New Ulm weekly review., 1882-03-29

Was UcCefunneu ne SlOulu learn.
.'She was English by birth. I knew
It from many indications. A high-bred,
well-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.
''At Sandoval, the junction of the St.
Louis road and the Illinois Central, they
left the train, as did, and we waited
together for the Chicago train for Cairo,
There was crowd waiting, little room,
and no supper. I managed to procure
some oysters and a bottle of claret wine,
which begged my fellow-voyagers to
share.
''In a few hours, we were on mag
niicent New Orleans steamer. How
splendid and how comfortable she SEEM
ed to us after our days and nights of the
rough, noisy railroad, I need not tell.
The long, bright saloon-the luxurious
furniture of the ladies' cabin-the home
look of the piano-forte and centre-table,
with vases of flowers and pretty child
ren-the nice table set for. parties of
eight or ten, with each passengers card
on his plate, and clean, active colored
waiters-all this comfort, going under
full head of steam down the mighty
Mississippi while the banks grew green
er and the air grew warmer, day by day,
as we approached the tropics, was some
thing very enjoyable after the frosts,
and snow, and hard travelling of the
North.
''By some good fortune, as I then
thought it, found myself ticketed at
the side of La Signora at table. By an
attraction did not attempt to resist, I
was near her very often. She sang, as
if all the beauty of her matchless form
had found expression in music. She
played, not only with skill, but with
soul-with passion; and that, I take it,
is what we call genius. The general
was polite, he could not be cordial. I
was blind, or should have seen how he
idolized his wife. When was leaning
over the piano-forte, reveling in the lux
ury of her music, he walked the cabin,
reading, or smoked his cigar on deck.
We sang together er-we played chess. I
did not mean to be dishonorable, but I
behaved badly. The general ate but lit
tie; he drank, not much, but more than
at first, and he smoked nearly all day.
II do not think La Signora was given
to Irritation. Nor do I believe, with all
the vanity you give me credit for, that
she really loved me. No; was fasci-
mated, 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 flattered with admiration?
$50 the days passed. One day, as
walked along the guards, I overheard
them talking. 1t was in French, now.
j" I though you did not like these
American gentlemen said he.
No, not in general she replied,
very quietly; but he is an exception
IA few days later, chanced to hear
an angry exclamation from the general.
I knew I was the subject of It. She
made naughty reply. Never had she
seemed so magnificent as on that even
ing. We sang; and when the little
band of negro walters came into the
cabin to play, we danced. Never did I
see so sad face as his-when, after a
long and exhilarating waltz, in which I
seemed to swim in sea of ecstacy,
led her tenderly and gallantly to sofa.
Such a sad. despairing look! 1t sank iu-
to my heart; but was full of happiness
and drove it away. had done nothing
more than is done every day in our So
ciety. It was mere Irritation. I
swear to you, I had not the thought of
anything more.~ / do not know what I
might have thought, or wished, or at
tempted, had there been any encourage
ment; but there was none. The more I
saw of La Signora, the more self possess
sed she seemed to me to be in her honor
and purity. She yielded, for once, at
least, to the customs of the society in
which she had lived, and was indu1ging
in IAN innocent Irritation
'It was easy to imagine it more. The
general saw us often from a distance,
as he entered the cabin. NY 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 should have known that the
consciousness of his age might have
ranked in a sensitive spirit.
''She loved 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?
eve passed those long, desolate
shores, through whose forests the de-
vastating flood rushes ever, ever on.
One morning our steamer rounded to-,
and made a 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 and
ghastly than ever had seen him. He
was not at breakfast next morning.
saw him rapidly pacing-the hurricane
deck.
'.La Signora and had a bargain to
60 on shore together at the next land
ing, and try to get some flowers. The
weather was like June, and she saw the
roses, in blossom, with child IS delight.
II don't know how it was; but my
heart was heavy, as we walked over 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 atmos-
phere, to have the impression last.
I'VE 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.
% massa! @ mistress! she exclaim-
ed .whar's de captainp Thar's man
overheard! I know it's man. They
needn't tell me its q billet Of wood.
Don't I know man when see himp'
II 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
lsse. z.sSzS