The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-03-03
CHOSEN.

; 01FaiuiHS spencer was the onIY daugh
| ter of the well known Colonel Huber
Spencer, one of the wealthiest planters
/ of Mississippi. The Colonel was fiery
: blooded gentleman of the old school il
: those days, before the war, of which
we are speaking. His grandfather was
! an intimate and trusted friend of Wash
ington. His father was a brigadier
e general in the last war with Great Brit
ain, and the Colonel himself was a grad
uate of West Point, and one of the most
/ dashing and daring officers under old
; trough and ready" in the picnic of a
war which we had with Mexico a gen
GRAFTON ago.
Colonel Spencer was the leader in
some of the most daring exploits south
of the Rio Grande. He was compli-
mented more than once in the official
dispatches and a brilliant military ca
reer-that is, as the state of the coun-
try permitted-was before him, had he
chosen to adopt the military profession
but though the Colonel would have pre-
ferred, fighting to eating, he resigned
; his4commission In the army, and went
hope to his plantation in Mississippi
Heknew what a horde of hungry young
officers were clamoring and clatter-claw-
ing for positions in the army, and he
preferred they should have them, espe-
cially as he saw a prospect of a lengthy
pe;tce before the country; a period of
idleness for the army, which would fret
such high soul as his to death.
He perceived all this, we say, and
went back to his plantation on the Mis-
sissippi, and devoted himself to his
family.
The latter consisted of his only son
and daughter. Hubert, named, of
course, after himself, was in 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 high-spirited,
as Independent and as proud as he. She
was as beautiful 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 admirers
OONOICCSs HUN IlC
where she had spent couple of years,
and her own sunny south produced my
riads, but she seemed to care for none of
them.
The Colonel used to chide her some
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 tramp through the woods or
fishing in the river.
After all, there is nothing so capti-
waiting in a pretty woman-or any wo-
man, for that matter-as an absolute |
independence of character, an indie
pendence 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
prize.
One summer afternoon Geraldine and |
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 and forth, and looking off
at the yellow Mississippi, along which
high decked steamer was laboriously |
blowing its way.
A close observer would have seen
that the beautiful girl had some sore trou-
BILE on her mind. She was uneasy and
restless. The swaying of her chair was
ftful and uneven. Sometimes she
smelled of the fragrant sprig of magno
liza in her hand in a nervous way, and
her lustrous eyes seem to be brighter |
and more flashing than usual.
But the Colonel noticed nothing; for
he knew the superb poise of his daugh-
ter, so well, that he did not believe any
thing short of an earthquake could dis
turb it.
So he continued placidly smoking his
cigar, while his paper rested idly in his
lap, and he looked off toward the Mis-
sissippi.
Suddenly he rose up.
"Where is Sydney" he abruptly
asked.
81 left him while ago, and he has
not gone home yet. [ thought | would
like to sit down a few minutes with
you"
81 am glad to have you, my daugh-
ter but it does seem to me that you
treat some of your callers with rude
ness"
"Then if were they" said the proud
girl, touching the magnolia to her nose,
~ wouldn't make callers of myself"
81 should think not, commented the |
Colonel. with little sniff at the curious
expression she flung at him; 81
have a very high regard for Sydney,
Geraldine"
"Have you ?" she asked with an in
difference which, in reality, was as
sumed, though her father did not per-
ceive it. "What is there about him
for you to admire ?"
"Well, he is the only surviving son
of my intimate deceased friend, Captain |
Williams of the army. The Captain |
was one of the bravest and noblest men |
who ever trod this footstool, and Sgd
ney's looks and manner make me feel |
sure he is simply another edition of his |
father. He has fine education, is |
manly looking, and is going to make his |
mark in the world He has practiced |
law only two years, and has a reputa- |
ton as high as many who are double his |
years. like Sydney very much.
"More than any one who comes
here?" asked the daughter, holding the |
magnolia again to her nose, while she
glanced furtively at her unsuspicious
father"
"WelI, yes he returned. 81 can
say do But why isn't he here?" he
added, looking sharply around.
'sHe is waiting for me"
''Didn't see him dressed up in some
outrageous suit, something to match
this highbred style of your make ~ ask
ed the father, with an amused but
puzzled expression.
ssIf Won saw him at all during the last /