St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-11-16
A POLISn D ROGUE.
The Experience Oh 'sIEajor General
BRADLEY. c. =. Az

The Experience o4 SsIEaJGr General
Bradley c. s. A.
I was a young man Of leisure. My
physician had prescribed vacation, and l
Vas taking it in summer clearinghouse
among the hills, in company with an uncle
and aunt and some pretty cousins.
One of these cousins was Alice Brantley.
She was an orphan, my uncles ward. and
she added to the attraction Of large dark
eyes and fair face that Of lovely DISPOSE
lion and strong character. This is not
story of my courtship. or l might tell how
the grapeyines were laden with their purple
harvest; the apples were showing their
golden color through the leaves; in short.
now | fingered far beyond my eOnvalesence.
all for the JOY of sitting in the light Of
Alce's dark eyes and listening to her low
voice.
But the time was coming when we must
separate. She was poor. l had yet my
name and fame to make in the world.
Wanting position as governess, she had
replied to an advertisement from lady III
the South. Her application had been ac-
cepted; money had been sent for her outfit,
and she was busy about her preparations.
Alice and l were together under big
apple tree one morning, she stitching away
Oh some of the numberleSs garments that
women think they must have if they are
going to make journey; l lazily lying on
the ground, trying to make her stop to eat
the golden fruit with which was peting
her, when my uncle came near with an open
letter, which he threw in Alice's lap.
Il am glad you will have company.
child" he said.
Alice read it, and in answer to my in
Quiries told me that DR.. B.. weil-knoWn
divine from one of the large Eastern cities
who knew my uncle well. had written in
PRODUCING Maj. Gen. Bradley, of the Con-
federate army, who was to come through
our town, and would accompany her to her
destination.
We thought no more of it, except that
remember the inward curse | visited on the
poverty that compelled me to allow a stran-
ger to do the task that would have been so
delightful to me. Mrs. B., to whom she
had engaged herself as goyerness, also sent
a letter of introduction and we only awaited
his coming.
Well remember the morning that he az
rived. We were sitting on the broad piazza
in front of the house as he walked up the
drive with my uncle.
He was man of about medium height,
rather slight, but giving the, impression Of
great activity. His whole bearing was that
of soldier. He had remarkable face and
wavy brown hair, brushed back from high
forehead, fair complexion, and eyes that
changed with every changing motion, now
laughing, now pathetic, now keen and
sharp. now earnest. never really sinister. or
wicked. His gray travelling coat and hand
some brown valse became him well, and
his SLOUGH hat, of the finest. softest felt,
gave him distinguished appearance.
With the air of good breeding shown by a
man of the world, he acknowledged the in
PRODUCTION which my uncle gave i'll passing,
and saying that he must remove the dust
of travel" went to his room.
His coming marked an era in our quiet
life. 1t was the last week of August.
Many of the summer boarders had fed, aud
those that remained were perhaps the most
cultivated who had been with US. In those
haZy days of late summer and early autumn
there was little to do but sit on the piazza
and watch the changing lights on the hills.
Gen. Bradley was here and there and
everywhere. | have seen much of the
world since, and Alice my wife, is keen
Judge of men and things, but we can both
freely say that he was the most fascinating
man we had ever met. Added to his dis
tinguished appearance he had keen intel
lect and was brilliant in conversation, his
fund of information seemed endless, and
he would sit on the piazza an hour at a
time, twirling the little cane which he al
ways carried. now discussing a favorite ail-
thor, now telling funny story. now a
pathetic incident of his army life. We
asked no greater pleasure than to watch the
lights and shadows of his wonderful eyes,
The ladies were charmed with him; one
of my cousins mixed his brandy and water
nightly, and rich young widow. who had
many suitorS at her feet, received his atten-
tons with evident pleasure. But he had
the tact which made no one jealous. no one
unhappy in his presence. Not a pang
crossed my mind in thinking th at Alice
would travel with him. He was my ideal
of Southern gentleman. and my only feel
ing was one of pleasure that Alice would be
so well taken care of.
He formed special friendship for gen.
tleman who had school in the neighbour
hood. | remember one evening as we sat
in the parlor that he turned to this gentle
man and asked him to purchase for him a
number of books during his visit to New
ork. Trusting to his memory, he wrote
down the titles of at least one hundred of
the best of books, and our friend readily
promised to do as he desired and gave him
the privilege OF his discount The general
also proposed to bring his brother to my
friends school and offered generous SUBJ
scriptlon to aid him in his work.
He stayed two weeks and then left for
few days. He was expecting to return and
bring his brother, then take Alice on their
journey.
He came back, but his brother was not
with b IN.
Harry came to the depot" he said in ex-
PLANTATION, but was suffering so much from
fe.on OH his hand that had not the heart
to insist on his coming. He will be here in
a few days"
But all pleasant days must end. and the
last day of our pleasant season came. He
and A &c started. He had left substan-
tial check in the hands of his friend, and
we were all sorry that we might never meet
him again.
We Little knew how soon we should meet
him and under what different circum
stances.
fingered few days to gather my things