New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-04-05
For the New Orleans Repu siican.i
LIZZIE,
BY +. A. B.

q My acquaintance with Lizzie, or Nine. Ii
y zie as she was styled by the people OF I'll
+ house, began when l occupied a furnshe
q room in the city of Lafayette-now Fourt
| District of New Orleans--in the summer
lS49 She too rented a room i'll the sam
house, but it was on the back gallery an
t quite small and cheap one.
saw her every day from my windo'
which overlooked her door, sitting at wor
embroidering, sewing or making pape
flowers, by which occupations she earne
her living and as there was something il
her pale sad face which interested me il
spite of myself, it soon grew to be my Gus
tom in the afternoons when my days worl
was done, to chat with her, so our acquaint
ance gradually ripened into friendship.
Although curious to learn her histor,
and to fathOm the causes which had led g,
charming and intelligent woman to living
such a secluded ife-tor she never wen
out of doors-it was impossible for me tt
obtain the slightest clue from her, as she
invariably became reserved and apparent
ly distressed the moment the subject was
touched upon, no matter how communica
tive she had been before.
| That she had been beautiful in her youth
was easy to be seen, and everything she
said and did gave evidence of refined
education and the habit Of mixing with the
| higher classes of society. Although then
apparently about forty-fve, and quite gray,
she was still most attractive woman, not
outstanding her care to dress so plainly
and to leave out from her toilet every thing
calculated to attract. With large black
and sparkling eyes, well formed mouth and
perfectly regular face, small hands and
feet, and graceful though rather stout
figure, she would pass in any assembly as
lady to be looked twice upon and not soon
forgotten.
She seemed to have as much work as she
could do at all times, in spite of the fact
that she never went out to seek it; and it
was my opinion that the people of the
house made a good thing by specializing
upon her work, as it was through them that
all her business with the outer world was
transacted.
All they could tell me concerning her
was that she came there one day and en-
gaging the room she then occupied, moved
her few articles of furniture in and COM
menced the life she was then leading. At
that time, they stated, she was freq uently
to be seen in tears as she bent over her
but she never complained nor
sought consolation, and in time appeared
to grow more calm and resigned. She had
lived thus fourteen years when came to
room there, and they expressed themselves
as certain that Madame Lizzie had money,
other than that which the man of the house |
had put out at interest for her, and that, |
were she disposed she could enter the best |
society in the city.
l called her Lizzie at her own request,
after we had known each other for couple |
If months.
Although old enough to be your
MOTHER she would say, ~ do not like
young folks to treat me as an old woman.
Besides, want friend, am so lonely. |
Call me Lizzie, as if 1 were your sister, So
acceded to her wish. l often asked her
% accompany me out into the world, but
Invariably her reply was: You know that
never 90 out" To ask her why was to
make her sad for the balance of the day
tten a week-and to shut her out from my
Ociety.
Like the majority Of strangers in New
orleans, became victim of Yellow Jack
he first summer, and believe that if it had
ct been for the skillful nursing of Lizzie l
hould have died. She never left my bed
ide for the four days the fever was upon
TENDED me with more than mothers
are, preparing my medicines and diet with |
er own hands, and watching every symp-
ON with vigilance that showed devoted |
ttachment. Therefore, it need not surprise
ny one that l should have come to love |
lizzie. Not with the love of young man
u his lady love; but the affection of
brother, or that of a sou to his |
lOther. She was so quiet, so dignifed
nd SO kind, that to have had any
Their feeling for her would have appeared
, me almost sacrilege had no secrets
ON her, and in my then lonely condition
companion like her was of incalculabIe
enefit to me, for she was my guide and cd
User. So when my father died and my
lother came to live in New Orleans, l
ndeavored to pursuade Lizzie to live
18th us, but this she refused to do, while
bedding many tears at parting from me,
nd exacting promise that l would visit {
er as often as possible.
Years had flown by, and was married
ian and lived in another quarter of the
ty scores of squares from my old rooms in
lafayette. l still visited Lizzie but not ,
time and the cares of the main
ainence Of family having some what cool
the ardor, but not entirely obGterated
~ affection for her, when late one cold and | {
,ormy night my door bell was rung with I
iolence indicating, at the least, Impotence.
he servant was awakened. and upon 60 {
lg to the door was pushed aside by veil ,
woman, who asked in short, quick accents
see me, and preceding the servant, who ,
vain attempted to detain her, came un- ,
to my bed chamber. 1t was {
lizzie.
My establishment at recognizing her was
tense. IL
"Get up, Monsieur F." said she $50 she
ways called me in the old time;)" II must
ave some private conversation with you"
y wife was alarmed, and having never :
zen LIZZIE, offered to oppose my doing SO; 9