The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-03-22

words told my story, explaining my absence
Oh some outside business
As i had previously made several visits to
Washington and Baltimore while sojourning
with the family my short absence of one day
and two nights was not noticed
/ may be permitted to say, parenthetically,
that Miss Mamie Wells, the second daughter,
had gone to her sisters home in Baltimore
under my charge q few days previous to this.
Her war history, venture to say here, would
present one Of the most attractive yet written.
She was during the bombardment and battles
a Florence Nightingale to both sides, and to her
parents and family in the subsequent terrible
suderngs consequent upon their exposed posi-
ton between the two armies, became heroine
IN deed aud in truth.
My personal acquaintance with this remark
able young lady was confined to the few days
Of 1852. The incident which is best Temem-
bercd occurred while riding up the Potomac
from Aqua Creek as her escort en- route to
Baltimore. In reply to something that had
said on the subject that was Uppermost in my
heart, she took occasion TO say TO me in
A KIND, sIsTERLY WAY
about Geno that produced lasting effect upon
me:
You must not trife with that child"
That l was sincere and very much in earnest
she soon discovered, because from her charm
ing manner l was impelled to tell herright
there much more Of my love for her sister than
had told Geno herself Her smiling approval,
when ] mentioned my ambition to make GenO
an officers wife, was:
"A0u love like a boy, but I believe you
would fight like man"
hiss sue was Of an entirely different dispo-
sition. She was q born coquet and flirting
was natural to her. Her eyes were hazel, and
ii | may be permitted to offer my advice to the
sons Of veterans through the columns Of The
NATIONAL TRIBUNE, it is, don't attempt to
fiTt with q pair of hazel eyes, because it IS a
waste Of time and dangerous. Perhaps they
are less susceptible than black or blue but once
trincd with, or neglected, they do not pine
away IN grief, but rally for revenge and take
Il out IN sg9-n.
I never made love to Miss Sue, that remern-
beT after having met Geu0: but she evidently
felt that 1 was her Legitimate game simply be-
cause she was the Oldest daughter. In fact,
she told me plainly that Gcno was entirely
too young TO be spending so much time with
strange young gentlemen.
Naturally enough / resented her advice and
talked TO Geu0 ab0Ht it, but my little girl only
laughed sweesIy At my earuestuess, and not
once That / can recall said j single word in re-
ply that reflected on her elder sisters jUdg-
meut. Gen1's voice was mild, her manner Of
speaking slow with a CharminFly hesitating
manner that made everything she said or left
unsaid, impressive.
My. excellent wife, who looks at matters in
practical way, has heard me talk about love
affairs with Geno, always takes Sues part N
the discussion, declaring that / didn't like
Sue because she was too smart for me.
That is only partly coTsect. My trouble was
that sue would not permit Geno and 1 to be
alone together At all.
The father being absent IL exile, Miss Sue
prevailed UPOa the mother to allow her to
zlga I4rul,+ fly-
II. We were being restricted somewhat arbi-
trariiE by Miss Sues management, and to get
around II had recourse to
SMUGGLING LITTLE NOTES
to Geno through her little brother George and
sister Jennie.
l recall now with a laugh. with what sly
ness and caution IeuO managed this little se-
cret service Of our own. There was not any
cipEers used, bur Geno had a way Of inserting
quotations in French in her notes that cmb8r-
ras5ed me- because ] couldn't interpret myself,
and Ol course dare 10. appeal TO any one else.
One day we all came to grief By Miss Sue
getting hold Of one Of my notes to Geno, in
which imgu siveiy ;ntimated that the anmus
or motive o. Sues opposition was based on the
fact that she desired all the attention bestowed
on herself That was a very indiscreet thing to
put on piece Of paper; but, IS ! have said be-
fore 1 think. ! was % and GcnO was Is.
1-aHae-. klE tal-DL one alLE-ADVl IGaQu
both the sisters s0bbiug and crying IS if their
hearts were breaking over some sudden intelli-
geLcc o. dreadful character. ! hurriedly asked
If their father had been caught. But to MY
eager interest sue replied through her tears, by
taking me to task about this note. 7 tried to
explain. bit she did all the talking for an hour
and i got 10 chance TO say a word, until she
said something about Geno being too young
70 take care Ci himself when / buTtCd out
- Ff Far aA ia 70 sal- ,FI
than you ere. and know it,
Thai was putting my foot into it deeper than
ever.
1t tool, me a week TO get this affair straight
eued cut, and / verify believe the words uttered
so thOugbtcssly Al this moment were treasured
up against me in wrath by Miss Sue for %
years, though she pretended 70 make up"
and I kissed both Of the sisters that time be-
fore we broke up the conference or loTefeast
There remains III existence to-day neatly
written, faded letter, addressed to The friend
Of an hour which my sisters have preserved.
The smart sharp, singing words Of this letter
have served Is a model for more than one COM
municatlon under similar circumstances.
loyal TO EACH oTHER.
There was this popularity about the Wells
family: they were all loyal and true 70 each
other, and 10 their parents More than one
outsider has learned TO their sorrow, touch
one. and Al. Of them were touched.
IS serving TO indicate this, and to show tie
innocence and purity of Gepo, l WiI relate at
my own expense an incident
shortly after tic Captain and father had
escaped through my c0uuiyance, Geuo
IN her sweet. hesItatiug voice said 10 me IN
reply 10 sgmctliEgI lad been saying or doing:
Father said t5 mc as lie bid me gOod-by:
Geno lock out for Sir. o. K'n
lTas stunned. Perhaps I was.p .prcsumiug toe
lag On my being solid with the family, and IN
my usual iiupu.styc way ] earnestly resented
the Captains caution, probably because l re.
allied that he was right, and said something
4 harsh in reply GeaO looked up into my face
+ IN q surprised wag, while she defended bcl
\ father. ! shall never forget thc words and the
manner in which tacy were uttered
4 why, father knows best ] would not have
4 him angry with lGa l0I anything
/ il vas "a lesson 10 me. / was angry at the
moment. but loved her all the more for tais
evidence of loyalty to hex parents.
i aav be worth while 10 add a word OF ad
/ vice 20 the boys and girls who may read this
1 The good and faithful daughter always make.
q good wife. Don't forget it, boys and girls.
IOP.cE up the tangled love knot i'm the thread
. Of this narrative. ] wii! say during the pleasant
evening spent Tita the Wells family I was 81
F.. happy and coateuted that ] became wholly OBJ
llyious ID everything that was going OF IN The
F. army outside. Ii was late the next day wheI
] walked down to the railroad office as usual q
see u there was any news fOg me- ID was thel
: that 1 received