Los Angeles herald., 1905-06-04
CapifuLafOn
of Little Elsie

had fought on the Southern side in the
Civil war When the war was over and
the Southern cause lost the Horners had
left the United states and gone to live
abroad. there to subsist on the scanty
remains Of their fortune and to nurse
the bitterness of their disappointment
Else's grandfather had never been
reconstructed" That means he had
never taken the oath of allegiance to the
United states government, which was
required after the war from all who
had fought against the Union. Neither
had her papa. The whole family had
resented the outcome of the war bitter
1y. Elise remembered her grandfath-
er's little room in Paris, the walls OF
which were lined with maps of the bat
tie fields on which the great struggles
of the Civil war had taken place AL
though she was only five years old
when her grandfather died, she recalled
quite plainly the stern old gentleman
who was continually poring over them
Besides the maps there were the war
time stories. Elise and John and
JameS ndu nbdIu llGlll llOAl biiSAi 49,
little days. They had been wrapped in
an atmosphere of memories. Their
small apartment on the outskirts of
Paris was hung with pictures of the
old home in the United States-the
South-with portraits of their old
neighbors and friends, with all sorts
of mementos. In the little dining
room hung the old firearms which had
borne part in the war
But most interesting of all was the
silken flag, the flag of the Confederacy,
draped over their mammals dressing
table and the old uniforms, ragged and
battle stained, which once in great
while John and James were permitted
to take out of their wrappings and
camphor and to wear for an afternoon
of dignifed masquerading. Grand
father would perhaps not have al
lowed this, but Elise's mamma was a
French woman. She sympathized with
the lost cause, but not bitterly.
The children were engaged in this
pastime one day when an elderly gen
tleman appeared at the house. He
was their uncle Theodore he told them,
and Elise remembered that he was the
one who had been reconstructed" He
had never seen their mamma, who had
been married to their papa many
years after he had left his own country.
He seemed both amused and little
troubled to see Jacks and James dress
uniforms and the flag which Elise
waved at the diminutive Confederate
force.
1.-The old clothes, eh?" he had said,
musingly and he had been very quiet
while he waited for their mother and
father to return from their promenade.
Elise and John and James had never
seen their father so excited as he was
on his return when he saw his brother.
The two elderly men sat talking far
into the night. The next morning
when Elise was starting for her con-
vent school her new uncle, Theodore,
and her papa accompanied her.
How would you like to go over to
your own country, my dear?" said her
uncle Theodore.
Elise looked puzzled. Her papa came
to her assistance.
ITO the United States" he ex-
planned.
You know" said her uncle, you
are an American girl after ALL"
Elise looked at her papa again.
II know that father is an American,
and they must always introduce me as
an American miss, but mamma is
French. I did not quite know about
myself" she explained.
Besides" she added slowly, "I dol
not think I should care to live there
now, and I know John and James
wouldn't They hate the North So"
"We1l make soldiers of John and
James" said her uncle, laughing, "and
wen make a real American miss of
you"
'Will you make them Northern SOL
diers?" asked Elise anxiously.
mo, indeed. Wen make them SOL
diers Of the Union" said her uncle
Theodore. Union soldiers have been
good fighters always. brave men, and
they fought for a good cause"
But Elise had her own ideas about
it. She could hardly bear to stay at
the convent until lessons were over.
She was so anxious to tell John and
James what Uncle Theodore had said.
But when she reached home that af-
ternoon she found her brothers had
already been told Of the contemplated
visit to the United States.
I'VE are to go to military school
there l like that part" said John.
Yes said James, "and I like the
sea trip but I don't think can stand
being bossed by lot of 'Yanks'."
Elise ran through the APARTMENT. |
Fanny the mulatto maid was packing
garments busily in the boys bedroom
Helen, the French maid. was taking
down pictures in the drawing room.
In the dining room she found her
mamma counting silver and storing II
away In chest of heavy wood.
"Oh, mamma" gasped Elise. "vou
arn't really going to send ne IN tbo