Jack's Marriage

ack Raymond isa jolly good follow, as everjbödv in the Stock Yards ktiovvs, and one morning, when he snggeslcd 1 1 1 : 1 1. wc take a Iittlo vacation and go down to Texas to look af ter some oattlo and tftke Ín tlie World's Exposición at New Orlean's, on our return, I well knew tliero would be no peacc r.niil I aeeeded to the proposal. Wc paoked our valises that niglit ÍOT a two weeks' trip and wero ofï early the next morning only too glad to leave the frezen shores of Lako Michigan for the sunny skics and frarant llowers of a more congenial climc. We reached Texas the second day, transaeted all the business ia view and wero in New ürleaus at the end of t'.ie third day. "Torn Egglestyp," said Jack, "what in the name of goodness shall we do? We are in a fix, with every hotel fulli We cj".n"t sleep in the depots, neitlier can. we camp out on the Plaza. Let's takc a stroll through some of the side streets, perhaps we can find lodsings in one of those modest looking houses over y onder." Aftèr applying at about a dozen different places and rcccivinr the curt auswer, "all 1 uil," we at last sueceeded in Becuring a room in a daiuly little house kept by an elderly ividow on Carondelet street. We deposited our ïuggagó, had a refroshing bath and started for the Exposition Buildings. Öoon after entering the grouuds we were saluted with: ''Helio, boys," and a hearty handshake from Stevey Kcutter, the jolliest and best-natured bachelor that ever sat down to tlie diuing tableof the Transit House. Stevey suggested that we "do tho Exposition" as thoroughly as possiblo for ihe time being, and then go down to his hcadquarters on the steamer, (luoky do! it proved to be a floating palacc) havo a quiet smoko and get rested lor the next day. Nothing loath, and nothing Iloath, we passed a deligbíful ovening, but Jack, who was of a most susecptiblo nature, seemed anxious to return to our lodgings, and torepeated questiond from us. aoknowledged that he hoped to get anothcr glmipse of adark-eyed, coquettish-looking brunette?, who'm he saw go into the house, just as we pa.ssed out in the afjernoon. Jack is porBevering; not casily teascd, so Stevey and I had our labor for our paius, and Jack had hi.s troublu for nothing, for tho pretty mis; was not visible that night or the next morning wlien we started out to view the city. While gunning ourselves on the Esplanade, in the aflcrnoon. Jack, who was id9y smoking a cigar, jumped up with sufficient euergy to knock mino from my flnger, exclaiming: "Byjove! Toni, there Mie is now. Come, I must soc where she goes." We follovved at; a respect ful dislance, for a few minutes, uutil the young lady - with the air of a queen - entered a large dry goods s'ore, and was lost to view. Jack entered soon after, ostensibly to purchase some. hamikcrchiefs, but though he scanned overy lady's face, the unkiiown was not to be scen, so, haviug comoleted his purchase, we strolled out and on, down Canal street, meeting Stevey, to whoni we related the a ff air. , Now Stevey is known by all the fair ones of the Town of Lake to have a most unimpressible heart, and it is rumored that ho left home provious lo St. Vaientine's Day, for fear he miglit by sorue means become entan:led in the meshes of ouo of the writers of tho numeróos missives which find their way on the annual recurrence of the day to his desk. But Stevey pftied poor Jack, and advised him to station himself at the Postoffice tht f olio wing day - forladies, espeeially young ladies, frequent thoso places very much. I didn't go down to the Crescent City to fooi away my time with tho feminine persuasión, but I couldn't leave Jack to his own destruction, so I followed him around all day, visiting Uncle Sani's spacious building half-a-dozen timos, hoping to meet Jack"s fair inamorala. The last time we enterea the ollice, and when patienee had ceased to bu a virtue - for 1 had givon Jack waining that I was tired of the fooling, and was half determined to leavo for the north in the morning.fortune favoredthe lucky dog. Just as we turned to leave the place Jack opencd the door and darted out in his usual impetuous way, without thinking of the cousequences. Tho result was his running f uil force against two ladies, knooking letters and pareéis, which they were about to post, in all directions. Pieking uptho pareéis was but the work of a second. "I beg pardon, ladies, for my rudeness, but - but the f act is, I've been expeting letters all day from my - sister, and I was so angry at roceiving none that i was wholly oblivious to outside matters." The eider of the ladies, who proved to bc our landlady, now introduced her companion as hor "nieco, Miss Do WollT." It was amusing to watch Jack. The lady in question proved to be his iinknown brunette, and when she, in her most charming maimcr, asked him if he had visited the Expositiou, and how he liked the city. he answered at random that they were "charniingly bewildering." "Come, Auntie Dupont." said tho graceful Miss Do Wol!)', '-if we delay longer, tho genUemen will have a late tea." Turning to Jack, "I presume you will attend the Mardi Gras Monday?" "Oh, yes! I should bo most happy to, if you will allow ine the honor," said the now thoroughly Öemoralized Jack, as the ladies entered the postoffiöe. I had to f airly drag Jack away for a turn ou the Plaza, wliere l gave him a lecturo ou his folly. "What do you KUOW alout lovc. vou old curmudgeon?'1 said Jack. "You never had any heart, Torn, or you would havo marriod long ago. " I was just two years older than Jack. and if course in his present frame of rnind 6e thougiit ho had perfect right to buse me. "Pilo on your abuse, Jack," said I, "you know I've helpedyou out of a fcost of scrapes already. 1 expect belore we get away you will havo made love to half a dozen Creóles, the result of which will bc several cases of breach of promise. I've a goud mind to leave vou to your own f a te." 'l'his áort of talk continued uutil w I neared the house, -w en saw JaeR seemed rather dowu in the mouth, se Istopped the bandinagc. At the tea table we wero agreeably surprisd to sec Miss Do Wolft, and íd the courso of conversation her provious absence was easily explained, She was foro-woruan in a largo dry goods house, where coslinnes for the Mardi Gras and Proleus pageant wen: a specialty. These hád claimed. her attention almost the entiro day and night all the week which was now closing. Miss De Wolff was as sprighlly, witty body and a fine conversationalist. I saw that Jack was falling dorper in lovo every moment, and when we udjoumcd t the parlor for music, I realized that Jack wouldn't , ! go back to the Norlli as lic c.tine away I I - heart wholo. The voicos oi" the two accordea Bwêetly in siuging, and with the additionnl cliarra of niusie to bind them, I confesa that I scarccly blamed Jack. Mrs. Dupout's brother was a general in the recent war - a planter of liiirli standing; he had sacrittced allhis tvëalth for the causo, and wlien liowas killed upou the battlelield the nevvs so affected hisyoung wife that she grievcd herself into an early grave, leaving heriufant daughter and only child, Dolores, the young lady who had evidently forgotteu that Jack was ono of tlit; "Northern Mudsills." Tliis I learned during th'e evening from Mrs. Dnpont. "Dolores comes of an old Castilian faniily," said Mrs. Dupont, "and is a truo Catholic. Wül you attend the Cathedral tomorrow?" .iskod slie. Of coursc I could do no better tlian : ïive assent, for I knew Jack would go. ; We had arranod to return to Chicago Tuesday, but Monday was the Mardi arras, and the pagennt promised to bo etter tlian herctoforc, so I himted up ! Stevey, after church, to which I most ! religiously went with Jack to hear Miss De Wolfl' sing, Mrs. Dupont ' vitinr us tohave seats with hor, where, of course; we had a delightful view of the singer. I found Stevey surrounded by f riends down on board the steamer, and after their departure, he and I mad ( rangemeuts for the morrow. "What are we todo with Jack Raymond ?" asked Stevey. "By jove ! Torn, 1 thiuk we had better let the fever run its course. If it culuiinatcs in marriage, all right. I don't sec :hing objeclionable in Miss De Wol tl', j jhc seems a perfect laiy. But we had aettèr loave for home in a fow dayg. j [f Jack goes, all right; if ne doesn't, that's the last of him as a bachelor." On the morrow Jack was up and j away before I carne down to i "ast. Mm. Dupont uxplained that ! lores desircd to show him her former ' ïonie, a few miles out of the city. So there was nothing for Stevey and I to do but enjoy ourselves as best we j eould. We drove all over the city; visited cvery place of interest; saw the Mardi Gras to our hoart's content; took in tlie Proteuspageant, and then went down to the steamcr, and spent the remainder of the eveniug inwondering where Jack was. i was thunderstruok on returningto Mrs. Dupont's to lcarn that Jack and j lis bride, nee Miss De Wolf, had ta■cen the evening train for the north. [mpulsivc Jack had uvgod immedlate marriage, and Mrs. Dupont having Found out that Jack's inothcr and Doores' father werc once old friends, and that Jack's anteeedonts wero of ;he best, could not reasonably objoct, Dolores being of age. The last of the weck saw me at lome in the Stock Yards, and as I umpcd off the "dummy" cars, the irst person I met was Jack. "Come with me, Toni; let me introduce you to Mrs. Rayniond. I was a lucky fcllow, Ihough you and Stevey may laugh. f wish Stevey may get ust as lovely a wife as I have." I accompauicd him to the Transit House; was iutroduced to the bride, who was even more cliarming than w'hen I bad lirst met her. I am satisfied that Jack has at last found the one woman in all the world for hir.i. [n the spring they will move into their own house, alroady in process of constructiou. Stevey and [arestill in the