The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-08-16
4 Romance Of California.

Characteristic of tue budding literature
of those regions, is no doubt stimula-
ted by the novelty of surrounding
scenes and incidents. When people
are poor one day, and absolutely roll
ing in wealth the next, when they
glide luxuriously along in "palace cars"
over country where last year the
coyote and the grizzly rambled undis-
turbed, and when they gaze upon seen
cry whose stnpendous majesty renders
all former, recollection of nature tame
and monotonous, 1t is not strange if
they attempt, in Mr.. Emerson's sense.
to develope their individuality, and in
striving to be original should some
times succeed.
A tale comes to us from San Fran
cisco so oddly dramatic as to>be worth
recording. 1t appears that charm
ing young lady the story would lack.
interest were she e0mmonplace-fell in
love'with ii person, called by his own
class and those with whom they con-
sort, a "sport." In other words lie
was dealer at faro bank, and as such
excluded from the society wherein his
fair enslaver moved. But they met by
chance at public ball; and just as
Claude Melnotte admired from among
his flowers and cabbages the naughty
Pauline, who was destined to become
his bride, so, from among his marked
cards, chips and coppers, did the
young and handsome gamester lift his
eyes to the lovely girl of San Francisco,
and forgot the gulf between them. So
in the end did she. Somehow they
were introduced at the ball, and after
ward they met-this time not by
cllarce--at a photograph gallery
They were subsequently, described by
the sympathetic artist as they appear
ed on the occasion. She wore blue,
and had ga wealth of golden hair
The captive sport. was faultlessiy
dressed, in full black, garnisled with
diamonds, and had love of nous
tache. The first clandestine meeting,
as is apt to be the cause, by others, and
to tell the tale briefly wound up in
secret marriage. tl . ~
All went on smoothly for time,
great as was the risk, and the honey
moon, masked in secrecy as it was,
seemed to promise well. Bntpresent-
ly a tiny cloud darkcned the skies of
happiness. 1t came, to quote the
words of the San Francisco journal,
Gin the shape of a live, healthy man of
business, occupying business relations
with tho young lady's papa" This
beautiful and eligible gentleman soon
became a sutton for the young lady's
hand. The father, who is represented
to be merchant prince" of conven-
tional prejndices, favored the snit. It
was avoided, quite naturally, by the
daughter, and finally entreaties, ex-
postulation and menace Brought on an
explosion. ALI was confessed, and the
horror stricken parent was dumb with
rage and modification. But this young
yet astute child of the setting sun was
equal TO. the occasion. "What's the
use" she pertinently asked, "of max
ing a fuss about it 2" The things
done. The only question is how can
it be undone, so that l can do as you
wish42rThe father listened in silence,
and the daughter went on 81 believe
my husband is already tired of me,
and | know I am of him. No one
knows this. Go and buy him off,
Make him consent to n divorce. Give
him. what money he wants, and then l
can marry the rich New Yorker"
This guilelcss scheme appealed
strongly to the business instincts of
our "merchant prince" and lie straight
way set to work to realize it. Sever
al interviews followed with the sport,
who proved as tickle as the blind god
dess he followed, and finally $4,000
was agreed upon as the sum to be paid
him for consenting to a divorce. This
was promptly. carried through. The
rich New Yorker, none the wiser, soon
came for his bride to the golden gate
and their engagement was formally
announced. And now follows the pith
of this romantic story.
The marriage was to take place in a
week--and the bride was all bushes
and complaisance. Father and bride.
groom We'd with each other in lavish.
ing costly gifts upon her, and the un-
sophisticated creature had a sumptu.
GUS trousseau made ready to bring
eastward to New York. But the night
of the wedding, a thrill of dismay. rar
through the household. 1t was the
story Of the young Lochinvar over
again. The. bride had fed, and, worst
of all, with the insidious sport. The
$4,000 and the trousseau, together
with the wedding suits, we'need hard
ly say, bore the faithful pair company
| A letter was soon found addressed t.
the father. 1t stated simply that thu
young lady had changed her mind, ant
that when the note was read, she woult