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THE SOUTHERN WORLD, FEBRUARY 1,1884.
Written especially tor the Southern World.J
WINTER. MORNING.
BY W. FARRAND FF.I/CH.
A winter morning’s early dawn
Taps at my window pane:
The curtain of the night withdrawn
Breaks slumber’s magic reign.
The snow is falling steadily,
And fills the atmosphere;
The wind stirs it to revelry—
A iaessenger of gladsome cheer.
The landscape is in masquerade,—
A weird, fantastic sight;
Qlad nature is, in sooth, arrayed
In dainty robe of white.
The drifts are crowning every bill
And hiding every vale;
The snow enshrouds the window sill
And eaves, like dazzling coat of mail.
The snow has hidden, as with shield,
The gate posts and the bars
That guard the lane to pasture field:
They stand like plumed hussars.
The chanticleer looks out in fright,
From his high sheltered perch,
And curves his head at wondrous sight,
Loath to begin his daily search.
The barnyard denizens, amazed,
Look forth from stall and sty,
To find familiar landmarks razed—
Snow bound, in comfort lie.
The children of the farmer-folk
Break forth in ecstasy.
At sight of snch a wondrous cloak.
In which the world holds revelry.
And now begin the daily cares,
Till night again return;
Each hour its work allotted bears.
The fagots higher burn—
The curling smoke mounts high amain,—
From every cheerful hearth,
And all the landscape rings again
With overture of rustic mirth.
Columbus, Ohio.
♦ ■»«
THE DeSAUSSURES.
I ing the ungloved hand through his arm,
and turning to lead the way through the
| confused crowd.
“ Yes; you go ahead Frank, and take
| care of the women. I’ll look after the
baggage. Nate, mind thal flag; hold it
| up straight, you rascal,” cried Colonel
Coleman. “ Here, Pleas, come look
| after the horses.” “Boys,” addressing a
group of darkies, “ here, a lot of you
unload this carriage.”
“ Never mind, Colonel Coleman. I
will have the carriage rolled on the plat-
It will be safe to night and you
see if your Miss Drucie and Mrs. Cole
man are ready for supper. Frank, you
will escort Drucie down, she will expect
—but, darling, where is your uniform ?
You haven’t got anything on to indicate
your rank,” she added in a little disap
pointment. .
“Oh, I am not on duty to-night,
mother,” he answered.
do; but I hardly think it proper If th*
men wish to go informally, of course
but we should not require them to K0 in
a body or as a command.”
Yes, I guess you are right; but
Bates,go down the lines and tell ’email
they can make a night of it if they like
in honor of the Colonel and his friends ’’
The boys were glad of the license not
so much to do honor to the Colonel’s
can get it in the morning; let your driver I queenly beauty, suggested a change in
look after the horses,” said the con- her dress and she hastily whispered to
The neighboring door across the way . , „
opened at that moment and Miss Cole- friends, *but to unbend the monotony
man appeared in all the glory and flash of the camps. Consequently, when the
and sparkle of an evening costume The band struck up the regiment almost to a
handsome toilet so becoming to the j man was ready to follow it to the vill
age
I ductor.
“Oh, well, all right. Please attend
| to them and I will send the landlord to
j show you where to put them. Is there
I a stable here Mr. Conductor?”
“I suppose Mr. King will stable them,”
[ said the conductor.
“Well; here, Pleas, lead them down
I here then. There, be careful; so ho,
re-
M
& A Historical Romance.
BY B. K. SAWYBB.
CHAPTER XVII.
Donning his best suit DeSaussure left
camp after supper and walked over to the
hotel to meet his mother. The train
was due at eight and it was now six.
Two hours he had to nurse his humilia
tion And to resolve in liis mind how he
was to vindicate if not avenge his
wounded pride and bruised love. Should
he meet his mother with angry upbraid-
boy. Now, that’s all right!” as the the motley scene below.”
horses were safely landed on the yard. | “Certainly, she answered frankly
The baggage was equally as satisfacto
rily landed and the train moved on
lightened of two-thirds its passengers.
