Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-08-01

NJ. 40.
ton did not attempt to resist, I wa
near her very often. She sang, ~ IL al
the beauty Of her matchless form ha(
found expression in music. She playeC
not only with skill, but with sou1-witl
passion and that, I take 1t, IL wha
they call genius. The general was po
lite, ne could not be cordial. wa
blind, or should have seen how b,
idolized bis wife. When I was leanine
over the piano forte, Yeveling in the luz
ury OF her music, he walked the cabin
reading or smoking his cigar on deck
We sang together, we played chess.
did not mean to be dishonorabIe, but
behaved badly. The general ate bu
little he drank, not much, but NOR
than at first and he smoked nearly al
day; - >.
to filtration. Nor do / believe, with al
the vanity You give me for having, tha,
she really loved me. No, I was fasci
mated, charmed, and a. young men ar,
apt to be, very thoughtless and selfish
CAV 80 RAG0oC0 Will 040s V0 u01
tastes in common; and what woman
ever failed to be flattered with admira
ton? y
$50 the days passed. One day, as
walked along the guards overheard
them talking. It 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 to hear
an exclamation from the general.
knew was the subject of it. See made
a naughty reply. Never had she seem
ed so magnificent as on that evening =
We sang and when the little band of
negro walters came In to play, we
danced. Never did see so sad q face as
his-when after q long and exhilerat-
ing waltz, in which seemed to swim in
a sea of ecstacy, led her tenderly and
gallently to sofa. Such q sad, despair.
ing look 1t sank into my heart, but I
was full of happiness and drove 1t away.
I had done nothing more than is done
every day in our society. It was mere
Irritation. swear to you, I had not the
thought Of any thing more. I do not
know what I might have thought or
wished, or attempted had there been
any encouragement. but there was none.
The more I saw of La Signors, the more
self possessed she appeared to be In her
honor and purity. She yielded for once,
at least, to the customs Of the society in
which she lived, and was indulging in
AN innocent f1irtation.'
"It was easy to imagine it more. The
general saw US often from distance, as
he entered the cabin. My manner was
free and impassioned. She was kind
and gracious, and innocently, but most
thoughtlessly happy, as she was gifted
and beautiful. She should have known
II should have known that the consci-
business of his age might have rankled
in a 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 such good child!
1--WE passed these long, desolate shores
through whose forests the devastating
flood rushes ever, ever on. One morn
ing our steamer rounded to and made q
landing at Natchez. The night before
we had been very gay. The general
as I said good night, and kissed the
jeweled white hand kindly held out to
me-was more pale ahd ghastly than 1
ever had seen him. He was not at
breakfast next morning. I saw him
rapidly pacing the hurricane deck.
lila Signora and I had q bargain to
90 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 delight.
II don't know how it was, but my
heart was heavy, AZ we walked over the
the gang plank at the Natchez landing,
remembered the pale, sad face. But
I was too intoxicated with the beauty
that seemed to envelop me, like an at
mosphere, to have the impression last.
1--WE got our roses and came on
board. AS we entered the cabin, the
black chamber-maid met Us, wringing
her hands, and wild with CONSERVATION.
"'Oh, massa! U mistress y she ex-
claimed; 'whar's de captain ? Thar's q
man overheard! know it's q man.
They needn't tell me it's q billet of
wood. Don't I know a man when I
see him?'
ST 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 flood far
down the stream, but near enough to be
distinctly seen, the pale face of the gen.
eral. He threw up his arms and sank
beneath the surface, and was never
seen again.
"With one wild shrek she sank into
sWoon. The woman took her from
nv arms and bore her to the stateroOm.
I 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
the dead. On the after part of the hur-
ricane deck, found the generals
watch, pooket-bo0k aud miniature of
La SignOra.
"Seventy miles above New Orleans,
on the beautiful coast, which after the
desolation of the Thousand miles above,
opens upon the traveller like q fairy
land, there CLEANS among the orange
groves, the white walls Of . convent OF
the Sacret Heart. As we neared it, the
whistle blew q single of land. The
chamber-maid came to me with re-
Quest that would come aft and see
the lady. ! bad not seen her. She had
not left her stateroom. When entered
the cabin where she stood, dressed in
black, with black veil, ready to land,
I scarcely knew her-so pale, 80 ghostly
pale. and her eyes red with weeping.
"She held out her hand to me-the
tears gushed afresh.
"'Forgive me- she said; forgive me,
my friend, and pray that God will for
give me. I was educated with the la
dies of the Sacret Heart. I have no
mother on earth but them. My folly
has murdered the best of men, who
loved me more than life. I have no re:
proach for you-the fault was all my
own. I am going to ask these ladies to
give me an asylum God bless you
"She gave me little cross. I led her
across the gapg.plank, dropped tear
upon her hand, and took my last look
Of one of the lovliest of woman on
earth, who in one little year was an
angel in heaven
HI don't know. Write it out, at any
rate. 1t may keep some young fellow
from being q fool. 1t may make some
beautiful young wife more cOnsiderate. "
And 80 I have written 1t.
A friend told good story the other
day-When in the country last summer
she picked a sunf1ower In the garden
and brought it into the house. Meet
49, tha 1ord1odv IN fha s3nOrafan abe