Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1874-09-10
Past all DiShonor.
GChicago Tribune.l

I
a steamboat leaving the wharve'
of n Nv York, whose destination
was Boston. On one of these Oc
casions. just before the boat star
ted, pretty girl Of perhaps IL ol
Is, stepped aboard, inquired fol
the steward, and secured state
room, saying she was going throuot
to Boston. Her manner was easy
and selfpossessed ; yet a certain
| audacious sauciness in her splen-
did brown eyes. the jaunty way
in which she W, re her Turkish hat,
her independent air, and a name
less suggestion of mischief which
appeared to lurk in every move
ment, arrested the Observers at
tention, aud seemed to indicate
that she was proficient beyond bel
years in the worlds knowledge
that ber tutelage, to say the least
had paTtaktn mOre of lenience
than of prudence. Her dress
was rich, and exquisitely becOm
ing, but with no attempt at COD
spicuous ornament. Her hair
was of the same rich brown color
as her eyes, and fell down to her
waist, resting as lovely on her fail
young shoulders as if each sepa.
rate hair were endowed with cleo
trio life.
As we swept out into the Sound.
she came on deck, where most OF
the gentlemen and several ladies
were congregated, and directed a
fusiIlade of small conversation at
the captain, addressing him in a
tone of reckless levity, and with
a familiarity which startled the
ladies' and amused the gentlemen
and otherwise conducted herself
In a manner which left no doubt
as to her social status. In l~sS
than ten minutes, every lady on
board was her avowed enemy, and
not at all afraid to let it be known
but she clattered on III her ro'.
lic>ing way, regardless of smiles
or irowns apparently the ire
deemabIe drvotoe of thoughtltsS-
ness and folly.
We were all on deck, shortly
after tea. admiring the sunset,
which flooded the sea and sky
with a Transforming sPlendur.-
l. WAS gay company not sad
face could be found amongst us.
TIE too intense heat of the day
had subsided. and a soft breeze
la ! sprung up; to breathe the All
was, IN its-lf, an inspiration. Our
irrepressible and too cOnfding
young-lady passenger was there,
and her childish laugh rang out IA
bove the rest She bad selected
the good. natured captain and O9e
or two of his officers as the spe'
cial objects of her alPpant, though
by no means vicinns, raillery ; and
they permitted it, partly from an
acquired habit Of affability toward
all passengers, aud partly because
| they were amused by her irresis-
tible vivacity. The lady passen-
gers. of course, Stunned and kept
aloof from her as from nOXlou,
poison, as if her contact would
breed pestilence. The gentlemen
did likewise, to grea! extent
more, | believe, from tender re-
gard for feminine option than
from any considerable instinct OF
horror.
Suddenly the smile died on heI
/ lips. and her face became mex
pressibly sad and earnest, as she
gazed far ont across the water
Her attitude and expression, as
she stood thus, formed picture
which will never fade in my mem
ory she looked so innocent, SC
childlike, and so intensely sorrow
ful. In moment she turned tC
the captain, with something OF be-
old manner. Reaching up he
delicate white hands, she took holr
of his abundant whiskers, on eaci
side of his face, and asked, will
great solemnity
"Did you ever want to die, cap
tain ?"
"WelI, no. my child" he replied
somewhat surprised at her chang
ed manner. 81 can't say that
ever had great desire to die"
"And il you had such desire
what would you do?"
"Oh 4! in that case. said he.as b
loosed her hands and turned away
81 think as it would be the mos
, available method, | should jun
overheard and drown myself.
, Scarcely had he. finished SPEAK
ing when she whirled, put on
hand on the railing, and leaPe