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

''It was easy to imagine it more. The
general saw us often from a distance, as
he entered the cabin. My manner was
free and impassioned. She was kind and
gracious, and innocently, but most
thoughtlessly happy, rs she was gifted
and beautiful. She should have known
4 should have known that the con-
seriousness of his age might have ranked
in sensitive spirit.
''She loved him and honored him, and
trusted him too much.
''My good general she would say,
he is little cold and austere in society
but sach good child!
1--WE passed these long, desolate
shores, through whose forests the devas-
Eating flood rushes ever, ever on. One
morning our steamer rounded to and
made Il landing at Natchez. The night
before we had been very gay. The gen.
eral as 1 said goodnight, and kissed
the jeweled white hand kindly held out
to me-was more pale and CHASTITY than
ever had seen him. He was not at
breakfast next morning. 1 saw him rap
idly pacing the hurricane deck.
LA Signora and had bargain to
go on shore together at the next landing
and try to get some flowers. The
weather was like June, and she saw the
roses in blossom, with child's de-
light.
II don't know how it was, but my
heart was heavy, as we walked over the
gang plank at the Natchez landing. re-
membered the pale, sad face. But was
too intoxicated with the beauty that
seemed to envelop me, like an atmos-
phere, to have the impression last.
"We got our roses and came on board.
As we entered the cabin, the black
cham ber-maid met us, wringing her
hands. and wild with CONSERVATION.
"'Oh massa! o mistress! she ex-
claimed; 'whar's de captain? Thar's a
man overheard! I know it's a man.
They needn't tell me it's billet of
wood. Don't know man when see
him?'
ct did not believe her-still, with an
underlined apprehension that seized us
both, we ran aft. The moment we got
to the nursery-windows in the stern,
there rose from the boiling food, far
down the stream, but near enough to be
seen distinctly, the pale face of the gen.
eral. He threw up his arms and sank
beneath the surface, and was new er seen
again.
with one wild shrek she sank into a
swoon. The woman took her from my
arms and bore her to the stateroom.
rushed on deck. The alarm had been
given-the yawl was pulling down the
stream, but it was useless. The body of
the drowned man was sweeping along
the broad, deep, turbid river, never to
be found, perhaps, till the sea gives up
her dead. On the after part of the hur-
ricane-deck, found the generals watch,
pocket book and miniature of La Sig
nora. 81
Seventy niles above New Orleans
on the beautiful coast, which after the
desolation of the thousand miles above,
opens upon the traveller like a fairy
land-there CLEANS among the orange
groves, the white walls of convent of
the Sacred Heart. AS we neared it, the
whistle blew a signal of land. The
chamber-maid came to me with re-
quest that would come aft and see the
lady. had not seen her. She had not
left her stateroom. When l entered the
cabin where she stood, dressed in black,
with black veil ready to land, l
scarcely knew her-so pale, so ghostly
pale. and her eyes red with weeping.
''She held out her hand to me-the
tears gushed afresb.
"Forgive me- she said; forgive me,
my friend land pray that God will forgive
me. was educated with the ladies of
the Sacred Heart. have no mother on
earth but them. Ny folly has murdered
the best of men, who loved me more
than life. I have no reproach for you
the blame was all my own. l am going
to ask these ladies to give me an asylum
God bless you
''She gave me little cross. led
her across the gang.plank, dropped a
tear upon her hand, and took my last
look of ore of the loveliest Of woman on
earth, who in one little year was an
angel in heaven"
II don't know. Write it out, ct any
rate. It may keep some young fellow
from being fool. It may make some
beautiful yourg wife more considerste. "
And an 1 have written IT,