Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1889-06-01

heart beat till it almost stifed him.
One morning he could bear It n,
longer This sort Of life had becom,
impossible. He went in search of tn,
Major, who had always showed
friendly interest in him, and begged
him to see the Colonel, and without act
: ually putting the question, ascertain
how an offer Of marriage would be re-
ceived. He spent the day by the edge
/ OF lake, watching the carp leap In the
sunshine, already regretting his ster
and seeing nothing but darkness in the
future
That evening the Major drew him in
to corner Of the courtyard OF the bar
racks, and said CURLY: "Tve seen the
Colonel. He was very kind, and this
is his answer: Your favorite is penni-
less, my daughter has no dowry, it
would be wedding hunger and thirst ;
He's right, too, by Jovel Think no
more about the young lady. II you are
disappointed, console yourself with the
study Of tactics.
The Lieutenant thanked him, but
made no effort to console himself, and
as officers were wanted for the expedi-
ton to Tonquin, he volunteered, and
the following week embarked at Brest.
And while, with swelling heart, he was
borne farther and farther away across
the heaving ocean surges, the young
girl, happy and careless, continued to
dance amid the light and the flowers to
the soft notes OF the music
Two years passed away. The Cen
eral still gave receptions in his hand
some house, but the charming girl who
had formerly turned all heads no longer
appeared at these brilliant military
entertainments. The Colonel OF the
l23d had died suddenly, on the eve Of
obtaining the stars. A dull, monoton-
QUO existence followed the gay, change
full life formerly led by the two women.
All the officers who had futtered
around them disappeared with the
mirth and pleasure of former days.
The new Colonel Of the regiment also
had wife and daughter, to whom, as
reigning sovereigns, all the homage
was paid; the ex-queens received an
absent-minded salute in the street,
followed by hasty retreat.
The widow and orphan, smiling BIT
terly, slowly pursued their way. They
spent much of their time in the park,
enjoying the warm air of the beautiful
autumn days, whose sunlight gilded the
marble statues and shed yellow radi- |
ance upon the foliage of the huge chest
nut trees. Sitting in their mourning
robes, they listened to the military |
band which recalled semblance of
their former happiness. For a brief
interval they fancied no change had
taken place in their lives, and the
Coloneps resonant voice would soon ex-
claim behind them: Good afternoon,
ladies; the band of the 124th gives the
concert to-day, it is not so good as
ours"
But the shouts OF the children play
ing in the sand were the only sounds
that reached their ears. The mother
signing heavily, tried to real the paper
through eyeglasses dimmed by tears,
while the daughter secretly cast
mournful glance at her former partners,
who no longer recognized her. She
was now in her 25th year, and her
beauty, refined by sorrow, had still
greater charm. She was like flower
that has been refreshed and purified by
the rain. Grave and gentle, she seemed
to DO doing penance for her happy
past.
One day, while listening to the music,
she saw among the group of officers who
were walking, chatting, smoking and
laughing, new face, which instantly
recalled the Generals receptions and
her timid lover standing in a corner
devouring her with his eyes.
"Oh, mammal" she exclaimed. 'Look!
There is the Lieutenant"
He had seen her, for he turned very
pale, and, leaving his comrades, ap-
preached cap in hand. The mother
hastily folded her newspapers and,
clearing the chair in front of her. offer
I'd it to the officer with gracious
smile. A.,
"What! Is it really you, Lieutenant
1t is a long time since we met. We :
are very happy to see you. But par
ion me, am calling you Lieutenant
and there is a third stripe on your
sleeve.
The young man blushed as he told !
them that, at the end of six months 7
he had been made Cap I
Lain, after the Nam Dimh affair. There !
we're so many empty places to be I
filled. Then he had been shut up in :
Tuyen-Kuan with Domino. 1t was a /
terrible siege, repulsing for five weeks |
The furious assault of the Chinese /
army, hurting its floods OF men against I
he ruined walls OF the little fortress. {
On the last day during final sally, he ,
lad been wounded and just at that mo- I
pent, far away in the distance, above '
he clamor OF the yellow hordes, the ]
french clarions were heard sounding r
he notes of deliverance. Oh, what an i
lour OF rapturei He had seen the en- t
my fly, the tri-color appear. and fell ]
Without regret, knowing that France q
lad won the victory. His condition q
lad appeared so serious that he had (.
'een sent home with the cross. Dur g
ng the journey he had nearly re- a
Iailsed his health. and, on his arrival, D
lad been entered on the official list il
or promotion to the rank of chef de il
/,