The Republican journal., 1869-03-25
A Clear Case of Luck,

4 a NA6dr case OF LUCK.
"a good many singular things happen
ed during the war" said John, as he lighted
his after dinner cigar, ''but somehow | con.
slider my own case about the funniest OF
ALL"
'Ah!" said |, chow is that?"
"Did it never occur to you that it was a
little odd that in 50 short time l should
have got to be partner in the firm, and
married man, and all that sort of thing %
| ''Oh you speculated?"
/ ''Not bit of ii; ; or rather ! did, and /
didn't, for you know that detest speculat-
ion. I've even made old Mitraille swear
off,"
$50 far it is very clear but if knew
how you secured French wife, and rich
one could understand little plain Eng
! lish.''
Before | went to the war John Develin
and | were fellow clerks in the banking
house Of Mitraille & Co., New York. A
slight lameness prevented John going into
the army; and an utter absence of capital
prevented him from proposing for the hand
OF the pretty Lucille, though I always be-
lleved he had more to fear from the gruf
old papa than from the 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 hadbeen
before it found my chum in the full en-
joyment Of all he had longed for, and with
brown stone front to enjoy it in. So
when he volunteered something which
promised to explain the mystery, my curl
oslty was set on fire in moment. John
was right good fellow and did not envy
him particle; but | must say | was curl
Gus about it,
"Well," said John, ''the way of it was
this: Have another cigar? You know a
good deal what was after when you went
away; and my chance of getting it then
seemed about as far off as the Presidency.
1t was clear case of luck, tell you, and
a little more. Old NIitraille had always
liked me pretty well, though was hardly
the man he would have chosen for son-in-
law and kept his private books, you know.
You know all about the unbounded gold
speculation in 1862 and 1868 we'll he some
how got into it, steady old hard-headed bank
er as he is. Almost everybody went it 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 little alarmed for
the result"
81 got it into my head about that time
that | would like to run down to Washing
ton and take a 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 look at the thing any
how. SO / called at the house to see Lu-
ellie, and get a short furlough, and sue
ceeded well. That is, | did not see as much
of Lucille as | wanted, but the old gentle
added;
Suppose something may happen while
you are dare, Ell: You send me telegram,
quick
eyes" l 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 Mitralle,
'just you send something, good or bad, no
matter, just the words. I understand
mighty quick, ha !! ha! Never you mind
the War Department"
'And so," continued John, "otf went
without very clear idea of what was ex-
pected, or how | was do it."
And now the rest of it sounds tremend-
ously like page from Munchausen, but it
is all clear historical fact Mitraille wrote
q letter which got to Washington about as
soon as did, urging me to keep my ears
and eyes open, and promising if [ sent him
anything of Importance he would halve with
me on the profits. l saw by that how ter
ribly nervous he was getting, and conclud-
ed that affairs must be even worse with him
than knew Of Nevertheless | began to
be trife excited, myself, and though had
a sort of horror of speculation, especially
gold gambling, commenced to look around
me pretty sharply for items. Among other
adventures 1 fell in with old Sam Gorham
of Cincinnati, one of our correspondents,
and nephew of his queer spoon of a
fellow, and we went around sightseeing
together.
"Nothing would DO for either uncle or
nephew but a continual succession Of cock
tails, and Lad to leave them in their rooms
soon after dinner, somewhat the worse for
wear while | continued my search for in
formation under difficulties.
81 didn't find out anything in particular
all that night or the next forenoon, but |
saw the sights pretty effectually, and about
noon / went into my friends room to wake
them up found the nephew lolliug dis
consolately in chair, and the uncle in bed
with high fever, the natural result of his
foolishness the day before. The hopeful
youth began the story of his tribulation, by
stating that he had expected his aunt there
that day, but had received letter from her
saying that she had been delayed and could
not come at once.
Il asked him what the doctor had said
about his uncle.
"Oh, the old mans right sick, and l
reckon I'd better telegraph to Aunt Sally
to come on right off,"
''On the plea of splitting headache, he
begged me to send his message, and L
thought l would send one at the same time
to Mitraille & Co. Well, his telegram,
save the direction, read: 'Dou't wait for
anything. Uncle Sam very sick indeed. "
tsWhiIo NINA woo simn1v-