It was shortly after this episode that her parents had taken sick and passed away. Ella had come East and had given up hope of ever seeing her rescuer again. You may imagine her feelings then when, on entering the drawing room at the van der Griffs', she discovered that the stranger who had so gallantly and tactfully rescued her from a watery grave was none other than General Ulysses S. Grant.
The poor girl was torn by a tumult of contrary emotions. Suppose he should remember her face. She blushed at the thought. And besides what chance had she to win such a great man's heart in competition with these society girls like Geraldine Rhinelander who had been "abroad" and spoke French.
At that moment one of the liveried servants approached the general with a trayful of filled wine glasses. So engrossed was the soldier hero in talking to Geraldine—or, rather, in listening to her alluring chatter—that he did not at first notice what was being offered him.
"Will you have a drink of champagne wine, General?" said Mrs. van der Griff who stood near.
The general raised his head and frowned as if he did not understand.
"Come, mon General," cried Geraldine gayly, "We shall drink a votre succes dans la guerre," and the flighty girl raised a glass of wine on high. Several of the guests crowded around and all were about to drink to the general's health.
"Stop," cried General Grant suddenly realizing what was being done, and something in the tone of his voice made everyone pause.
"Madam," said he, turning to Mrs. van der Griff, "Am I to understand that there is liquor in those glasses?"
"Why yes, General," said the hostess smiling uneasily. "It is just a little champagne wine."
