Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-03-20


had really exposed him TO be outaank-
ed, as be actually was in the conyersa-
ton just recited.
Tom felt the same state of things, in
deed he had long felt it. As he left the
store he said 10 himself, Can't an old
man believe anybody can be less than
fifty years of age and more than fifteen 7
Thomas Elliot, thus cast loose nom
the social and financial ties of SO many
years, roamed meditatively along the
busting sidewalk Of South Street, gid
ing with the instinct of the experienced
New Yorker through knots, tangles, ed
dies, whirlpools of hurrying men that
would have swamped a countryman,
with half-unconscious feet turned up
Burling Slip, and by Liberty and Mas
sau streets, rambled into Wall street
having no particular business before his
appointment at eleven, when he was to
meet his friend intending to hold sweet
converse with him, if he could; and
at any rate to have a good deliberate
lunch with him at noon, with the CASTRO
nomic retreat of the William street Del
monico. This friend one Jaggles, man
of considerable culture, immense bust
ness energy and shrewdness, and much
good nature; friend of Toms for some
time, and already managing Toms small
means to the joint profit of both Ills
business, in which Tom was to join, was
General Speculating'--if you know
what that is. The general speculator
must have all his money ready at any
moment, and some credit; must be ready
to say Yes instantaneously, and No ten
times quicker must be ready TO buy
and sell anything in the world except
his wife and children and is equally
likely, Oh any given day, to be the ex-
ulting owner of cargo of bananas and
oranges, monkey auu Iss.eI organ.
job lot of gilt edged Bibles, pile
of calicoes, warranted fast colors,
new patent, or of the ordinary commod;-
ties of real estate, stock, bonds, scrip, or
business paper
As Tom, having turned eastward a
gain, passed deliberately by that curious
silent cuIde-sac or vermiform process,
known as Jauncey Court, he was met
by one in extreme haste, who seized him
unceremoniously, and whispered, in
an eager voice.
'Step in here a momentP
sAh Mr.. Wickwire,' said Tom, how
goes it?'
But Wick wire-an old fellow in the
brokeriug line, frequent coadjutOr of
Mr.. Grigg in speculations-was in too
much haste to be polite. He hauled
Tom violently within the quiet precinct
of the Court, and hurriedly whispered
in his ear the words.
New Orleans is open They're past
the forts 7
Tom stared. 'How do you know z
Private dispatches through Pobbles
at Richmond, via Baltimore, replied
Wickwire, Fully reliable City taken
yesterday Be all over town tomorrow,
perhaps this afternoon We've just
got to-day See ?
Thomas Elliot thought he did. This
dry old broker, With his score of hasty
words, set up great golden image in the
young mans brain whose glow' how
ever, 10 do justice to him, did by no
means obscure the rosy and more celes-
tial light of that other loveller figure
hard by the yellow onel And no mat
ter whether or not it would have been
more chivalrous to run straight way
back and tell Pig Grigg, as old Wickwlre
expected. Business is business. Every
man for himself Besides, Master Tom
may have thought, If l make it for
Lily In fact he undoubtedly did.
But all this flashed through his mind
in one instant.
lido see ? he cried. big thing, Mr..
Wickwire !?
And he staid not upon the order OF
bis going, but jumped forth out of Jaun-
cey Court as if he had been shot out, and
sped furiously eastward toward the Ex-
change, leaving old Wickw ire to find out
for himself why Mr.. Grigg should fail
to communicate with him. Past the
Exchange few Thomas, short round in
to Hanover street, and headlong down
into small, dim, dingy, comfortless little
cellar of an office, where wrote like
lightning at a dirty desk high, dried,
hungry faced man, all steel and whale
bone.
Howdo P he snapped as Elliot plung