South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-08-18

without sign OF recognition, or any
emotion, unless there was very slight
darkening of the brows Icould not
see well by the lamplight. They
made their arrangements like prac-
ticed travellers, aud slept, or seemed
to sleep. i sat still and thought.
Did you ever feel superhuman
beauty sinking into your heart, deep.
err and deeper, with every moments
presence
Well
NO matter. Don't answer now, l
must tell my story. In tho morning,
and all day, we were still on the cars.
| did not intrude oven by look.
Two or three times | had an oppor-
tunity to give them some slight at.
tentlons. l had the latest New York
papers, which loaned them. I
brought glass of water. when there
was none III tue cars. | was lucky
enough to have some nice oranges,
and the lady WAS thirsty. AS the
day went OH the General grew neigh
borly. He spoke very little English.
Ills lovely wife would talk nothing
else. lie changed from Spanish 10
French, but she refused to speak
more than word or two of either.
and kept him to his English, which
1t was evident she was determined he
should learn.
She was English by birth. knew
1t by many indications. "A high bred,
well-bred English lady, of the most
refined and delicate type-more Gel
TIC than Saxon, and more American
than English, according to common
notions, III her appearance.
AT Saudovai, the junction Of the
st. Louis road and the Illinois Cen
trail, they left the train, rs did, and
we waited together for the Chicago
train for Cairo. There was n crowd
waiting, little room, ard no supper.
| managed TO procure some oysters
and little bottle OF claret wine. which
begged my fellow-voyagcrs to share.
In few hours we were on mag
niticent New Orleans steamer How
splendid and how comfortable she
seemed to us after our days and nights
OF the rough, noisy railroad, ! need
not tell. The bright saIoom-thc
luxurious furniture OF tie ladies' cab.
ln-the home look of the piano forte
and center table, with vases of flow
crs and pretty children-the nice ia
bic set Tor parties OF eight or ten
with each passengers card on his
plate, and clean, active colored wait
ers, all this comfort going under a
full head OF stoam down the mighty
Mississippi, while the banks grew
greener aud the air grew warmer,
day by day, as we approached the
tropics, was something very enjoya-
bic after the frosts and SNOW and hard
travelling of the north.
by some good fortune, is | thought
it, | found myself tickcted at the side
OF La Signora, at the table. By az
attraction | did not attempt to resist
was near her very often. She sang
as if all the beauty Of her matches
form had found expression in music
She played not only with skill, but
with soul-with passion; and that,
take it, is what they call genius
The general was polite, he could not
be cordial. | WAS blind, or / should
have seen how he idol:zed his wife.
When | was leaning over the piano
forte, rcveling in the luxury OF hcl
music, he walked the cabin, reading
or smoking his cigar on deck. We
sang together, we played chess.
did not mean to be disbmuorab!e. but
behaved badly. The general ate
but little; he drank, not much, bu
more than at first; and he smoked
nearly all day.
Il do not think La Signora was Civ
en- to filtration. Nor do believe
with all the vanity you give me fol
having, that she really loved me. NJ
| WAS fascinated, charmed, and a.
young men are apt to he, very thought
less and selfish. She was pleased Will
me. We had tastes IN common anC
what woman ever failed to be fiat
tered with admiration?
so the days passed. One day, n:
walked along the guards over.
heard them talking. twas in French
Il thought you did not like these
American gentlemen, he said.
''No, not in general size replied
very quietly, but lac il an exception.
"A few days later, Glanced I,
hear an exclamation from the gener
al. / knew | was tie subject Of il
She made a hanglty reply. Never
had she seemed so magnificent as on
that evening. We sang; aud when
the little band OF negro walters came
IN to play, we danced. Mover did |
see so sad a face as lris-when ate,
a long and exhilcrating waltz, in
which / seemed to swim in a sea OF
ecsiacy, ! led her tenderly and gal-
lantly to sofa. Such a sal, despair.
ing look! 1t sank into my heart.
/ but I VIVA futI Of bapr;poss .,,,d L.