Meanwhile DeSaussure had conducted
his lovely charge in the hotel parlor fol
lowed by the proud mammas as closely
linked arm in arm. Nate with the flag
erect and Dora and Sallie fetching up the
rear. The little parlor was too much
crowded for comfort and an immediate
adjournment to the rooms was voted.
‘The rooms have air and a pretty
prospect from the windows to commend
them, but not much else; they were the
best, however, that I could do,” apolo
getically said the young man as he lead
the way up to the quarters.
“Oh, we come up to taste something
of a soldier’s fare, and would be disap
pointed were we not to encounter some
discomforts,” pleasantly answered Miss
Coleman.
The little sitting-room that he had en
gaged for his mother was lighted and
the little additions of furniture made for
the occasion made it pleasant enough
“This,” speaking to the young lady
still linked to his arm, “ is for you and
mother. It’s vis a vis, across the hall is
Mrs. Coleman’s, and now shall I welcome
you home or must I ask a welcome from
you?”
“ Oh, we will compromise the matter
without ceremony. I take possession
and without any ceremony you must
come and go,” sne smilingly answered,
releasing nis arm and trying to inspect
the room.
“ This is really charming, is it not,
Mrs. DeSaussure ? Frank sayB this ie
The party had returned from the table
and were enjoying the aftermeal chats
Miss Coleman had recovered from the
little embarrassment that had sent the
blood so prettily to her face and neck
but leaving a pain in her heart, and was
as pleasant as she could be. The proud
mammas were both motherly in their
manners. The old gentleman was cor
dial and jolly, and altogether they were
making quite a family party when with
out a warning intimation the band struck
putting her hand on the officers arm. I up Dixie in front of the very windows.
“ I have not the skill of Lavater, but “Hello; what’s up now! What’s
I have all the interest he ever felt in the that? ” asked the old gentleman, rising
shades of the human face.” and hurrying to the window.
“Can you read them?” he asked as I The proud mother’s heart swells as if
turning through a cross hall they walked it would burst, as it came to her what it
out upon the wide, open veranda that I meant.
her son
“ Frank, you and Drucie take a prom-
anade on the gallery until I can improve
my toilet. Here, Dora, roll my trunk in
and help me.”
“Miss Coleman, mother is not yet
ready to go down, while we are waiting
let me suggest a promenade on the piaz-
It may amuse you to look down on
run the whole length of the house and
looked out upon the front.
“ I cannot, or I do not know. I never
tried. I do not think it would be fair to
do so,” she answered.
“No; something like peeping in your
neighbor’s window to see what your
neighbor is doing,” he suggested.
“Yes; something like it,” she
plied.
“ But the face doesn’t always tell what
the heart hides,” he said.
“No; and well, perhaps, it is that it
does not. We would not see so many
smiling faces,” Bhe answered soberly.
“ Yes; I suspect many a smiling face
hides an aching heart,” he said.
“Yes; and isn’t it a pitiful thing to
to see this smiling mark of misery ? It is
hardly honest to wear it,” she said look
ing up in his face with a sad smile.
“ I do not know; were all so gentle
and pitying as you, perhaps, it would be
well not to seek to hide it; but the world
“Francis, is this for you?” she
asked.
“ Oh, no, mother; of course they knew
it would please me, but the music is in
honor of Miss Coleman! ” he answered.
“Of me?” cried the blushing girl.
“Yes; Miss Coleman, I have an
nounced to the regiment the proud honor
you propose doing it in presenting a
stand of colors, and they wish to thank
you in advance. Come, we will walk
out on the balcony. You must let them
see you,” he said offering his hand.
Sne, with a true woman’s modesty,
shrank from the public exhibition of
herself, but encouraged by the friendly
presence of the young gentleman and
urged by the two mothers, she took his
hand and was lead to the veranda.
“Oh, what a sea of faces! ” she cried
as she looked upon the moving mass be
low. “ They will not expect me to say
anything?” she timidly asked.
“Oh, no, not so ungallant as that.
is not so compassionate, Miss Coleman, Your presence will be honor enough for
and to hang one’s grief on one’s sleeve them,’’ he gallantly answered.
would be more likely to excite the mock
ery of the many than the sympathy of
the few,” he answered pleasantly.
“ Hark; what delightful music! ” she
exclaimed as a martial strain from the
camps came floating up.
