Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-05-29
ROBERT THE DEVIL.

Of course the generals will was at
the bottom of the affair, but the Eve
behind these fig leaves was his Sec
ond wife.
They could not call her a step
mother, for the generals children
were all older than she was. The
general was well along in years when
she married him, but that was her
affair.
There hangs his portrait, painted
by Copely. Look at it.
You do not belive he was 60 when
it was painted?
But they say he was.
He was more handsome and iascin-
atipg at 60 than his sons we're at 80.
The second wife was rich-very rich,
She brought the greatest quantity of
gold and silver plate into the family
all marked with an Arabic cipher,
to which she added the Chevalier
crest-a terrapin-and the motto,
mot to the swifU.'
No one knew certainly who her
people were. She said they were
Spanish, and her own appearance
supported her assertion. There is
her portrait, painted at the time OF
her marriage. Look at it. The gen.
eral went to Paris, long journey
in those days, to buy these diamonds
she wears, and the corbeille.
Sometimes, even when there was
no one to dine at the home but the
family, Mistress Chevalier would
sail into the drawing room, that pea
fowls tail of green embroidered
velvet spread behind her, her beauti.
full black hair turned back-like that
In tour, her arms as naked as
Venus, her point lace falling from
her milk white shoulders, and flash.
ing from her hair and ears and fin
gers, and flaming in q fire circle
about her delicate neck, the diamonds
magnificent stones, worth scores
of negroes.
Oh, how the daughters would stare
at their plates and the sons would
sheer at each other as the general
would meet her midway the room
lead her to her seat at the table and
kiss the dimple on her shoulder be.
fore he left her.
They say she loved him passion
ately-that often when she thought
they were alone and he would pass
her chair, she would turn her head
upon her lazy cushion and hold out
beautiful hand. And he?
Would kneel beside her, aud kiss
her pomegranate lips and lovely
throat until you would have sworn
him %, and mayhap not married at
all.
They say, too, twas a pretty sight
to see her with her little son. A
maid going to help her dress one
morning heard so much laughter
and such baby shrieks that she first
peeped in at the door.
And, behold the mistress on her
hands and knees, and baby just from
his bath on her neck
She was crawling over the velvet
carpet, looking over her shoulder al
the little shouting rascal, who tug.
ged at her hair with one hand while
he beat her with the branch of jas
mine in the other. The black "da'
sat and shook like q fuscous mold Of
berry jam, while the young mistress
crawled about, crushing the yellow
flowers under her soft hands and
knees.
The door of the inner room sprano
open, and in walked the general, his
dressing gown with the Persian Dor
der wrapped around him.
There was shrieking then, / war
rant you.
Those years were the generals
holiday time. He had earned it, fol
his first wife was Guelph, and ev
erybody in Carolina knows what
that means.
She never got down on her knees
except to pray in her life, and sh,
never prayed for anything but mon.
ey.