
and he told me. He was visiting with his
mother at the house of gentleman for
tunately known 20 me, and not far OFT <
carried him there and saw Mrs. Eacceo
She was very pale with agitation when |
first met her, having just been told that Flo
was lost, but instantly that she saw me sur.
prise and JOY gave her a beautiful color.
20, Captain Haydens where did you tind I
my child ?" she criede
told her. She pressed rae 70 sts,. and
! spent the evening there. She was more
lovely than ever. and treated me with IN
eager half timid cordiality that made me
think that she wished to atone to me Tor her
husbands faults.
There was something go peculiarly wo.
manly and true about her that before MANY
weeks had passed found myself dreaming
about her IN a way that thrilled my heart !
to The core, yet did not believe myself in :
love with her. ] never genuinely thought |
81 such thing unit! Oue day some two !
months after | met her.
! called at Mayor Stevens house ia the !
evening. asked for Mrs. DacYe. and was !
shown into the parioro She came down
wearing an exquisite dress Of gray silk .;se !
sue. and with bit OF white sewing in her |
land, sos she often worked when she sat ! {
With me- She never seemed 20 feel herself !
N ceremony with Me any more than she
lad done at the fort. (
Mrs. Dacre." said .saye2y, "you ,ooS t
cry psettily."
She smiled. and then hes sweet face sad.
Iened. /
'.That is a word for girls with rosy cheeks |
nd bright cur!s." said she. gently, 'saot !
or NO." G
''It is for you" persisted. c
80 Is it possible for woman Of nearly ! t
hfrty. . mother. and one whos as a wife. ! g
new NO happiness, to look prettily |" she j
sked. raising her inOurnful eyes to nv face. ! |
Ter " hole sad history was in her pure. sad. ! v
weee face knew she was not thirty, oniy a
wenty-siX. and get how discipline had Il
FASTENED her cheek: Fla. and profitiess q
ppeared every gay young beauty that ever d
saw beside her-that pure. peerles. b
'oinane fknew her given name. and aor l
le first time spoke il. a
" Bernice.' said l. ''wer. yoa eye. c
appy!'' y
She did not epeaS for moment. yaen Z
le said: Il
" Yes. have been ana as.s aapgy VIZ. ny u
~" t
:. Tha. is ali" G
"That is ALL a
But there was another war in ~hic?, -su Ii
,onld have been happy. Begnice.' 81
cit was never for me.' g,
land may never be! Have vou no hopes II
it yet.' e,
She moved hey lips 20 frame no" and :;
oklny NJ. met my eyes. nv heart was
III OF fond and proud affection for her c:
e must have seen IL. for her gaze fell ia a ! Il
ow. unbelieying way. while startled | o:
Tor crept into her face. Then took her Il
icate hands and told her that l loved co
e. never had such hard work to make | to
person believe thing before in my life. NJ
4, believed it. and finally che was h:
.hged TO. For long time she said tim. nj
ly that she hoped i, might be so. Now &C
e says that it is; could not be SO good ! "
her if ! did not love her. And that is CT
ry true. Friendship may serve friend I'll
ID set be doubted, bu: love never fails to
lally e recognize love. OF
ca
Hrensurs Eouu6 A'