The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1883-01-27
From the New York Mercury.J
A FAMILY SECRET.
BY J. ". WATSON.

Before telling you the story l may as
we'll tell you how l came to be the re-
cipIent OF it. Very well, then. An in
terestiDg event was about to occur in the
house, and | was there IN my profess
sIonal capacity to attend 1t. | am not
going TO tell you the real name of the
principal actor IN 1t, or you would at once
recognize him as one of the leading men
OF New York, possibly as a personal
friend. Suppose, as a substitute, [ call
him Davidson and give him Walter for
a first name? That will do.
Now Davidson and | were college
cbums, aud after our graduation and be-
fore | settled myself down to the study
OF medicine, as | intended to do, for |
had my way to make in the world, while
he, through the medium of rich father,
had his already laid ont, we agreed, as a
relaxation, to take sort of Bohemian
travel through the United States.
Two months of this time had passed
away when we found ourselves In New
Orleans, without doubt, to those who
are posted, one of the gayest cities IN
the whole country, and somehow David
son managed to get posted. and for a
while We keptin a whirl.
In the midst OF IT, one night, we were
at ball IN the French quarter, not
very stylish ball, but perfectly respect
able one, principally made up of creoles,
and, / must confess, with more hand.
some aui stylish women than | had ever
seen before under one roof. To one OF
them-superbly beautiful she was
Davidson attached himself Tor the even
ing, and as he was a good looking fell
low and a splendid dresser. the girl
seemed pleased at it, and threw all her
destinations on HIM. She was there with
no male attendant her mother, not at
all bad looking, though very bold wo-
man herself being her escort, rs is not at
all uncommon at such gatherings in that
city VI course, at the conclusion of the
ball, Davidson accompanied the ladies
to their home, and | saw no more of him
that night, but before / was up Ia the
morning Inc was rolling off his eulogies
on his JOsetina of the night before
That she was extremely beautiful, he
SAID, you could see without auY trouble,
but l could not, Of course. see the beauty
OF her mind as he had seen it In the rosy
moments OF the night before. She was
modest, she was witty, she was highly
educated, spoke French, Spanish and
Italian, played on the piano and sang
ami was intended for the operate stage,
on which she was to make her debut IN
one year, she beng then seventeen.
All this, IN time, found to be true.
She certainly had a fine voice and
played with touch and abandon that
was wonderful. There bad been moth
ing spared on her education, bat saving
this, | say all except that not a word
could be S nd against her beauty. [ had
not the elamor OF love aud passion upon
me, and consequently | did not look
upon Josetiua Rivas through the same
eyes as did Davidson / did not like
her, and though both she and her
mother declared that her life was to De
devoted to art, vet could not help but
feel that at least the daughter was
schemlng to entrap my friend III the
matrimonial net
month passed on, and I saw that
Davidson was getting deeper and deep
er IL love. he was infatuated beyond
all reason and nothing interested hinl
that was not of his Josetiua | saw how
utterly useless It would be TO reason
With him, much less to warn, and sc
refrained and kent his friendship.
During this short time / learned much
about the Rivas. Her father bad been
Spauard Of very doubtful reputation,
supposed to have been one Of La6tte's
men, commonly known as "The Pirates
OF the Gulf He had been dead fol
some ytaIs, lUt it was said lett his wid.
ow enough Of his iilgotten gains to sup
port Ter comfortably and allow her to 90
On with the education OF Josetina. Her
mother was a Frenchwoman. native OF
Marseuits, and had come to New
orleans when very young. When The
people spoke If her il was with a smile
anu shrug Of the shoulders. tbongl
they had nothing to say openly, SIS
though they might Ike afraid to 90 so.
and Judging by tue little | saw Of Mad.
anne Rtsas, | felt as If the fear was Justi.
fed.
l saw very little now Of Davidson: al
MS time Tas devoted to Jcsetina. ana At
the end OF the second month | began tc
weary Of New Orleans aud plainly told
davidson | must 60, and yet [ yielded
TO MS persuasion to stav vet another
month. Al the end Of tins time | began
70 have my suspicious and plainly told
them 10 ny friend. He confessed. Yes
he vas married. Married against the
wish o. the mother, who only reluctant
y consented, be said, after he had made
a solemn promise not to interfere with
her daughters wishes as far as concern
ed her career on the operate stage.
lie was perfectly happy, he declared.
and, As lar as | could see III the brief
Tune l remained in New Or
leans, after the revelation, he seemed to
be, The only thing that troubled him
was the fact that he you'll be obliged to
conceal the marriage from the family for
the present, only tor the present, be re-
lterated, for his father was q very pncer-
tain man, and there might be trouble.
However, We parted, aud | returned to
New York. where for months after ward
received letters from Davidson. at first
4lleu with nothing but raptures about
's' n1a' out, at last, it seemed as though
80 nad gradually cooled oft and his
-. OF her began TO run into the
u 9Fdinary married people. He
opohe"I bringing herto New York butnot
u presenting her TO his family. but he
SHl' sue uld not want to come without
her mother, and he did not wish N Drino
her mother. 7A - 0----o
/ had called upon his Immediate fam.
lily on my return; | could not do less.
but, after that, | avoided them as much