The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-03-27

III except myself, since your grandmother
died.
aft was in 1905. Your Aunt Minon, as
you call her, was then IL years old. She was
wonderfully pretty; those poor eyes of hers
which you saw only when they were dimmed
and drowned in tears, had in those days the
briiliancy Of two great black diamonds. But
her great charm was her smile MY dear
sir, see young girls smiling every day; and
1t Is always attractive to see two pink lips
opening over two rows Of pearls, but-but II
Is never like her smile women can not smile
like that nowadaysl
at was not to be wondered at that being
so pretty, she should also have been some.
thing Of a coquette. Poor soul! she paid
dearly for It'll There were five or six Of US
counting her, more or less openly-all of US
crafty in love- But she was quite keen
enough to see that there was one among us
who loved her more than any. His name
was George. do not suppose you care to
know the family name Whether George
had ever told her that he loved her do NOT
know; but doubt it, He was not an ex
pansive lad, although not gloomy; it was not
the fashion in our time TO be too serious
Neither was he melancholy: it was long be-
fore the time Of Chateaubriand and Lamar.
tine; but he was a little reserved, a little
Dreamy, partly, perhaps, because he was a
little near-sighted.
Zone night there was great ball at the
government house. Some time before an
English frigate, cruising off the coast,
boldly approached our batteries within can.
non shot, and began to harass them. Gen.
Decaen had resolved TO make the cruiser pay
dearly for her audacity, and had ordered La
CanonnIere to give chase TO the Laurel the
moment she appeared again in our waters
Soon after the English vessel was signaled OF
the north coast; the engagement would occur
next day, and the officers of La Canonniere
Legged the general TO let them give fare.
wei ball ut tie government house, as they
had no time TO separately visit their friends
in the four ends Of the island.
"She was as always. the queen of the ball:
and poor George, with his somewhat awk.
ward timidity, was far from being the king.
The real hero Of the occasion was a young
ensign of the Canonniere, whose cross OF
honor had been sent to him in colonial
waters, as a reward for some recent heroic
feat Of arms 1t was hard to say which
shone-most brightly at the ball-the officers
sparkling cross, or the young girls splendid
eyes All attention seemed to DO conferred on
those two only.
"A Creole proverb says, 1T is only the
mountains that never eet;'-the handsome
officer and the beautiful girl danced together,
and chatted together for long time. 1t Is
Tomorrow he said, that / take my cross
under fire for the first time. want to give
1t glorious baptism; but must find a god
mother worthy of it; promise me to be the
godmother! And for its toilette you will
give one OF those pretty red ribbons that can
be seen long way off, and one of those
little roses that bloom in your ball dress to-
night
George saw her giving flower to the
officer. He approached them. And L. he
said, cannot /, also, beg the aims of one
roseP oh! your she replied with a mock
ing laugh, you are too near-sighted to see
only one, il were to give it to you Here
Is the whole bouquet for you Monsieur here
Is going to take his rose under fire; you can
put yours in water, and they will keep a
great deal better
"And they continued their promenade
laughing.
Next morning, at daybreak, the Canon.
Mere steamed out of port; the Laurel was
I'm full view.
"When the young girl awoke about mid
day, the thunder OF cannon was heard in the
direction Of Lille Plate A little servant
brought her this note:
"'Your roses are jealous Of that sister of
theirs whom you sent under fire. am going
to take them also there. am no more able
to resist the caprices Of flowers than am
able TO resist those of young girls; and as
am very nearsighted, will certainly have
to take them to the very front in order to
show them the fun
"a VOLUNTEER ON BOARD THE CANON.
MERE
la Petite Montague was black with
crowds of excited spectators From its
height it was easy to follow all the incidents
of that bloody duel between the two frigates.
Bravely the Englishman did his duty; but
his artillery was Of lighter caliber and
smaller number Of pieces, while his crew was
numerically far inferior The batteries of
La Canonniere,' admirably served by
host of marines and volunteers, soon dis
mounted half OF the English guns, and killed
at least half the crew Nevertheless the
English flag still few, having been nailed to
the mizzen top; and the 'Canonniere' was
compelled to board her.
Next morning the French frigate and her
prize anchored in the bay.
1--WE had lost few sailors; but two of our
volunteers mad been killed. One had had
both legs taken off by a cannon-ball; the
other, during the boarding of the English
cruisers had been shot in tho mouth, the
musket having been thrust in his very face;
the ball had broken two teeth and shattered
the first vertebra, killing him instantly.
This latter victim was Georpe. We gave
both a magnificent burial; the entire island
a' se.' suo 1une
some Gays iaeer 1ne oincers OF the Can
onniere' gave another Dali In honor OF the
happy event.
The hero Of the occasion was again the
handsome ensign. whose glittaring cross at-
tracted all ewes more than before R,t tho
80, 90 tho haII ,ha. a,.a,, - - .le
49, =, 81. 49,. 49, "as Hos sne
young gTi WIN cne piach-diamono eyes; II
was blonde with eyes ike periwinkles,
from whom the happy ensign begged and
received one Of the white carnations that
decked her hair. |