They stood for a few moments listen
ings, and by an unseemly aisplay of —yours and mine—and mamma, I will ing, when Dora called them
wrath shameher as he had been shamed? s how you yours,” she said turning and' SM ’“ n11 io rpnf1v Mr
/i_i — - - * U8 hering her mother in.her own room
>
And this Miss Coleman, whom he felt
to be the cause of this insult put upon
his innocent darling—should he up
braid her too with the cruelty of the
K rsecution, and tell her at once that he
d rather have the regretful pity of
Mary Feaster than to have the warm
wealth of her love with all its adjuncts
of wealth and family prestige? He was
half inclined to do so. To get them face
to face—his mother and this cruel ally—
and tell her that she might so degrade
him in the eyes of his love as to ensure
her eternal contempt, but she could
never make him marry another. But
he thought better.
“No;” he murmured, “I shall do noth
ing unmanly. I shall, by quietly refrain
ing from any participation in the fete
they have so proudly ordered, show them
that my heart is too sore for such a
mockery; but I will speak no word of
reproach to my mother or no hint of dis
courtesy to Miss Coleman.”
And having thus thought better of his
angry pnrpose he joined in the gay an
imation of the scene. He even was so
far reconciled to his mother as to ask for
a room in the hotel that he might be
near her during her stay.
The train came in on time, bringing
with it another installment of mothers,
wives and sisters to swell the already
large crowd. In the confusion of land
ing he heard a familiar call.
Yon’ mass Frank; I sees *im! Look
missns! Yonder he is! Yer, mass
Frank; yer we is. Missus an’ all on us,”
cried Dora. He hurried forward and in
a moment his mother had him in her
arms. r “Bless you, my boy; oh, bless
ou my brave, good boy!” whispered
“'*■ d heart.
.Frank, my boy; here we are,
come down'upon you like the locust of
Egypt; how are you. Nate, where’s
that flag? mind it you rascal and don’t
get it scratched ” This was Colonel
Coleman’s greeting.
“ Frank, ray son; we are all so proud
to see you.” This, with a motherly kiss,
was Mrs. Coleiman’s greeting.
“ I hope we do not utterly overwhelm
you.” This, with a cordial shake of her
ungloved hand, was Miss Coleman’s
greeting.
“This way, mother;” he said, draw
Missus is ready, and Mrs. Coleman;
an’ dey all ses come long, dey awful hon-
gry,” said the girl.
“ Very well, as I am ‘awful hungry ’
too, we will not keep them waiting,”
laughed the young lady as turning they
returned to the hall where Colonel Cole
man, having been brushed up, stood, a
lady on each arm ready for tne charge,
The young couple were signaled to
lead the way and turning they marched
down and into supper.
The entrance ot such a handsome
couple, such a brilliant young lady and
such a distinguished looking gentleman,
could not fail of its admiring excite
ment.
“ What a handsome couple! My stars
what aroyal beauty—a very gem,” whis
pered the men. “A prince of the royal
blood,” sighed the young ladies.
“That’s him,” said another in a voice
intended to be whispered, but loud
enough for the advancing column to hear,
“that’s the Colonel, and that’s his
young wife. What a pretty bride!’
Poor Drucie, her face was like a
blushing rose, hanging in its pinkey
loveliness, while her mother ana Mrs.
DeSaussure exchanged glances full of
across the hall. “ Here, Nate, bring the
flag in here, and Sally here is your place.
Come and take off mamma’s bundles.”
“Yes; and git my slippers, Sally, as
quick as you can; these boots are a tor
ture. I don’t believe I could have stood
it another mile—boots are an abomina
tion. Nate hurry up with the trunks,”
cried Mrs. Coleman, throwing herself
on the little settee and proceeding at once
to make herself comfortable. “ Drucie,
shut the door,” as Nate went out Drucie
shut the door, “and we have no right to
intrude.”
“ Francis, my son,” cried the fond
mother, when left alone with her son,
“ you do not know how proud I am.”
“ I am glad you are pleased, mother,”
he answered, but there was no respons
ive pride in his voice.
