The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-07-06

for a civility; but did not say thank
YOU The husband touched his hat to
me with cold, proud look, which l
shall never forget.
Il re entered the omnibus, went to
the Burnett House, took a good bath and
breakfast, and then went and heard
some fine music at the beautiful cathe-
dral. My railroad vision I laid away,
with sigh or two, in the storehouse OF
memory.
"At nine o'clock in the evening, left
in the cars for Cairo. The Ohio was
frozen. As I entered the car, my heart
heat aa caught sight of La Signora.
Tie ouly vacant seat was near them. I
received no salutation, and made none.
knew that she saw me; but she did not
raise her eyes. The gentleman looked at
me, as he might at any other traveller,
but without sign of recognition, or any
emotion, unless there was very slight
darlening of the brows. 1 could not see
well by the lamplight. They made their
arrangements like practiced travellers,
and slept, or seemed to sleep. sat still
and thought. DID you ever feel a super
human beauty sinking into your heart,
deeper and deeper, with every moments
presence?
We'll"
"No matter. Don't answer now. 1
must tell nv story. In the morning,
and all day, we were still on the cars. I
dill not intrude even by look. Two or
three times had an opportunity to give
them some slight attentions. I had the
latest New York papers. which loaned
them. 1 brought glass of water, when
there was none in the cars. I was lucky
enough to have some nice oranges, and
the lady was thirsty. AS the day went
on the general grew neighborly. He
spoke very little English. His lovely
wife would talk nothing else. He
changed from Spanish to French, but
she refused to speak more than q word
or two of either, and kept him to his
English, which it was evident she was
determined he should learn.
"She was English by birth. knew it
from many indications. A bred,
we'll bred English lady, of the most re-
fined and delicate type-more Celtic
than Saxon, and more American than
English. according to common notions,
| in her appearance.
cat Sandoval, the junction of the st.
Louis road and the Illinois Central, they
left the train, as did, and we waited to-
gethe- for the Chicago train for Cairo.
There was crowd waiting, little room,
and no supper 1 managed to procure
SON oysters and bottle of claret wine,
which I begged my fellow-voyagers to
share.
"In few hours we were on a magni.
fcent New Orleans steamer. How splen-
did and how comfortable she seemed to
us after our days and nights of the
rough, noisy railroad, 1 need not tell.
The bright saloon-the luxurious furni-
ture of the ladies' cabin-the home look
of the piano-forte and center table, with
vases of flowers and pretty children
the nice table set for parties of eight or
ten, with each passengers card on his
plate. and clean, active colored walters.
all this comfort going under full head
of steam down the mighty Mississippi"
while the banks grew greener and the air
preached the tropics, was something
very enjoyable after the frosts and snow,
and hard travelling of the north.
| "By some good fortune, as / thought
it, found myself ticketed at the side of
La Signors. at table. By an attraction 1
| did not attempt to resist, l was near
her very often. She sang, as if all the
bt auty of her matchless form had found
expression in music. She played not
only with skill. but with soul-with pas
sion; and that take it, is what they
call genius. The general was polite, he
could not be cordial. was blind, or l
should have seen how he idolized his
wife. When l was leaning over the
piano-forte, reveling in the luxury of her
music, he walked the cabin, reading or
smoking his cigar on deck. We sang to-
gether, we played chess. Ibid not mean
to be dishonorable, but behaved badly.
The general ate but little; he drank, not
much, but more than at first; and he
smoked nearly all day.
II do not think La Signors was given
to filtration. Nor do believe. with all
the vanity you give me for hsving, that
she really loved me. No, was fAscin-
ated, charmed, and as Young men are apt
to be, very thoughtless and selfish. She
was pleased with me. We had tastes in
common; and what woman ever failed to
be aattered with admiration?
$50 the days passed. One day, -
walked along the guards overheard
them talking. II was in French.
"'I thought you did not like these
American gentlemen" he said.
"'No, not in general, she replied, very
quietly, but he is An exception
"A few days later, / CHANGED 70 hear
An exclamation from the general, I