Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-05-12
Select Story.
MY PAS S E N G 4 R .
BY sYLvANUs COBB, JR.

Ny ship cleared from Liverpool, and
l was bound for the Indies. In the
cabin l had some dozen passengers,
most of whom were army officers who
had been home on leave of absence.
Besides these, | had a widow woman
named Legrand, and her son, whom
she called Walter Walter Legrand
was, according to the register, five and
twenty years Of age. He was very
slight IN his build, or at least he
seemed so, when compared with the
stout infantry officers who surrounded
him; but there were no sign Of feeble
ness about him. He was of medium
height, and smaller than the ordinary
class of men. His hair was long and
curly, and as black as night. His eyes
were large and full, and burned like
orbs of light set in jet. His counten-
ance was very pale, and the brow,
which was much higher and fuller than
is often seen, was strongly ly marked by
the blue veins which stood boldly out
upon it. His features were regular,
and emlnently handsome-the nose
prominent and straight, and the lips
very thin and colorless. His hands
were small, and as delicate as babes
His whole appearance indicated the
close. answering student, and | think
he had the least of the animal man IN
his physiognomy of any person whom
l have ever seen Mrs. Legrand must
have been married when very young,
for she could not then have been more
than forty years of age, and she was
still as beautiful as ever. A more love-
ly woman is seldom seen. Her hair
was of golden hue, and her eyes
seemed made for the abode of smiles
and-love, though ittwas now oftener
sad and downcast. Her husband had
died in India, and she was now going
out to settle the estate, she having an
only brother still there. Her husband
had heen colonel of cavalry, and a
brave and honest man.
Mrs. Legrand had one female serv-
ant to accompany her, and together
they occupied a small state-room which
she had fitted up, with my consent, at
her own expense.
We found Walter to be a very
agreeable companion, though he was
reserved and sedate. He could con-
verse freely on subjects of general in
terest, and at times he was startlingly
eloquent. For one, enjoyed his con
versation much, though | sometimes
noticed that some of the military pas
sengers were inclined to wear sneer
upon their lips when he went deeply
into moral philosophy.
Matters passed on quite pleasantly
for several weeks. To be sure, at
times, young Legrand received treat
ment from one or two Of the passen-
gers which l thought meant insult, and
which [ should have resented, but he
took no notice of it, and so | did not
make myself uneasy. One man in par
ticular seemed to dislike the youth. 1t
was an infantry captain named Savage.
He was profane, reckless man, and
he seemed to hate Legrand simply be-
cause he was SO unlike himself. Le-
grand never laughed, nor even smiled
at any Of his profane, vulgar Jokes, but,
on the contrary, plainly showed by his
looks that he did not like them.
We had cleared the southern capes
OF Africa, and were standing up into
the Indian Ocean. One day at the
dinner table Captain Savage allowed
himself to become more profane than
usual. Neither of the females we're
present, and he launched out into
course of stories and jests which were
indecent in the extreme. The wine
circulated freely, and his boon compan-
ions seemed to enjoy the sport hugely.
Several times Legrand cast reprov-
ing glance at Savage, and the latter
noticed 1t, but instead of becoming
more decent, he only tried the harder
to displease and annoy the quiet pas
senger.
At length the infantry captain be-
came so outrageous,y profane and vul-
gar that Legrand would stand it no
longer, and quickly moving his chair
back. he arose from the table and
moved toward the door.
Come back here shouted Savage
But the young man took no notice
of him.
Come back, / say,
Legrand did not turn, but with a
steady step he kept on, and went upon
deck.
At length the officers finished their
dessert, and most of them went on
deck Savage went up, and as soon as
he saw Legrand standing by the wealth