The Russellville Democrat., 1880-11-25
THE RED FLAG AT NO. 54.
From Mrs. Gray to Mrs. Thompson.


 From Mrs. Gray to Mrs. Thompson.
 Cousin Ned, from California, Nevada, New Mexico, and all other places beyopl, inc Rocky Mountains, has been pa hns ms n visit. You know just what ,ollSy cood soul Ned always was, ana. be is ;ust ss jolly now-as why shou' d he not be be with an income of Sf 900 or S7.0oo :, year? Beside that. my poor Georges $l,S0O hides It's diminished head. He is handsomer eAan ever, too-the same merry Drown eyes and chestnut hair; but Tn addition an appearance, an air so sft ft.ogether distingue that our neighbors .all 70 to their windows to gaze after him. Nell, de you know, the moment he ap- peared I set my heart on him for our Hear old friend Adelaide, who shall not waste her sweetness on the desert air if can help it. You know always had a aancy for match-making, though, to con fess the tluth, have never yet scored a ssnccess in that line; my two predestined sffinities always fly off at a tangent just as hatter myself it is un fait accompli. You will perceive 1 have not forgotten quite all the French we learned together at the Riverside Seminary. Notwith- standing my years of devotion to pies i and puddings, will keep little of it Hout of respect for the memory of poor 4 Mademoiselle Laurent, who worked SO hard to drill it into mel
 But Adelaide and Ned have been cor responding a year or two; he speaks of her with great respect--as how could he otherwise, of course?-and have fondly hoped that his mission to the East may have more relation to the affairs of the heart than to mining stocks, as he pre- tends
 Well, soon after his arrival three weeks ago, Ned and I were sitting in the diniBg-room alone; the children had started for school, and George had kiss ed me and gone down town, after an 1 hours talk about ranches, burros, and gulches, and canons. Now that I was alone with our visitor, the conversation took confidential turn, bordering on the sentimental, and, in pursuance of the idea upperfnost in my mind, I told hin I thought it mysterious, providen- tal, that he had not fallen victim to some bananza princess, or some bewitch- ing Senorita, with no dover but her beauty.
 And, by the way" I went on, what was ever the trouble between you and the Captains daughter?"
 You remember, of course, Julia, how much we heard at the time about that affair-how, during the war, loved to read to you, even during study hours, the letters l had received from Bro. Jim, stationed at Fortress Monroe, giving the details, i'll Jim's rather satirical style, of theserious filtration in progress between Lieut. Ned, of Company c, and Capt. Datrington's pretty daughter, of the regulars? And afterward, how some way shadow came between them--no- body could tell how, only that Ned was nasty, and had exaggerated ideas of a mans prerogatives, perhaps, and Miss Darlington proud and shy. And so it was forgotten.
 And now this same lieutenant, after hairbreadth escapes from shot and shell, and scalping Apaches, sat these in an easy chair, by my Baltimore heater, and actually turned pale because 1 mention ed the Captains daughter" Love is indeed la grande passion.
 He had nothing to communicate, how ever; bade me consider we were always great fools at 21, and likely at that time to get caught in trap: on the other hand, to throw our chances of happiness away, just as it chanced to be; he became silent, and had not the heart to rally as he sat there watching the floating smoke of his cigar, with far-oH look in his eyes-knowing, as did, that he had gone back 15 years, and that he was walking the moonlight beach with pretty Lottie Darlington, while the band of the regiment played in the distance.
 From the sublime to the rediculous- it is always my fate, dear Julia. Barney the factotum of the neighborhood, tap ped at the window, and as l raised the sash,
 "A foine morning, num-" said he there's a red flag out at No. 54, and thought I'd be after comin' to tell ye 'Tis a foine house, and foine teddy mores the pity"
 You see, Barney knows my weakness and he had seen me few days before an animated bidder at an auction in the neighborhood.
 Thank you, Barney; think I'll be or hand,D 1 replied, closing the window.
 "A foine leddy," to be sure; had ofter met her-a fair-iaced woman; plainly anc tastefully dressed, walking with two charming children. Her house seemed the abode oi peace and comfort, so fal as the passer-by could judge, and what could have compelled the breaking up ol So fine an establishment? At ali events would not stop to speculate--lt wal possible here was my opportunity tc secure a handsome sideboard at bar gain. As wished to be on hand il time 10 look through the house before the sale began, asked Ned to have the goodness to excuse me for an hour or so
 "Oh, l will go with you, Mrs. Toodles, ne said quite gayly, and ran up stairs fol his hat and cane.
 So off we went to No. 54, where tho flaming flag announced the desecratioi of household gods. We were admitted by the man in charge of the sale; ant ; such charming abodel Not down right curiosity shop, the effect of decor atiye art run mad, but such taste ant ingenuity everywhere visible. People with shrevd hard faces. boarding.hous' keepers, second hand men,7 eymg th. pretty enTayipgs and pretty water col