River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-11-13
on THE HIGHLAND ROAD.

ON THE HIGHLAND ROAD.
/ From the New Orleans Times Democrat
eft smells ike the Garden of Eden, +"
said the major, leaning forward in his
saddle and peering up the long vista of
the avenue closed by broad flights of
steps leading up to cleaning structure
with many columned gallery and dorm
cred roof
when [ was in Eden last it was pig
roasted whole. with petaties well brown
ed in the gravy that wez had for sup
per-" said ODowd, with wink at the
lieutenant.
"Looks more like fried chicken here,
responded the lieutenant, raising him
self in the stirrups to peep over the
thick Cherokee hedge that seemed to re-
tain no recollection of the pruning
shears.
''Bedad, look at the major now,
film himself up with odors," said
ODowd
He'll dine off posy bed any time. |
must have something more substantial,
myself, not bein' of the hummin' bird
variety
Lieutenant" said the Major sharply,
turning toward them his lean, sun
Drowned visage, all the leaner by con-
trast with the white Havelock that
draped 1T, ride down to the river and
tell Capt. Coulter to camp in the clear
ing to the left Of the road. Let there
be strong picket guard posted" The
Lieutenant saluted and obeyed, though
with inward remonstrance his hungry
stomach rebelling against the fye-mile
ride and the recession of the already de-
ferred dinner to dimly prospective sup
per.
"Well, Cap" said the Major to his re-
manning companion, well see what we
can get in here, though I swear it's a
shame to go clankling swords and spurs
through such heavenly place"
"Shure an there was war in heaven
itself wanst, I'm towld," rejolned
/ O'Dowd, exaggerating the slight brogue
that still chung to his Tipperary tongue,
as was at times his facetious wont. eff
/ the howly angels could injure the clash
O. arrums, their airthly sisters sh'ud be
/ able to do the same"
/ As they approach it the cleaning
structure resolved itself into a wide
winged, high perched cottage, with
numberless arched windows opening
upon the spacious gallery which encir-
/ cled it upon every side. 1t stood silent
and apparently deserted in little open
ing among the trees, surrounded by
carefully tended flower beds, and ca
ressed by the clinging arms of rose
vines. A bird uttered a shrill note
above their heads as they advanced
which sounded like cry warning, but
no living creature of domestic charac-
ter appeared, not even cat.
MAY be it's an enchantment," said
the captain. II hope it won't vanish
before dinner, if it is"
Here is good substantial door at
all events, rejoined the major proceed
ing to knock vigorously.
The knock reverberated with hol-
low sound, and almost Immediately the
door swung quietly inward, and stout
mulatto woman appeared in the open
ing She courtesied respectfully and
without the slightest appearance of sur
prise on her sober, middle aged face,
stood silently awaiting the announce
ment of their business.
eve want something to eat, Auntie, y
said the Major, pleasantly; cant you
/ give us something?"
Eyes, sir, / recon so; walk in.
Stepping back few PAGES she ushered
them into long room, whose furniture,
mysteriously draped in gray colored
chintz, stood about in groups with that
air of patient waiting, which furniture,
in its summer dress, always wears.
The bare floor, beautifully polished
and the open windows, before which
lace curtains swayed gently in the light
air, made up an interior of delicious
GOODNESS, after the long ride in the hot
sun.
4
length upon a large sofa, but the Maj
or moved restlessly about. examining
the books and engravings on the tables
and the pictures on the walls, the last
evidently, family portraits.
His command had but recently joined
the forces whose mission it was to gain
control of the Mississippi and this was
his first experience OF spring and sum
mer south of the famous boundary
which had at that time assumed such
startling prominence. He had come
filled with a fierce indignation, and,
like Saul. breathing ont fire and
slaughter, but when the magic of the
season began to work in his blood; when
days and nights whose counterpart had
never shone for him, unrolled their
brilliant panorama; when every
thicket and morass laughed back to the
laughing skies with myriads OF
strangely beautiful blossoms; when the
yellow jasamine hung its clustered drops
of scented sunshine in the deepest forest
shades: when the great magnolias,
those sylvan priests, held up to heaven
their ivory chalices filled with the wine
of fragrance, there had occurred with
in him a responsive awakening to softer
words and sweeter emotions, winch even
the rude encourage of the military camp
could not dispel In the face of this
beautiful and munificent nature the ter
rible expedients of war took on an aspect
of aggravated barbaritv and though by
sheer force of Will he still held himself
sharply to his convictions of duty, he
was conscious of a certain mental relax
ing and expanding which he alternately
yielded to and strove against.
After brief delay the servant an
nounced dinner, and the two officers
followed her to room, where table
was spread with a repast so bountiful
as to excite the suspicion that the fami-
" dinner had been diverted to THEN
use. ODowd fell to with appetite, his
tongue keeping time with the play Of
his knife aud fork, but the Major made
little response TO his remarks.
As he ate in silent abstraction, the
Major glanced from time to time at q
pleasing picture of the wide, breezy
hall, section of the shadow-haunted
gallery, and the swaying blossom-star-
red branches of climbing rose reflect
ed in large mirror above the mantle
piece. All at once something interest
+ ing occurred. Upon this shadowy scene
entered little white kitten, with sin
uous back and protesting tail, that