New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-21

| For a. % timer come back again,
"neD 'De ''"' ''''' Christian Weekly.
AN AFFAIR OF HONOR.
For FIVE and forty years have borne the
name of Peter Smith. Though y0u have
| never heard of me, fatter myself that my
| family name will be familiar to you. am
quiet in my habits, and, believe, not dis.
| posed to interfere with the rights OF other
| men; vet even this did not avail to save me
| some ten years since from becoming in
yolyed in an affair of honor. Let me tell
! You how it happened.
At the time Of which speak was an in
mate of Mrs. Jones' family. use the word
| inmate advisedly, since it was we'll known
that Mrs. Jones never took bOarders. In
| fact, she expressly gave me to understand
| that her only inducement in taking me was
the pleasure she expected to derive from
nv society; that she was far above mer-
cenary considerations. Of course l felt
fat, tered by the compliment thus insinu-
ated. though confessed / was somewhat
surprised. since all mercenary cOnsidera-
tions we're disclaimed, to be charged .
higher rate for DO ard than I ever paid. Still
l did not demur, feeling certain that had
at length found Q home.
Let me describe Mrs. Jones, my hostess.
Physically speaking, l should say that she
came of great family, her proportions
being most aristOcratic. In her demeanOr
toward me she Was always very gracious
and condescending. for which felt proper
" grateful. She always came to the table
arrayed in stiff satin, the very rustic of
which betrayed her consequence, and i'm
pressed me with my comparative insignif-
canoe.
Mrs Jones has . daughter, by name So
phronla In external appearance che was
quite unlike her parent, being exceedingly
tall and slender, while the other was short
and dumpy. In o copy of verses which che
was kind enough to show me, some enthusi-
astic young man had the temerity to call
her sylph. l do not know much about
slyphe, never having seen one to my know
ledge; hut question much whether sylphs
have red hair, or noses with an upward
tendency. l have my doubts also as to
whether sylphs squint. Still l am far from
denying that Miss Sophronia Jones was q
sylph. since that belief evidently afforded
her satisfaction.
Mrs. Jones' table was admirably adapted
for valitudinarian. There he would find
NO dishes of unwhOlesome Understanding
indeed that was calculated to induce Excess
sive eating. If, as some physicians have
declared, health is best preserved by always
rising from the table with an appetite, l
was never in fairer way to secure its bless-
ings than when enjoying the genteel insult
iciency of Mrs. Jones' hospitality.
About a month after my arrival CONVEX
sation turned, at the dinner table, upon q
concert which was to be given the same
evening by SignOra Falfalini. have DOOR
memory for Italian names, but this is is the
name, to the best OF my recollection.
~ wish could CO. ma" said the fair So
phronia.
$50 you could, my dear, said Mrs. Jones,
''if you had gentleman protector"
Thereupon she began to disclaim against
the customs of society which preclude q
lady's attending place of amusement with.
out a gentleman, lamenting that Sophronis
had on this account been more than once
debarred from gratifying her exquisite
taste in music.
OF course could not in politeness re-
frain from offering my escort, although l
should thereby be prevented from attend
ing the weekly meeting of the club OF which
l was member.
SOphrOnia was in great confusion and she
could not think Of troubling me.
began to hope that she would not, but
the mother quickly silenced scruples by say.
ing that she was silly girl Thirty five if
she's q day., and that she must not think of
refusing
SOphronia made no further objections and
! had the pleasure Of paying high price
for q couple of tickets.
Nature not having bestowed on me a
musical ear, could enter but indifferentlv
into the rapture OF my companion, who pro-
nOunced Signora Falfalini's singing divine.
although she considered her quite devoid
OF personal attractions. The signora being
built after the same model as SOphrOnia. /
quite agreed with her in this bit of criti-
cism.
DO you know" simpered my companion,
oonndingiy. II have myself thought at
umes that was destined bv nature for a
prima donna or an opera singer like Signora
Falfalini ~
inquired.
Because ma had such an objection tn
anything of q public character. She felt
that should be demeaned by 80 doing. and
advised me to content myself with con-
to the qualification of nv friends
think" "s' =
mad at times heard shrill voice, in a |
very high key, as l sat in my room, which
nad struck me as far from agreeable.
thought it best, however, without mention.
ing this, to utter simple negative.
lou must not expect much," continued |
oophronia; my voice is rough and unculti. |
satea. Ma is always telling me that l |
IAN never sing except when inspiration
'elzes me. II you will come in Tomorrow
Ike" ~" "o"iu
expressed my thanks tor this disinter.
:eted kindness, and, as the concert was
lhished, proceeded to escort the lady home.
as We we're making our way through the
fowd 1t CHANGED that some one, accident,
NY or otherwise, jostled my companion.
She immediately seized my arm eonyul.
lively. and informed me that she had been
nsulted. VIVA
"Who did it ~ stammered l; for contes.
~ courage is not of the highest order
In reply S0phrOnia pointed out q ANAL
entleman with fierce mustache, who WAS
landing at little distance.
Mentally deciding that it might rot be
rudent to have an alteration v It'll such a