The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1884-10-30
THE GENERALS WARD


THE GENERALS WARD
zen. biddulph set back in his chair,
looking the picture of misery, while his
currie was growing cold and his bench
man and trusted servant Scott was
amazed and little alarmed at such ex-
traordinary proceedings. The cause of
all this: was letter with a foreign post
mark held feebly in the generals hand.
It was briefly, nay. tersely, written:
TIL HUssARs, DELHI May 10, 49,
DEAR S1R.-Just received your last letter;
many thanks for the budget of papers you
have sent; they are most acceptable. Am any
thing but well, and much worried Will you
do me favor? My. girl is anxious to see
England; it 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 off by herself OF course she
will have proper chaperonage from here and
like to do me a turn for "auld lang syne" and
look after her. It seems altogether a most
unorthodox arrangement, but she is young
woman with will, and you know my old max
i'm, sAnything for o quiet life" She will ar
G o csrses srees y9a fa e
is taking care of her. With much gratitude
and remembrances to the old set, ever, dear
Dick, your affectionate friend, DRUCE DAILY.
P. S.-Inclosed find draft on my bankers for
It certainly was an alarming prospect
to bachelor. A young girl untram-
meled, nptaught, to be thus thrown on
his handsl The general felt as if an
eclipse had suddenly darkened the sun
shine of his life; as if some heavy veil
had dropped over the bright vista of
the future. To have his days tormented
by the whims and fancies of a 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.
I think I shall stroll round to the club !;
I have had some troublesome news"
Scott silently brought the immacu-
late hat, stick and gloves, and stood by
while his master 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" 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? I shall
look her up in the morning, trot her
about to one or two places, and then [
shall have done my duty. It is just
like bruce Daly"-his wrath was rising
again-"to put 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 daughter.
Let me see, whom the :duce did he mar
ry%
Back into the far past fed his memo
ry; but although he thought and
thought, he could not recall the mother
of the girl who was coming to plague
his life.
II might ask Goodwin" he deter
mined; "he is sure to know. Deuce
take it Why on earth am I to be trou-
bled with another mans worries !?
Why did the mother die? Why did
DAILY marry and have q 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,
wherein 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, q sign he was greatly dis
turbed.
"Have some breakfastF
"'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.
eyes, laconically; and then he un-
burdened his mind to his friend.
Col. Goodwin looked amused. "Well,
I don't see anything terrible in all this, -
he said, with q twinkle in his eye; "you
are fond enough of women as rule
why should you object to this one?"
"This is very different CASE said
the general, testify. ''Iadmire women,
it is useless to deny it, but j like them
cultivated, refined, gentle, not raw, I'M
tutored savages as this young female is
sure to he. 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 q life of horror before she is
done! Want to eat penny ices in the
street, or some such thing!"
The other laughed heartily. II sup
pose having girls of ones one makes all
the difference; I 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 I wanted to ask you,
exclaimed Gen. Biddulph. "Whom did
DAILY marry?"
"She was the only daughter of Bruno
you remember him out in Cashmere.
tmus5 be-let me see," continued Col.
Goodwin. leaning back in his chair and
musing; ut must be about twenty or
twenty-one years ago since I saw her.
She was the most lovely girl, with a
face like an angels"
The generals face frightened.
"Daly fell hopeless victim, and in
return I think she loved him passion
ately. He was nearly distraught when
she died. The girl must he just the
age her mother was when I first met
her"
The generals hand stole UNCONSCIOUS
ly to his gray mustache. "And you say
Mrs. DAILY was very lovely?" he asked,
glancing for the first time at the mirror.
The breakfast had certainly refreshed
him.
"Very!" emphatically.
"Ah, we'll, perhaps it may not be so
bad. bruce DAILY was a good-looking
man."
HE was, indeed, responded Colonel
Goodwin. "Let me know when the girl
arrives; should like to see her; so I
am sure would my wife. Ifshe gets be-
yond you, pack her off to Combewall to
play with my girls"
"Thanks. Are you going to Spen-