Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-06-04
The General.

One could not look into the old
generals face without knowing that
something lay hidden in his heart
which he would not care to tell.
He had a habit Of exclainning
sHeigh no - then signing, then
breaking out into a whistle as if this
seeming merriment would conceal
that his thoughts were far away and
sad.
The old general came once year
on a visit to us. 1 often asked my ia
Their what made his old friend look so
sad.
ellis heart is broken, my dear; he
has had sorrow"
To me, little girl, these words had
a terrible sound, and I wanted to tell
the dear old gentleman how sorry L
felt for him, but father told me L must
not mention such a subject.
One day he took me on his knee
and looking into my eyes said:
: ssLittle Maree, you look like some
body loved long ago. When you
get older, I am going to give you
something she used to wear-some-
thing very beautiful"
This promise excited my childish
heart, and I impatiently wondered
how long I must wait for it's fulfill
ment.
I was near eighteen when paid my
first visit to the old generals beauti-
full home He was not we'll and wrote
for father and I to come.
We arrived late in the evening, and
I felt sad from the moment [ entered
the beautiful house, it seemed SO
lonely. Something was lacking. No
body there to love the dear old gen
eral, and what is any home without
woman's love? No wonder he look
ed so sad, with only servants and
memories to keep him company.
AS we sat in the library after sup
per talking of our journey, the old
general walked over to me and plac-
ing his hand on my head said:
e'Ma-ree, think it is time for you
to have what I promised you long |
ago, but you are tired tonight, SO
you must go to bed early, and to-
morrow morning you shall receive
the most beautiful present you have
ever hadH''
Hearing this was too excited to
sleep, thinking of the gift and the
loneliness of the big house. What
could it be ? And l was to receive
something beautiful because I resem-
bled some one the old general had
loved Was this somebody the
cause of the generals broken heart ?
Could any woman be false to such a
man?
The morning came. The old gener-
al said he had not slept we'll, and I
felt so sorry for him kissed him on
his forehead. Father had told me 1
must caress his old friend just as I
did when I was little girl.
"Ma-ree," he said, holding my hand
lovingly, LATTER breakfast, when your
father goes to call on his friends, we
must have little talk. When give
you what l promised you SO long ago,
want to tell you the story OF my life.
You may write it down and read it to
your friends when am gone"
sat down with the old general be-
side his handsome escritoire. He I'M
locked one of the drawers and took
from it jewel case, which he handed
to me. He did not speak, but he
sighed, and tears stood in his eyes.
opened the jewel case trembling
". Before ice, on groundwork of
tinted satin, 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 superb emer-
aid, surrounded with diamonds of the
rarest quality.
The bracelet was formed of deli
cateiy wrought gold leaves, enameled