River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-10-30
TIE GENERALS WARD

man ana trusted servant Scout WAS
amazed and a little alarmed at such ex-
traordinary proceedings. The cause of
all this was letter with foreign post
mark held feebly in the generals hand.
1t was briefly, nay, tersely, written:
TIL HUssAEs, DELHI, May 10, 1S-
DEAR SIR.--just received your last letter;
many thanks for the budget of papers you
have scut; they are most acceptable Am any
thing but we'll. and much worried Will you
do me a favor: My girl is anxious to see
England; u Is simply impossible for me to get
leave for the next two years, and as that state
Of affairs does not please her she has deter
mined to start of by herself OF course she
Will have proper chaperonage from here and
bring her own people, but thought you would
like to do me turn for ''aud lang syne' and
look after her. 1t seems altogether most
unOTthOdox arrangement, but she is young
woman with will, and You know my old max
i'm, Anything for quiet life" She viii ar
rive, | expect, soon after you get this, and Will
go lirst 10 Charges street with the woman who
Is taking care of her. With much gratitude
and rcmembrances to the old set, ever. dear
Dick, your affectiOuato friend, BRUCE DAILY.
p. S.-InclOscd find draft on my bankers for
any expense she might incur. Dessa is just -
1t certainly was an alarming prospect
to bachelor. A young girl untram-
meled, uDtaught, to he thus thrown on
his hands, The general felt as if an
eclipse had suddenly darkened the sun
shine OF his life; as if some heavy veil
had droppcd over the bright vista of
the future. To have his days tormented
by the whims and fancies of little
mink, his social joys disturbed to escort
Young savage from the tower to Nine.
Tussaud's -the thought was terrible.
He pushed away his plate, and in his an
noyance rumpled his carefully adjust
ed locks of hair, whereat Scott grew
more alarmed, and at last summoned up
courage to ask his master If he would
not like some fresh breakfast. The
general woke from his dream of horror
and looked gloomily at the man.
"Eh, what, Scott? breakfast? No.
/ think | shall stroll round to the club
/ have had some troublesome news"
Scott silently brought the immacu-
late hat. stick and gloves, and stood by
while his m lstcr rearrangeG his locks
and adjusted his hat.
The general drew deep breath of
satisfaction as he marched up st. James
street to his club. The sun was shin
ing gloriously, the air was warm and
delightful and gradually his depressed
spirits rose, and he felt once more him
self
after all j." he unused as he walked
along, "Daly used to be the best fellow
in the world years ago; who knows if
she may not take after him? l shall
look her up in the morning, trot her
about to one or two places, and then |
shall have done my duty. 1t Is Just
like Druce Daly"-his wrath was rising
agajn-"to put a man in my position, a
bachelor. in such an awkward fix; but
he always was the most careless and
shiftless man possible. Wonder is how
he ever married and had a daughter.
Let me see, whom the duce did he mar
ry?"
Back into the far past fed his meme
nv; but although LIE thought and
thought he could not recall the mother
of the girl who was coming to plague
his life
"Imight ask Goodwin" he deter
mined; "he is sure to know. Deuce
take it! Why on earth am l to be trou-
bled with another mans worries
Why did the mother die? Why did
DAILY marry and have daughter?"
His ratings at fate were interrupted
by hearty good morning" from a
hale-looking man, as he entered the
club and sat down at the same table,
whereon was laid dainty breakfast.
Good morning, Goodwin" he re-
piled Gloomily, not even trying to catch
a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror
opposite. a sign he was greatly dis
turled.
Have some breakfast?
Thanks"
Hunger was asserting itself. He
took the cup of coffee, pushed across
the table and stirred it round and round,
his thoughts flown away to his vexation
again.
"Why, hang it all, man; you look
quite worried anything wrong" asked
Col. Goodwin, in an interval of hearty
eating.
Yes" laconically; and then he I'M
burdened his mind to his friend.
Col. Goodwin looked amused. ''Well,
] don't see any thing terrible in all this, -
he said. with twinkle in his eye; you
are fond enough of women as a rule /;
why should You object to this one?"
This is very different case said
the general, testify Il admire women,
it is useless to deny it, but l like them
cultivated. refined, gentle, not raw, I'M
tutored savages as this Young female is
sure to be. Then it is the greatest bore
on earth to be tied and bound by the
whims of girl in her teens. who will
lead me life of horror before she is
donel Want to eat penI.y ices in the
street, or some such thingl"
The other laughed heartily. Il sup
pose having girls of ones one makes all
the difference: don't mind their chat
ter and fun: it Is rather pleasant than
otherwise. If this Young woman is any
thing like her mother was, she ought
to be the most charming creature in the
world
"The very thing 1 wanted to ask you,
exclaimed Gen. Biddulph. Whom did
Daily marry ,"
She was the only daughter of Bruno
You remember him out in Cashmere.
1t must hc-let me see" continued Col.
Goodwin. leaning back in his chair and
muSing; ut must be a out twenty or
twenty-one years ago since saw her.
She Was the most lovely girl, with a
face like an angels
The generals face frightened
"Dalv fell hopeless victim. and in
return / think she loved him passion
atcly He was nearly djstraught when
she lied The girl must be just the
age her mother was when ] first met
her"
The generals hand stole UNCONSCIOUS
Is - his graz mustacho And YOU say
Ms Daiy was very lovsly?" he asked,
giaurjug for tho first time at the mirror.
Tue breakfast had certainly refreshed
HIM
"Yerv!" emphatieallv.
All. we'll, perhaps it may not be so
had. Druce naly was a good-lookng
man"
He was. indeed, responded Colonel
Goodwin. Let me know when the girl
arrives: ] should like to see her. so l
am sure would my wife Itshe gets boz
yond YOU, pack her off to Combewall to
play with my girls.
"ThankS. Are You going TO Spen-
GERS? | VIII come with you; 1 must
speak 70 Kim about my new mare"
Somehow the news crept ont. When
Gen. Biddulph took his stroll in the
park a few days later, he was greeted by
,lv hints and tender inquiries after his
ward. Fair faces beamed on him. and
pretty lips murmured kind promises to
take the Young stranger IN hand and