Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-04-30
A TALE OF THE WAR.
From the Washington Herald.

=
the spring, the city OF New Orleans was oc-
cupled by the Union forces under Mai. Gen.
Butler. In one OF the New England regi-
ments that made part OF his command WAS
a young officer, who had hurried home from
a European tour to take a commission in the
newl ly-raised volunteers. He had had nearly
three years at West Point, but about the time
he was To become a first classman, that
scourge of New England. consumption,
threatened his life. His physicians told his
mother that nothing but a soiourn in the
mild climate of Southern Europe would de-
stroy the dangerous germs. As he was heir
to a comfortable fortune, there was nothing
to hinder, and year of Italian sunshine
made him almost well. Then broke upon
the country the storm Of civil war To him,
as to many others, the far South was n reye-
lation. Nature was in her fairest, kiudest
mood. The budding leaves on curious un.
known trees were tiny in their young tender
green. There were strange tiame-like
flowers and the yard long fronds of the
banana, and the dark green palmetto all
told how far away they were from the
cold easterly winds of their New England
home.
AS our young lieutenant wandered about
the old foreigu-lo looking city the spirit of the
sweet South thrilled him. Along the
might have been In Orleans or Blois sur
rounded by hedges of Cherokee rose, so
thickly standing that bird could scarcely
pass through, with glossy leaves of dark
green and long sweet buds, like wax
in whiteness, swelling into fragrant
summer bloom. one soft afternoon,
when the rays of the westward sinking sun
were aslant, filling the narrow streets
with CLEANS of molten gold, and the orange
trees were showering their white flowers on
tbtaa th.al l.S
by the gentle south wind, he went into the
old cathedral of St Louis. The spirit of the
place was on him. 1t was the Lenten season,
and as the black -robed women knelt in silent
prayer while the great organ notes filled the
lofty vault he thought how often the old stone
floor had echoed in ancient days to the steps
OF French cavilier or Spanish graudee, and
rs he read on the walls in uualut-old time
words OF Almonaster, the governor who died
a hundred years ago, he thought how far
away from old CASTLE or beautiful France
the cavaliers had come for glory how brave
hearts, full of hopes aud fears, had beat per-
hsps where he then stood, and lived and
loved and passed away into nothingness
when Louis, the Well Beloved, was king
All, as one stands where mail-clad knights
have stood, how vividly the dead past comes
back, and the old cathedral is filled again with
dainty DANES in kirtle hoop and furbelow,
and stately gentlemen, whose hot, beating
hearts have been dust for one hundred ana
fifty years.
As his eyes became accustomed to the light
he noticed among the dark-draped forms a
girl OF marvellous foreign beauty. Her face
was like that of the Mater Doloroso and As
stray sunbeam shot through the window
and lighted up her hair its brightness was as
the brightness of the angels of God. She
was rs silent rs stone; her lips ouly moved,
and her face was aglOw with mystic light
lie felt a strange, weird sensation pulsate
through his veins, and as the scent of the
holy incense filled the deep rooted church he
thought of the days when holy virgins after
such scenes as this went forth to die for their
faith III the Crucited Son. At length it was
over. He saw the girl, with deep, dark eyes,
aud acompleSion like old ivory, gather up
her robes and leave the church. He noticed
that her attendant was an Old gray mulatto
woman, and as they went out into the ey en-
ing air she spoke to the girl with a curl Gus
soft tone and in language he had never
heard. Somehow, without intending il he
followed them. \ few squares awsv thev
walked and entered through a gate into q
cottage III the centre of a garden that was
sweet with the fragrance OF the yellow iessa.
mine olive, orange, citron, shaddock, and
pomegranate flowers shut out from the
world by a high, impossible wall. There
was over the house an air of age, and its red
tiled 1901 recalled the old towns of Southern
France.
From that hour he seemed bewitched. He
lived IN dreamland. His brother officers
could not comprehend the charge. Wher
ever he went he was haunted hy the memory
OF deep, dark girlish eyes and face like oul
Lady of Sorrows. Day after day ne went &c
the church and saw the same scene. III
nally fortune favored him. One afternoon.
as the fading beams OF the day-god were
gliding the branches OF the gray old trees IN
the Cathredal square, the girl and her duenn0
started home. some sailors from man of
war IN the riVer were on the bdRgIsttG, and
they had been looking on the rum when ii
was red. BoisterOus and noisy, they We're
directly in the girls way. She drew her
veil down and quickly tried to pass them
One who was swarthy and low in stature,
win eyes abiaze from the Internal draughts is
OF merry rum, either purpOsely or by
accident staggered against the girl and
caught her III his arms She screamed
aud fell in dead faint Tho officer was half
square away. How he got there he never
knew. with giants strength he struck the
staggering man blow that would have
delighted the sullen soul of the English prize
nghter whose pupil he had been. Seeing it
was an officer the rest of the men saluted
and after saying no harm was meant respect.
fully went away, taking their comrade with
them with broken jaw. The elderly
woman was in frenzy. In broken English
and more fluent French pdtOtS she besOlpht
the saints 'She has only tainted" said The
Lieutenant; 81 will carry her home" After
aie" stepsthe girl sighed and opened her eyes
she turned bloOd-red when she saw where
she was and begged TO be put down. He did
50, but holding on to his arm she trefnbingly
took her way 10 the old gate, and the gray
walls shut him out as Adam WAS shut ont
from the lost Eden. After that he could
never see her. lie took courage and went to
the gate where he had lett her and rang the
bell. The old mulatress came, and. standing
in his way so that he could not come in, told
him IN her broken English, that the young
mistress was quite well and wished her To
thank the young soldier tor her, and that
was all.
Finally IN desperation, he wrote the Young
girl letter He did not even know her
name, but addressed II to the young lady
whom he had helped. He said he loved her
ana wished her To become his wife! " He was
SIMPLY insane" you will say. Probably, but
ms Is true tale, and / have only said what
ne ala. lie subsidized a colored man whom
ne had employed as n sort of general servant
10 lake II to the house. This he was assured
was done. He could only await the result
with such patience as heaven might seno
on the morning OF the fourth day after he sent
Inc note he received a message from great
EhSilsh cotton buyer, known all over New Or
ledLs Ior ms fortune, requesting Lieut. -
70 call upon hlm at his earliest convenience
ordering very much what the merchant
could want with him he obeyed the sum
mons IL was great bank-iike building
Clerks were busy and pens were scratchinp
all around. Alter few moments no was
told that Nil wished to see him in his
private room. He entered. The merchant
was tall, powerful man of perhaps Gyeand
my years. lie stood up, gazed at his visitor
very keenly from steely blue eyes, and then
holulng out a piece OF paper, said abruptly,
Dld You write this noteY" The youth WAS
amost speecbless. 1t was his letter to the
ho had written II.
land with what purpOse NAV aslx pu ,,p