The Republican. [volume] (Maryville, Tenn.) 187?-187?, 1873-01-04

Crestle. Mrs. Crestle was a small wo-
man, and Mrs. Burlington a large one;
but size is not always victorious in fem
inc contests.
lis your husband stationed here?"
inquired Mrs Burlington.
Yes, Mrs. Burlington" replied Mrs
Crestle Colonel Crestle was trans
ferred to this place by the same order
that sent your husband here
"Ah" remarked Mrs. Burlington, in
a 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 Capt. Bullingtons
you know.
The skirmish had proved successful
for Mrs Crestle Mrs. Burlington real
lied it, and wondered whether that
audacious woman, as she inwardly des-
ignated Mrs. Crestle, would ever dare
to address her as Mrs Capt Bulling-
| tom
As for the general, he felt that there
had been q battle, though he could not
comprehend how it had been fought
The arrival of Col. Crestle, who was
atfectionately greeted by his wife, sus-
pended hOstilities for time, and the
couples went III to dinner.
Now, what Mrs. Burlington said to
the general at dinner, only she and her
husband know: but, after dinner was
over, the general was seen with his eX-
tensive fishing-tackle making his way to
the trout stream.
Two days after this, Mrs. DIR. Gilbert
arrived; and with her came her sister-in-
law, Daisy Gilbert. Daisy Gilbert was
uncommonly pretty. She had curls and
Z Il,
and across her face She was 1.-THE and
siderable independence of character
She seldom asked advice, and still more
seldom took it. She was, in n word, a
spirited little beauty
BY the time of her arrival, there was
q distinctly recognized hostility between
Mrs. Gen. Burlington and Mrs. Crestle
They still greeted each other politely
enough; but Col. Crestle did not smoke
an after-dinner cigar, as formerly, on
the piazza of Gen. Bullington's cottage;
and a distinct boundary-line seemed
now to be drawn between the respective
premises of the two gentlemen.
The arrival of Daisy Gilbert produced
a marked effect on the camp. In the first
place not only did it inspire the two un-
married heutenants with a wild passion,
but made them drill their men for the
most part directly under her windows,
especially when right or left wheel
was required. Thereby Daisy's lawn
was I'M iured, and her temper slightly
ruffed. But, strong as was Daisv's eff
feet upon the gentlemen, still more
marked and intense was the impression
she produced upon the ladies. Mrs.
Gen. Burlington remarked 10 Mrs.
Crestle that Daisy was so gentle and
modest Mrs Crestle replied i'll ac-
quiescence with Mrs. Burlington, init
mating that IA chief charm of Daisy was
that she never gave herself any airs.
To this Mrs. Burlington retorted that
Miss Gilbert wasn't always working
and contriving to gain gentlemen's at
tentiOn, Mrs. Crestle," and Mrs. Crestle
responded, that she wasn't 50 old That
she had to exert herself to do so. The
ladies were fast becoming a little
broad and inelegant in their manner of
scratching each other, being so far re-
moved from civilization. Each looked
on Daisy as an adherent that must be
won by her side. But Daisy would not
ally herself to either the Burlington
or the Crestle faction: though she was
ii great pet with the general, and ac-
cepted numberless little attentions from
Col. Crestle.
Now, one day, when it happened that
Daisy and Mrs. Crestle were on Mrs.
Bullington's piazza together, sergeant
came up with n message to the general,
which he delivered and went away.
''What handsome soldier !" said
Daisy.
''Is he?" said Gen. Burlington
My dear" said Mrs. Burlington,
you ought not to notice a 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. Burlington did not laugh.
She delivered a short lecture upon
the evils which might arise from young
ladies looking mt young people of the
opposite sex : and then, with swift, fem
mime logic, asserted that such evils
were intensified when there was great
social inequality between the looker-on
and the looked-on. Daisy stood there,
very pretty and slightly vexed, pulling
a bouquet to pieces, as the calm stream
of Mrs. BullingtOn's discourse mean
dered gently on. Again the sergeant
appeared, and stood before them. Dai-
sy saw him look at her admiringly, and
cOlOred then she observed that his eye
fell upon the flowers she held. Sud
denly, almost abruptly, she held them
out to him.
''Do you like howers?" she asked.
IF you do you can have them" And
the sergeant bowed and glanced express
sively at her: his eye was blue but ex-
pressive: and then he walked away
| My dear" began Mrs. Burlington
and then she stopped; Utterance failed
) her.
well, said Mr.. Crestle, has that
sergeant made a conquest of you, Dai-
sy? First you called him handsome,
then you gave him flowers what will
, YOU do next ?"
80 was that the same sergeant o. said
the humbug innocently.
, ''Of course it was" replied Mrs
Crestle
81 think you are mistaken, Mrs
Crestle," said Mrs. Gen. Burlington
l with dignity.
4 go, come now, said Gen Burlington
+ Indignantly, let us drop the sergeant. ,
And SO the sergeant was dropped
= But some three or four days afterward
2 as the same people were setting in the
same spot, Col. Crestle said
Y There is going to be ball to-nor
= row night"
Q "A ball?" said Daisy, suddenly
"Yes," said Col. Crestle "a bal
- over at Porter Gulch Shall we go %
80, yes, " said Daisy, "by all means.
e Why, Ned, said Mrs. Crestle
, Just think what you are proposing