Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-07-22
The Red Flag at No. 81.

Cousin Ned from Caiifornia, Nevadt
New Mexico, and all other places be.
yond the Rocky mountains, has beer
paving us a visit You know Just what
Jolly good soul Ned always was. AND
be is Just rs jolly now-as why should
be not be, with an income OF six or seven
thousand yearP Beside that my poor
Georges eighteen hundred hides iH
diminished head. He is handsomer than
ever, too-the same merry brown eyes
and chestnut hair; but, in addition,
an appearance, an air so altogether
distingue that our neighbors al
go to their windows TO gaze after
him. Well, do you know, the mo.
ment he apr Jared i set my heart on him
for our dear old friend Adelaide, who
shall not waste her sweetness on the
desert air if can help it. You know
] always had fancy for matchmaking,
though. to confess the truth, have
never yet scored a success in that line );
my two predestined affinities always fly
off at tangent Just as L flatter myself
il is un fait accomph. (You will per-
ceive / have not forgotten quite all the
French we learned together ut the River
side seminary, notwithstanding my
years of devotion to pies and puddings.
viii keepa little of il out OF respect
for the memory of poor Mademoiselle
Laurent who worked so hard 10 drill it
into me).
l,ut Adelaide and Ned have been cor
,-uonding a year or two; he speaks OF
lI with great respect-as how could he
otherwise, of course ?-and I have
fondly hoped that his mission to the
Fast may have more relation to tho
affairs of the heart than to mining
stocks, as he pretends.
Well, soon after his arrival three
weeks ago, Ned and | were sitting in
the dining-Toom alone; the children
haC started for school, and George had
kissed me and gone downtown, after
Al hours talk with Ned about ranches,
and hurros, and gulches, and canons.
Now that was alone with our visitor
the conversation took a confidential
turu. bordering on the sentimental, and
il pursuance of the idea uppermost in
my mind, told him | thought il
Mysterious, providential. that he had
not fallen Il victim to some bopan IN
rT1ncess, or some bewithing senurita
with no dover but her beauty.
Aud by the way" went on. what
was ever the trouble between you AMI
the captains daughterP"
You remember of course, Julia, how
much we heard at the time about that
aliair-how during the war / used to
read to you, even during study boufs,
the letters had received from brother
Jim, stationed at Fortress Monroe,
giving the details, in Jim's rather
sGiirical style. of the serious Irritation
In progress between Lieutenant Ned,
OF Company G., and Captain Daring
ton pretty daughter, OF the regularsp
And afterward, how some way n
shadow came between them-nobody
could tell how, only that Ned was
TASTY, and had exaggerated ideas of a
mans prerogatives. perhaps, and Miss
Darlington proud and shyP So it was
forgotten.
And now this same lieutenant, after
hsir- breadth escapes from shot and
smell, and scalping Apaches, sat there
IN an easy chair by my Baltimore
Hea er and actually turned pale because
no ntioned the captains daughteri"
Love is indeed la grande passion.
l.. had nothing TO communicate,
how ever; bade me consider that we
we're always great fools at twenty-one,
and likely at that time to get caught in
a trap, or, on the other hand, to throw
our chances of happiness away, Just "a
1t chaDced 10 be; he became silent, and
had not the heart TO rally him as he
sat there watching the floating smoke
of his cigar with far-off look in his
eyes knowing IS | did that he had
gone back fifteen years, and that he was
walking the moonlight beach with
pretty Lottie Darlington, while the
band of the regiment played in the dis
ance.
From the sublime to the ridiculous
itI- always my fate. dear Julia. Bar
3D. Hfy, the iactotum of the neiRhborhood,
tapped at the window. and as raised
the sash, "a foIne morning. num-" said
ht; there's red flag out at Number
81. and / thought I'd be after comm 10
if'i ye. 'Tis foine house, and foine
Ieady, more's the pity" You zee
Barney knows my weakness. and he
had seen me few days before an ami
mated bidder mt an auction In the
ndghboIhood. Thank you, Barney !:
] think Iii be on hand" replied, clos
ing the window.
A foine leddy," TO be sure; had
often met her-a fair. faced woman.
pihiDly and iastefully dressed, walking
with two charming children. Her
house seemed the abode OF peace and
comfort, so far rs the passer-by could
Judge. and what could have compelled
the breaking up OF 30 cosy an establish
mtDtP At all events would Lot stop
TO speculate--it was possible here was
my opportunity to secure n handsome
sideboard at . bargain. As wished
20 be on hand in time 10 look throuob
tho house before the sale began. / aaked
Ned TO have the goodness TO excuse me
on hour or 30.
Oh. will go with you, Mrs. Too