Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1880-12-02
THE ROMANCE OF A SHIRT.
The Adventure Of Henry Clay Dean in
the Sherman Household at
Washington City.
A STORY WITHOUT A MORAL.
From the st. Louis Hornet.

CHAPTER 1.
The General of the Army and his
gifted wife have been together hap
oily for over a quarter of a century.
But once during their long married
career was their mutual affection en-
iangered. The cause was not theo-
ogical, as might be supposed, neith-
II was it moral, but as will be seen,
sot the earth earthly" 1t WAS in
he year 1868. The occasion was as
Immediately upon accession of
General Grant to the Presidency he
sent for his brother-in-arms, and in
ormed him that he would send his
lame to the Senate for the General
ship of the Army, and added: ''Sher-
nan, old fell, you are going to take
ny place let me suggest a new uni
'orm; the one you've got on looks
IN shabby. 1 won't nominate you
until you either get that cleaned or
BUY a new one.' Ten days after
ward General Sherman, gorgeously
attired, as had been requested,
emerged from the White House with
The Presidents approval, and upon
reaching the street encountered Hon.
Henry Clay Dean, of Rebels Cove,
Putnam county, Missouri. Mr.. Dean,
as usual, carried with him an extrav-
agant quantity of the sacred soil of
Missouri, supplemented with the dust
and cinders Of Illinois, Indiana, and
Pennsylvania, caught on his trip to
Washington, and, altogether, looked
as though he had taken shower bath
under some enormous pepper castor.
The contrast between the two very
nearly reached the sublime. Sher-
man and Dean had been friends be-
fore the war, but had not met since.
Mr. Dean, not at all abashed by the
attire of the distinguished soldier, ex-
tended his hand, which was taken,
with the remark:
"Hello, Dean, I thought you were
dead"
"Not much," replied Dean "what
put that in your head?'
why" said Sherman, ''you look
as though you had just got out of
the grave, and carried with you all
superintendent dirt.
swell, General" retorted the
Missourian, ''you appear to be
dressed for a first-class burial casket.
When's the funeral?'
''No funeral, old boy; my name
goes to the Senate tomorrow for the
command of the army"
"Glad to hear it, hut where are you
going now?'
"To dinner" said Sherman, look.
ing at his watch. .-.,..,.
"Good, I'll 60 with you. 1 intend
ed to pay my respects to Mrs. Sher.
man, anyhow. By-the-by, Sherman
how the deuce did you manage te
marry such a superior woman?"
''The usual way. Come along
The General and his guest reached
home in few minutes, and the for
mer, passing the door-bell, inserted
his key into the proper orifice anc
ushered Mr.. Dean into the parlor
The latter sat down On one of the
dove colored satin chairs, simply re
marking: "Shernan, that wife o
yours must be devlish accommodate
ing, to allow you the use Of nigh
key, but l suppose you don't keel
such late hours as you used to dc
when you were President Of the Fiftl
Street Railroad in st. Louis, befor'
| the war;
! "S-s-s-sh!" SAID Sherman, ''Dean
1 know my wife will be charmed will
you, but you must not interrupt m!
domestic peace with any of you
d-n st. Louis-stories.' -
| As the General SAID this he rang
little bell that stood on the ormul'
center-table, which was answered b,
the girl in waiting. "Bidelia, say t,
your mistress that / will be. oblige'
by her presence for few p'oments.
Then turning to his guest, the her
of the march to the sea, said: an
dear Dean, my wife, as you hav
probably heard,is a great linguist, a
accomplishment which is frequentl
a great relief to the softer sex Sh
insisted upon translating Bridget in
to Bidelia, as more euphoniou
name for the red-headed girl VIII
has just Disappeared A rustic {
silk garments was heard, and Mr.
Sherman entered the room. "Ellel
my dear,' said her liege lord, 6
take pleasure in introducing to yo
my old friend, Hon. Henry Cla
Dean, of Rebels Cove, Putna
county, Missouri, who dimes with ,
to-day" }
The lady gazed at her husband
resplendent uniform, and then at Il
man who sat on her dove colore'
satin cushioned chair-but / must s
to Lord Byron for a description
the scene: b
she saw
That he was wretched. but she saw not at all.
He rose, and with cold and gentle grasp
He took her hand a moment DER her face
tablet OF unutterable thoughts
Was traced, and then it faded, as it came;
She dropped the hand held, and with slow ST.
Retired, but not as bidding him adieu,
For they did part with mutual smiles"
She, however, tipped her finger
her husband, who followed her
the dining-room, when the followi
colloquy ensued:
"Willlam, who Is that tramp in I
parlol p
my dear Ellen. he is no tran
but one of the most intellectual n
in the Mississippi Valley-Her
Clay Dean"
'sFiddlesticks, William, his mid
7 name no one will dispute, but
! others are forgeries."
"But, my dear
'sNo butts about it, William; y
have invited that man to dinner, q
will not sit at the table. "
can't you take him out into the kit
en-? Bidelia has lots Of cold victnal
"My love, you forget yours
You must recollect that the Pr
l9 dent will send my name to.morl
to the Senate as General Of the
my. / Iwant unanimous confirl
ton, and Mr.. Deanscontrols the d
orrafia hriua diorc in tbnt horJ1,