“Yes; this is so much better than the
menial place you had under that brute
Chatham. Was it true, Frank, all this
trouble I heard about the uniforms? ”
she asked.
“ There was no real trouble about the
uniforms, mother. The men were a
little dissatisfied at first about them, I DeSaussure exchanged glances full of I by yc_.
but now that they have got better ones, pride and gladness unutterable. Oh, if There was no mistaking the heartiness
they don’t mind wearing them,” he an- Frank had only thought to put on his of that assurance
-1 I ««•%• 4lt<l4 l>4i! A A aa! F J* f A. I It YT
“They must be very kind to do all
this for me,” she added.
“Yes; I think we have a brave and
gallant command,” he said.
“And you do not know, Frank—you
must let me call you Frank still,” she
apologized with a pretty blush. “ You
do not know how really glad we were to
hear of your promotion. It was such a
sudden gladness that we were almost
afraid that it v.ould not be true.”
4 • Yes; it was almost as sudden to me,
as sudden and as surprising,” he re
plied.
“ How? ” she asked.
“The election itself was sudden, only
two days after the regiment’s compliment
was filled. The officers of the regiment
met in secret caucus to select field offi
cers without consulting the advice or
wishes of the men. They made their
nominations and announced them the
next day. The men, dissatisfied with
the action as well, perhaps, as with some
of the nominees, met the next night and
put out a ticket of their own. They did
me the honor to select me for Colonel.
I accepted the trust and was elected,’
he answered.
“And whom did the officers want?”
she asked.
“ Captain Chatham was my opponent,
and, believe me, Miss Drucie, 1 felt a
real pain in having to beat him,” he
said.
“ Oh, I am so glad you beat him,” she
cried. “ He deserved to be beaten and
ou.’
swered.
“ Oh, we heard the most dreadful tales
heart, and her mother were so distressed
about it that they came over to see me
and had started to go to Governor Pick
ens to get him to interfere in your be
half,” said the mother.
“ Miss Coleman and her mother were
both very good to so kindly interest
themselves in my welfare,” he replied.
“Oh, Francis, my son, you do not
know how good she is, and what a great
comfort she has been to me,” cried the
lady with an appealing look in her son’s
face.
“ Ter-ling-a-ling, ter-ling-a-ling.”
“There goes the supper bell, mother.
Shall I see Mrs. King and request supper
sent up, or will you go to the table?”
asked her son.
I uniform, that little omission of dignity
was all that was needed to make his
“ You are very kind Miss Drucie. I
- wish I could thank you enough,” he an-
about it, and Drucie, bless her sweet | “other s heart overflow with gratitude. | sweied softly, almost sadly.
The cessation of the music prevented
her reply. A cheer from a thousand
voices arose, the loud mouthed negroes
joining in with the heartiest ze6t. The
cheering hushed for a minute, but no
one appearing in response it set up again
_ . , .amid shouts of “come out; let us see
But it was after supper, and the party the pretty face! ”
had gathered in. the cosy little sitting- “Drucie, darling, it is you they moan
The supper was in too busy progress
to let the excitement divert the com
forting performance more than an in
stant. And seats having been reserved
for the party farther down the table the
blushing ears were spared a further em-1
barrassment.
room of the ladies that the crowning
triumph was completed.
The band hearing of the arrival of the
Colonel’s mother, and some said young
wife, asked permission of Colonel Norris
to go over and give the party a sere
nade.
“Of course, go and take all the boys
with you. I have a mind to march the
“ Oh, unless there is too (neat a crash entire regiment over and give ’em a reg-
id jar, we will go to the table. I know ular chivarra. Lawson, what say you
rucie will prefer it | but I am glad it i« | to it? " I DeSaussurewas yelled:
Oh, it would be a friendly thing to I Still holding the trembling hand, the
and
Drucie
ready, for \ am quite famished. Dora,
you must go my child. Frank will lead
you,” said Mrs. DeSaussure in a wild
flutter of joyous excitement.
“Yes, Miss Coleman, come!” urged
the young gentleman.
Finally she stepped forward to tne
balustrade and bowed her acknowledge
ment of thanks. But this was not
enough. The sight of their Colonel by
her side suggested a double compliment
and a shout, “DeSaussure! Colonel