The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-02-11

anu Oilo lOr tuuC young object.
Tho war was over, and 1 had never
heard from my husband and thought he
must be dead. l was doing we'll in my
store. l bought all my things in great
quantities and sold them we'll. had
many friends and was much respected.
l remember very we'll that one day
Niger came into my store and said,
'Have you got any cheap cigars?' l
gave him ono and said, This is cents.
He hit it and then threw it into my
face, crying, Have you nothing better
for mo than that?' Yes, 1 havo some
thing better for you, said, and hit
him over the mouth and nose with
poker, and he rushed bowling and
bleeding into tho street. In half an
hour corporal and two soldiers came
in and arrested me. laughed and said:
You must allow mo time to put on my
bonnet and lock up my store. Then
will go with you with pleasure. When
we got to the provost, he said, Why,
Mrs. 'Guste. l am surprised to SEQ you
What possible complaint can there DO
against you?' When he had heard my
story as we'll rs the nigger's he told me
to go back to my store and said very
severely to the Niger: Is this the use
you make of your liberty? Go home
and behave like white man if you can
-Four years more went by, and was
sure my husband was dead was well
oft, had largo market where l en-
ployed six men and was fast growing
rich. I had many offers to change my
name, but always gave tho same an
swer to all, Thank you, sir, for tho
compliment, but prefer to support
only myself and do not care for the lux
ury of Il husband.
"One day Mr.. Paxton, whose wife
knew, came in and said, Come up to
our house. 1 have no time, | said.
What is the matter2 Is your wife
sick?' He said, No, sho is not sick,
but there is a man there who wants to
see you. said, Well, then, let him
come and see me. Mr. Paxton begged
SO hard and got SO curious that put
on my bonnet-my old bonnet, for |
would not dress up for any man who
would not take the trouble to como and
see mc-and went home with him to
his house. grew cold and felt faint,
for there. talking to Mrs. Paxton, was
Augustc-my husband looking Just
the same as when he left me eight years
before. My heart beat like hammer,
but just said: Well, so you are alive
and have turned up ut last, have you?
Where have you been for eight years?
Have You had Il good time and been
travelling all over the world.' oh, Jo-
sephinc, he SAID and began to cry.
pnp,. fol1o,- ho hoI l,no,, ,,,,,,,,1,.l
and taken prisoner and very ill., When
the war was over and he was well again,
he began to hunt for me- Not finding
me III Columbus, he went to every place
where he had ever been before, which
meant IL good many journeys for man
who had always travelled all the time
No doubt he enjoyed himself very much.
He had been in Vicksburg the year be-
fore. Now he was OH his way down the
river from St Louis to New Orleans
Tho boat was delayed for few hours
at Vicksburg, and Auguste was taking
n walk when he met Mr.. Paxton and
began talking to him. He asked If there
were many French people in Vicks0urg.
"A good many. said Mr.. Paxton. Then
Augustc asked about tho women, and
when he heard there was a Mrs. 'Guste
who had Il market, and whose name
was such IL hard one that everybody
called her Mrs. 'Gustc for short, he said
he wanted to see her, and asked how to
so to her store When he started, he
said his knees felt very queer, and he
wondered If he could walk there, and if
it was really his Mrs. 'Guste, and if
would be glad to see him.
He reached. as he thought, the store
to which Mr.. Paxton had directed him,
and there he found mana dreadful
looking man, lie said weighing sugar.
Is this your storc?' asked Augustc
Yes, sir, answered the man. What
can do for you?' Augusta did not say
another word to the man, but rushed
out into the street crying: Mon Dicu!
Josephine is married to another. will
travel and never return Then he hur-
ricd back to the boat and met Mr. Pax
ton, who said, Did you know Mrs.
Guste" AuSustc answered, How can
she DO Mrs 'Gustc when she is III arricd
to another who is not Custer Augusta
had gone into wrong store-one not
quarter the size of mine. But he was too
exhausted to go again to find me and said
Mi. Paxton must bring me to his house
Well. Gustc, said [, you may
stay i'll my house, and if you are not go
ing to try to make me travel am really
very glad to see You, but if you are go
ing to travel you may travel alone us You
have for eight years. While you remain
in Vicksburg will support you and will
send you your coffee to your bed in the
morning. | get up at 4 and will not
have my business meddled with. And
will never travel. New York Post.