The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1880-11-24

Hubert Spencer. one Of the wealth..
est planters of Mississippi. The col
onel was fiery bleoded gentleman
of the old school in those days, "be
fore the war;" of which we are speak
ing. His grandfather was an inti-
mate and trusted friend Of Washing
ton. His father was a brigadier gen
eral in the last war with Great Bct,
: tain, and the colonel himself was {
graduate at West Point, and ore o
the most dashiug and daring officers
under old "Rough and Ready" il
the picnic of a war which we had
with Mexico a generation ago.
Colonel Spencer was the leader III
some Of the most daring exploits
south Of the Rio Grande. de was
complimented more than once in the
official dispatches and brilliant
military career-that is, as the state
Of the country permi'ted-was be-
fore him, had he chosen to adopt the
military profession but though the
colonel would have preferred fighting
to eating, he resigned his commits
sion in the army, and went home to
bis plantation in Mississippi. He
knew what a horde Of hungry young
officers were clamoring and clatter
clawi0g for positions in the army,
and he preferred they should have
them, especially as he saw a pros
pect of lengthy peace before the
country; period Of idleness for the
army. which would fret such a high
soul as his to death.
He perceived all this, we say. and
went back to his plantation on The
Mississippi, and devoted himself to
his family.
The latter consisted of his only
son and daughter. Hubert, named.
Of course after himself, was ia his
second year at West Point; the wife
was dead long ago; and Geraldine
presided over his household.
One reason why, perhaps, there
was such strong affection between
father and daughter was because
they were so much alike. She was
as high spirited, as independent aid
as proud as he. She was as beauti-
fuI as an houri, with her wealth Of
jet black, waving hair. her brilliant
complexion. her marvellous eyes, her
matchless figure, her patrician fea-
lures, and her wonderful grace of
voice and manner.
Geraldine had numberless admir-
ers and devotees. Many from tue
north, where she had spent a couple
of years, and her own sunny south
produced myriads, but she seemed
to care for none of them.
The colonel used to chide her at
times for the repeated snubbings she
gave her callers, without regard to
their social position and standing.
She would leave them at any time,
and go with her father on a tramp
through the woods or fishing in the
river.
After all, there is nothing 50 cap
tivating in a pretty woman-Or any
woman, for that matter--as an alb
solote independence of character, an
independence which preserves ones
self-respect at all times, and humbles
the pride of the proudest of the lords
of creation. 1t is just that sort of
woman that all are most anxious to
secure for a prize.
One summer afternoon Geraldine /
aud her father were sitting in the
shade of the long, low porch which |.
extended in front Of their house.
The colonel was smoking his cigar,
and the daughter, who was richly /
dressed, was gently rocking back AID /
forth, ard looking off at the yellow
Mississippi. along which high deck
ed steamer was laboriousiy blowing
its way.
A close observer would have seen !
that the beautiful daughter had some
trouble on her mind. She was unea-
sy aud restless. The swaying OF her
chair was fitfnl and uneven. Some /
times she smelled of the fragrant
sprig of magnolia in her haod in a /
nervous way, and her lustrous eyes
seemed 10 be brighter and more fash
ing than usual.
But the colonel noticed nothing;
fo- he knew the superb poise OF his
daughter so well, that he did not be-
lieye pything short of an earthquake
could disturb it.
So he continued placidly smoking
his cigar, while his paper rested idly
in his lap, and be looked off toward
the Mississippi.
Suddenly he rose up.
Where is Sydney ?" he abruptly
asked.
II left him while ago, and he has
not gone home yet. l thought
would like to sit down few minutes
with you"
81 am glad to have you, my daugh
or. Iuf IL daas saau to ma hot wa,