New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-11-22

sufiicient airs 40 being Of the righteous.
Sergeant Tourche's wife, Dinah, for H.
stance, held herself infinitely above Disey IN
the ranks OF the elect, on the score OF being
Baptist and Of letting no inducement
prevail with her 70 assist at the occasional
Aunt Disey meekly bore the naughty as
sump,ions Of Diaah. and made no 'preten.
sions, but whenever any gayety was Tor
ward, and her services were required ehe
cheerfully gave them without fear OF the
consequences, and was much groaned over
and bewaileG by the neighborine Phariseee.
When, with the kind wish to tighten the
monotony Of garrison life for the coloneis
pretty daughter, the officers devised ball
in her honor, the adjutant sent iOs Olsey.
and asked:
will You wait on the ladies, or have
they scared you out of it, sunty!
''Bress yo', masean she answered. "dey
KNIT skeer me! don't bleib muffin OF de
sort. Dey uns is broughten up dat away,
eab. Knit skeer me"
Much ingenuity had been brought TO bear
upon the decoration OF the old, disused hos
pital, and had 60 disposed and eked out tho
scan: material. therefor, that it was quite
brilliant scene upon which Sylvie and her
mother were ushered. Tho bare walls OF
the long room were hidden with bunting,
and adorned with the company guidons;
the weather-stained fafters were eEbow-
cred with bOughs and garlands OF live oak;
The chandeliers, composed OF pork barrel
hoops, were cleverly concealed under
glossy macs of magnolia leaves; and a law
ish supply Of Tissue paper and candles
added splendor to the scene.
Or dais constructed Of empty mess bar
rels, festOened round and about. past
recognition, with banners, curiously
assorted orchestra Of fife. drum. bugle,
guitar and ACCORDION, provided music that
was excellent in time and tune.
The hosts we're delightful in their cOurte.
sizes; the guests delighted. Mrs. Kent gFa-
ciously opened the ball; and her daughter,
whose flying feet knew little pause. paid her
friends the compliment Of heartily enjoying
the entertainment they had been 1t such
kind pains to provide.
But one coptretemps threatened. As
Sylvie stood tanning herself after q waltz
conscious Of an approaching group, and .
new conner gorgeous in fresh uniform (,nost
of the gold lace and blue about her had
seen service, and grown tarnished). dark
hand, thrust between between the flags that
curtained of the dressing room. pulled i'm
Fortunately at her skirt. She slipped
within the folds: and there was Disey, her
face strangely vivid, her frame shaking with
palsy.
..Why, aunty! What is it! Are you ill!''
exclaimed Sylvie. sstOnished and alarmed.
The woman put up her hands smplor'
.Hu.h, chile! Oh. dom let him come
anirh yo'! Dom let him touch yo'!'' she
whispered fearfully. dat ar's 'Massa
Woods-de driver wha' hunted my pc'r boy
Jack like he was wild beast. wild de dogs
de driver wha' sole my pol pooty Marceiine
down Z N'Yorleans. Oars blood on his
hans. Dom yo' touch him. Miss Sylvle"
lis he the man who gave you these
stripesl' Syivie laid her dainty. gloyed
hand tenderly on the SCARED shoulders.
'Yee. honey. dat him."
Sylvie returned. and met the impending
Introduction with pale tace. slight bow.
and eyes that looked upflinchinsly into
those Of the ex.Overseer. who was cqriOusly
disturbed by their stern accusation. Her
hands were unencumbe:ed by fan or bou.
quet: but they remained quietly folded, and
she made no response TO the extended palm
of the stranger. He had come intending to
ask the favor Of dance: but he thought
better of it. aud quietly backed out OF the
presence.
..How's this, Wood'sl" q companion.
asked. AREN'T you down for turn with
the belle Of the EVENING""
mot ?" said Woods contemptuous1y.
''She amt my style. Give me the Southern
manner. Dobbins: them's the kind for my
taste. Never did like your high talutlu',
stuck up Northern girls, anyhow y
"Why, Woods what are Your sisters I"
That's different thing :" said Woods.
And so. indeed. it was. as Syivie might
have known. had she happened to remem.
ber-how often Woods wondered it she
did "a pair Of smartly dressed girls, who
worked week days in the factory not far
from the home for which she longed. and
were won. to appear on Sundays in the vii.
iage church. resplendent in cheap '.jewelry"
and artificial flowers. Years ago the colonel
had known and forgotten the story of the
scape grace boy Of the poor family on the
mountain. who. after some particularly
reprehensible escapade. found it wisdom to
let his native place know him no more. and
quietly Disappeared: even the colone!'s
wife. who had betriended them in other
days. had long lost sight Of them, and did
not dream OF assOciatiDg the name OF Cap.
tain Woods with tina: OF runaway Bill.
For his part, most of the experiences of
his career had been Of the sort which warned
him to let bygones rest; and he certainly
had no wish to claim old acquaintanceship.
when to do go, would be to recall q past that
had 60 little to say in its favor. He chose
to begin afresh, and knew no reason why he
should not make himself agreeable to the
colonel's family. beyond the fact that Sylvie
never would give him q chance. Only the
faintest of bows had she tor him, when rec.
Ognition was inevitable; never q single
word; and there was something in her way
of coldly averting her eyes. as it the sight
Of him was an offense. that enraged him.
and inspired rough speeches against
.'haughty Northern aristocrats" in general.
''She can be civil enough, if she wants to,
even to niggers..' he observed viciously. see-
ing her more than once enter Disey's cabin.
''Wonder what's the matter with me- !:
can't be possible she remembered don't
believe she ever took good square look at
Inc in them days: and lm certain she hain't
since we was introduced"
The colonel. whose mind was much en-.
crossed with ordnance, boards OF survey,
courtsmartial and the various duties DO.
longing TO his position. had little leisure to
bestow upon the small matters that went
to make up the daily life Of his household.
Therefore he was considerably astounded
at an announcement that was made to his
daughter one evening as he sat smoking
cigarettes in the yeranda, and she swung
in the !ow-hung hammock beside him.
singing old-:ime ballads that he loved to
hear.
Dick shan,bled ont. saluted awkwardly
and lisped lpoor fellow: his teeth were al!
gone from the scurvy. from which. two
years before. the regiment had suffered Sc.
vereiy. because no one happened to know
that the sea kale there Astounding was an
edlblej-
"Mith Thy!vv. Aunt Mary thay NTH Fan
done gone sootht in Math' Capt'n'th quar-.
terth.'
'What's :hat!' exclaimed the colonel.
Miss Fan gone to roOst in the captains
quarters!'
"Yeth, thah, Math CunI.'
'.Who OF what is Miss FAM"
''Young mithuth' lily dom'nick, thah.
Math Cun'l.'
..Take Miss Fan to the guardhouse. Dick"