Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-09-04
THE GENERAL.


"Heigh, hol" then signing, then breaking
out into whistle as ifthis seeming merri-
rnent would conceal that his thoughts were
far away and sad.
The old general came once year on a
visit to US. often asked my father what
made his old friend look SO sad.
"His heart is broken, my dear; he has had
sorrow"
To me, little girl. these words had
terrible sound. and wanted to tell the dear
old gentleman how sorry felt for him, but
father told me must not mention such
subject.
One day he took me ON his knee and look
Ing into my eyes said; 'Little Ma-ree, you
look like somebody loved long ago. When
you get older, am going to give you some
thing she used to wear-something very
beautiful"
This promise excited my childish heart,
and ! impatiently wondered how long
must wait for its fulfllment.
Twas near IS when paid my first visit
90 the old generals beautiful home. He
was not well and wrote for father and me
70 come. We arrived late IN the evening,
and felt sad from the moment entered
the beautiful house-it seemed 20 lonely.
Something was lacking. Nobody there to
love the dear old general, and what Is any
home without awoman's lover No wonder
he looked so sad, with only servants and
memories to keep him company.
As we sat In the library after supper talk
ing of our journey, the old general walked
over to me and placing his hand ON my
head said:
"Ma-ree, l think 1t Is time for you to
have what ] promised you long ago, but
you are tired tonight, 90 you must 20 to
bed early, and tomorrow morning you shall
receive the most beautiful present you have
ever had"
Hearing this, was too excited to sleep.
thinking of the gift and the loneliness of
the big house. What could It bef And I
was to receive something beautiful because
resembled some one the old general had
lovedi Was this somebody the cause Of the
generals broken hearth Could any woman
be false to such manf
The morning came. The old general said
he had not slept well, and 1 felt so sorry for
him kissed him on his forehead. Father
had told me must caress his old friend
Just as did when was a little girl.
''Ma-ree," he said, holding my hand low
ingly. "after breakfast, when your father
goes to call on his friends, we must have a
little talk. When give you what prom
ised you so long ago, want to tell you the
story Of my life You may write 1t down
and read 1t to your friends when am gone"
Isat down with the old general beside
his handsome escritoire He unlock ed one
Of the drawers and took from 1t Jewel
case, which he handed to me. He did not
speak, but he sighed, and tears stood In his
eyeA Iopened the jewel case tremblingly.
NJ - ~
lay ring and bracelet sparkling with the
most beautiful jewels ever saw. The
ring was delicate band Of gold, with two
hearts Joined upon the top of It. In each
heart was imbedded a superb emerald, sur
rounded with diamonds Of the rarest quail
The bracelet was formed Of delicately
wrought gold leaves, enameled and studded
with precious stones which must have cost
Q fabulous sum. Beside the bracelet lay a
tiny book, richly gilded, giving the history
of these rare stones and what each one
symbolized. Were such gems to be miner
What could ! sayf / tried to thank the
dear old general, but could not command
my voice. At last he spoke to me:
"Ma-ree, with this ring and bracelet Is
linked q sad, sad story. Listen to 1t.
was young when l met and loved Claire
Travers. She loved me in return, and our
lives were as happy as our hopes were
bright. But my sweet girl was taken away
the very week she was to become my bride.
Oh, Godi thought could not live. but
Ibid. Thought could never love again,
and did not till my hair was white and
my heart weary of long desolation.
''Then ! met the pretty young creature
whom I married, Mary Grey. 1t was
foolish thing on my part, a wicked one ON
herA ] loved-she did not. She was al
ready pledged to a young lover, but did
not know It. She was 80 fair and seemed
% guiltless ! could not keep my old heart
from fiuttering when met her, and at last
it told her that loved her. She knew
was rich and could make her life glitter
ing one, so she gave up her young lover for
my gold, though she made me believe she
loved me. ought TO have known better,
but love turned my head, as often happens
with old men. built this lovely house for
my Mary. She had been In it but few
days when / noticed that she smiled but
little. I feared she was sdisappointed-that
I was too old for her. Once or twice I
found Mary in tears, then ! knew some
thing was wrong.
, I'VE had been married about two months
when came home one night and found my
little wife gone. She left a note telling me
how wretched she was, and that she could
not endure my presence another day. She
begged me to pity and forgive her and to
make no effort to bring her back. l loved
the young thing too well to break her
heart, and allowed her to be legally freed
from me. Mary married her young lover
and II happy, while I-oh, God, my poor.
lonely hearth
The old general wept, and wept with
him. Then he went on:
"Ma-ree, / give you these Jewels because
You have always reminded me of my pure
and gentle Claire. Wear them for my
sake, and take this advice from an old man
"A broken hearted one-deceive no man.
Deal fairly with whoever asks you to be
bis wife.
"Marree. l have been a soldier-brave,
they said-but the hardest battle for any
man Is with wounded, desolate heart.
IT'S lonely to live without love; tits lonely
20 die without love. Who will kiss my cold
lips when lay In my coffin. Marcel,
'sI, dear general, and now toop'
I sprang to his side and held his dear old
weeping face against my cheek. / wept
with him for few moments, then glided
from the room. still hearing his sobs.
passed the day In tears and In looking
ct my Jewels, thinking Of the two who
wore them-of heaven when touched the
ring, Of false and sordid motives when
gaSed upon the bracelet
The old general did not seem well that
day, and when night came retired early.
Hbp next morning before I got dressed
lhextd from my father the wild CRY;