Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1867-06-19
A CLEAR CASE OF LUCK.

"a good many singular things happen
ed during the war" said John, as he
lighted his after-dinner cigar, "but some
how I consider my own case about the
funniest thing Of all"
"Ahp' said /, show is that?"
"Did it never occur to you that it was
little odd that ia SO short time |
should have got to be partner in the
firm, and married man, and all that
sort Of thing?"
"Oh! you speculated''
''Not bit of it; or rather,I did, and I
didn't, for you know that [ oetest spec
ulation I've even made old Mitrallle
swear of"
$50 far it is very clear; but if I knew
how you secured French wife, and
rich one; I could understand a little plain
English"
Before I went to the war, John Deue-
lin aod [ were fellow clerks in the bank
ing house Of MitraiIle & Co., in New
York. 4 Slight lameness preven ed
John from going into the army; aud an
utter absence of capital prevented him
from proposing for the hand Of the pret-
ty Lucille, though [ always believed he
had more to fear from the gruff old papa
than from the young lady herself
Poor as he was, and on a moderate
salary, when / returned at the end Of the
war--a good deal lamer than John had
been before i'll found my chum in the
full enjoyment of all he had longed for,
and with brown stone front to enjoyit
in. So when he volunteered some thing
which promised to explain the mystery,
my curiosity was set on fire in moment
John was right good fellow, and [ did
not envy him a particle; but | must say
that I was curious about it.
"Well said John, The way Of it was
this: Have another cigar? You know a
good deal what [ was after when [ went
away; and my choice of getting it then
seemed about as far off as the Presidency
1t was clear case of luck, tell you,
and very little more. Old Mitraille al
ways liked me pretty we'll, though [ was
hardly the man he would have chosen for
a son-in law; and [ kept his private books,
yon know You know all about the IN
bounded gold speculation in 1862 and
1858; we'll, he somehow got into it, steady
old hard headed banker as he is. Al
most everybody went IN more or less.
'The old man had rather missed it
once or twice, and got hit pretty hard
though no one but myself knew anything
about it-so hard, in fact, that was
more than little alarmed for the result
II got it into my head about that time
that I would like to run down to Wash
ington and take look at the forts and
camps Somehow it always CALLED me
good deal that [ could not take my part
with the rest, and [ wanted to have a
look at the thing, anyhow So | called
at the house to see Lucille, and got
short furlough, and / succeeded we'll
That is, [ did not see as much Of Lucille
as [ wanted; but the old gentleman gave
me leave of absence readily, and added:
Suppose something may happen
whiIes you are dare, Ell? You send me
telegram, quick"
Yes" | replied, "but you know the
War department don't allow fellow to
send over the wires just what he wants
to-"
"Oh, never mind all dat" said Nit
raille, 'just you send something good or
bad, no matter just the Wolds. [ under
staad mighty quick, ha! ha! Never you
mind the War Department"
"And SO" continued John, "of went
without very clear idea of what was ex-
ON b,,,y I uoc tn do ~ -
"And now the rest Of it sounds tre
medously like page from Munchausen,
but it is all clear, historical fact. Nit
raille wrote a le ter which got to Wash
ineton about as coon as I did. urging me