River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-06-28
INNOCENT FILTRATION.

The only good stories are true ones.
ado you mean to say that all the glorious
fctions that have enchanted and thrilled
the world are true9" / asked. little tn
umphantly.
"Not true in all their details and COM
binations, of COURSE" said hei but When
ever you find any incident really affecting
you may be sure that it actually happened.
Now in this story, which l have read at
your recommendation, there is no such IN
cident The characters are not alive, and
the events never occurred; at least within
the writer's knowledge. | can tell you
dozen real true stories that would beat 1t
all hollow"
Doubted"
What will you bet2"
who to decide2"
"You shall decide yourself. Come, III
tell you one to begin WITH and, if you don't
say it is better than this Mandy -pllnby affair
l have been reading, I'll pay for the supper"
So set myself to listen.
81 took the night train at Columbus,
said Harry, settling himself back to spin
his yarn more comfortably.
Then you are the hero of your own story
said |.
Don't interrupt me. Who said | was
hero? You will see. The cars were full;
but found a at behind lady and gem
tleman, who had appropriated couple to
themselves. andwere wrapped up in shawls,
sic u in ~ comfortably.
81 he light from the Car lamp fell on their
faces The gentleman, who seemed
foreigner, and who seemed to be Mexican
of some distinction, was of middle age--a
dark, fine looking, sombre, quiet man.
But the lady, young enough to be his
daughter, was of dazzling beauty. pale
complexion, flushing with the slightest tint
of rose; an oval face; features regular as
those of Grecian statue-wasn't she beau
tiful?"
Il suppose she was, said l, wishing to
be amiable, when thus appealed to.
Il don't want your opinion on that point.
/ lad been among rough people. | had
seen few that could be called refined, or
beautiful, for long time; but making al
lowances for all that, she was certainly one
of the lovliest women ever beheld. When
she opened her eyes in the pale morning
light, they were of that tinge of violet-grey,
shaded by long. dark lashes. SO rare and SO
exquisite. Her little hand, with its long,
tapering, white fingers, tipped with rose,
her slender, delicate feet; her form and
movements of perfect grace, all held me
in a kind of enchantment.
"The cars ratified and roared along down
the Little Miami, and we were nearing Gin
cinnati, when heard her speak. 1t was
some trifing question. Ithad the peVu ance
of spoiled child and q spoiled beauty; but
there could he no mistaktag the pure, high
breeding of her articulation. BY the time
it was broad daylight | had studded her
well, looking over my newspaper. We rode
up to IN from the depot in the same omni-
bus, and / sat opposite, and SO quite near
her.
"As looked, what presumed must be
my last look at her, and must have ex-
pressed in that look all the admiration and
interest felt-saying, with my eyes: Who
can you be, beautiful one2 She appeared
to see me for the first time. Something
must have told her what l was thinking.
A flush came over her face-very slight, in
deed, but still pesceptible. 1t was little
surprise, and something which was not in
dignation.
Il had given my checks for the Burnet
house; it was with pang that 1 saw my
new acquaintance prepare to alight at the
Spencer. But while the general, as heard
him called afterward, was picking up a
shawl that had been dropped, sprang out
into the snow, and with q look-I doubt
not of mingled respect, and admiration, and
grief-gAve my hand to the lady. She
thrilled me with the lightest and quickest
touch possible, as il she did not want to
offend a stranger by declining what he
meant a civilty; but did not say thank
you.' The husband touched his hat to me
with cold, proud look which l shall never
forget.
4 re.entered the omnibus, went TO the
Burnet house, took good bath and break
fast, and then went and heard some fine
music at the beautiful cathedral. My rail-
road vision l laid away, with a sigh or two,
in the store house of memory.
AT 0 o'clock in the evening, left in the
cars for Cairo. The Ohio was frozen. AS
entered the car my heart beat as caught
sight of La Signora. The only vacant seat
was near them. / received no salutation,
and made none. / knew that she saw me;
but she did not raise her eyes. The gen.
tleman looked at me, as he might at any
other traveller, but without sign of recog-
milton, or any motion, unless there was a
very slight darkening of the brows.
could not see well by the lamplight. They
made their arrangements like practlced
travellers. and slept or seemed to sleep.
sat still and thought. Did you ever feel a
superhuman beauty sinking into your
heart. deeper and deeper, with every mo-
ment's presenceP"
well"
"No matter. Don't answer now. ] must
tell my story. In the morning, and all day,
we were still onthe cars. did not intrude
even by look. Two or three times had
an opportunity to give them some slight at
tentions. l had the latest New York papers,
which | loaned them. | brought glass of
water, when there was none In the cars. l
was lucky enough to have some nice oran-
ges, 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 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. l knew II
from many indications. A high bred, well
bred English lady, of the most refined and
delicate type-more Celtic than Saxon, and
more American than English, according to
common notions, in her appearance.
AT Sandoyal, the junction of the st.
Louis road and the Illinois central. they
left the train, as / did, and we waited to-
gether for the Chicago train for Cairo.
There was crowd waiting, little room, and
no supper. l managed to procure some
oysters and bottle of elarret wine,
which 1 begged my fellow voyagers to
share.
In few hours we were on a magnificent
New Orleans steamer. How splendid and
how comfortable, she seemed 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
aides cabin--the home look of the piano
forte and center tables. with vases of how-
ers and pretty children the rick tables set
for parties of eight or ten, with each pas
senger's card on his plate, and clean, active
coIored WATERFALL this comfort, going I'M
der full head of steam down the mighty
Mississippi while the banks grew greener
and the air grew warmer, day by day, as
we approached the tropics. was something
enjoyable after the frosts, and snow, and
hard travelling of the north.
"By some good fortune, as then thought
it, found myself tieketed at the side of La
Signora at the table. BY an attraction did
not attempt 10 resist, 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,
take it, is what We call genius. The gene
raj was polite, he could not be cordial.
was blind, or should have seen how be
idolized his wife. When was leaning over
the pianofortR, rerelling in the luxury of
her music, he walked the cabin, reading, or
smoked his cigar on deck. We sang to-
gether-we played chess. / did not mean
to be dishonorable, but / behaved badly.
The general ate but little; he drank, not
L. 1.