Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-08-03
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
A ROMANCE or THE WAR.
Recalled by the light Of a womsa IN a
Nul's Garb.

| - NtANOAah. VI -NCN olACahcf " a At-
porter of the Free Press Il was half
DOING in the smoker, after hav-
ing finished my last cigar, when
The train boy threw lot Of
BOOKS into the compartment and /
picked up one of them and mechanical
~ began to read. 1t was the story
which opens with a scene in a convent
and an interview which took place,
when a soldier saw once more
society of women whom he had
adored in the world of fashion.
/ even forgot the name of the
story; it was the Duchess someone. As
/ read, the occurrence of summer
spent on the Gulf of Mexico came to my
mind, and although / am not much on
romance the details of a certain story
which ] had heard came vividly TO me,
and saw once more the characters in
the startling drama which was enacted
some time ago.
That summer was one of delight for
I me, for was not my daily companion an
old family friend, Father Bally, one Of
the most scholarly priests whom it has
been my good fortune to meet, a gem
/ Vi dldbic IlhnACTs anu an IRE
pressible wit? lie was broad, big man,
with hearty, red face and a voice like
a fog-hern. He was the life of the
neigh borhood and could tell a story or
sing a song in a most remarkable man
ner. When any entertainment was in
| progress the good Father Baily was al
ways the central figure. The children
of his parish were always giving pleas
ant socials of one kind or another, and
somewhere in the middle of the pro-
gramme Father Bally would be an
nounced, and then he would lift up his
mighty bass voice in Warrior Bold
delivering it not perhaps as an artist
would, but with hearty feeling that
was captivating. A storm of applause
would follow and then he would come
forward, and seating himself at the
piano, sing a rollicking Irish ditty in a
manner which was all his own, and
which caused the children TO laugh so
heartily that it actually did one good to
be present
1T was in the time of the year when
everything was in bloom, when the
flowers fairly overran the houses, and
when the orange trees were laden with
fruit. One day was strolling through
the orange fields with Father Bally and
he was telling me particularly good
story in Irish dialect when we suddenly
approached the figure of a nun. She
was tall and shapely, and, though her
face was perfectly white, her beauty
was such that / paused involuntarily
and exclaimed: There is picture for
an artist that magnificent woman in
dark array, strolling in this paradise of
nature
Father Bally returned dryly that
hers was not physical beauty, but |
beauty of the soul. / replied that l
could well believe that, having looked |
for a moment into her dark, soulful |
eyes. Such woman must have his |
tory, l added. That is true he re-
sponded But her history belongs to
the past The woman passed slowly |
away. Then Father Bally returned to
his story, and l asked him no more |
questions about her. However, ! saw
her frequently thereafter and had no
difficulty in learning of her past, for
every one seemed to be acquainted with
her romantic career.
Before the war she was the only I
daughter of an extremely wealthy |
planter and lived in one of the large,
handsome homesteads which then were
so often seen in the land of Dixie. She
had been educated in Paris and had
acquired all the graces which are sup
posed to accompany perfect education
in the fine arts. As she was an heiress
she had many admirers, one of whom
was a southerner, while another lived
in the north, having met the accom-
plished girl in Paris. There was hot
race for her hand, but her heart evil
IDENTIFY inclined to the latter sutton, who
was graceful and talented and alto
gether a worthy young fellow. The
southerner witnessed his rivals success
with much chagrin, and when the an
nouncement of the engagement was
made he was heard to remark that he
would kill his hated rival at the altar.
However, the wedding bells did not
ring, for war troubles were imminent
The lovers took a sorrowful farewell,
vowing to be loyal to each other, al
though he, perforce, was going to join
the RANKS OF tue elculN VI the SOulh anu
assist in putting down the confederacy.
1.-THE denouement to the story was
sad and startling. One day a man,
worn out and travel-stained sought
refuge at the house and was admitted
into the young woman's presence. She
gave a cry of rapture, for it was her
northern lover, and then exclaimed
with CONSERVATION:
"How did you get here|
BY crossing the line
. But if you are found here they will
kill you"
~ could not resist seeing you"
Then in an agitated manner she in
forms him that a detachment of south
ern soldiers was encamped beyond the
small wood and that the officer in COM
mand was his former rival
lyon must go at once she urged.
srrbav come here for supplies and if they ,