The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1874-09-30
Sans Luck.

"Contound 1T" shouted Sam, fero-
ciously, "My luck again p
Sam was angry. He had lost the
game, and had to pay for the coffee.
Sam and l were sitting at one of
the windows of the cosy little restau-
rant where we both usually dincd,
myself in that delightful dolce far
nicnte state which generally accom-
panies post prandial digestion, he
chewing his scrubby mustache fierce
Iy, and glaring around for some OBJ
ject to vent his wrath upon.
Samuel is generally delivery clerk
in the post Office of our town. lie is
a single gentleman, aged about thir-
ty, as honest and good soul as ever
breathcd; has a dry way about him
that is quite amusing, and is very
fond of grumbling-a habit which
the vexatious duties Of his position
have quito naturally made him fall
into. His particular forte in this
line is his chronic i'll luck, which, by
the by, l do consider wholly imagina-
ry.
CHANGING casually out of the win
dow, 1 beheld our mutual friend, Jack
O'Bandel, sauntering leisurely by,
with his charming intended, Miss
May Moonshine, hanging tenderly to
his arm.
"Sam |" said I, mcditatively.
"What is it, George2" inquired the
epistolary apostle.
"Just see who is passing BY"
Sam jerked himself forward and
looked. He started. A scowl black
as midnight gathered upon his intel-
lectual brow, and in tone of unmis-
takeablo sincerity he ejaculated,-
"Confound it!''
"Saml' 1 exclaimed, in a tone OF
mild reproof, "methinks I have heard
you make that remark before"
"Just to think" Sam rambled on in
savage soliloquy, "that the insig-
nifcant secretary of an insurance
company, with nothing to recon-
mend him but his impudence, pair
of bristly red side-w whislers and fifteen
hundred a year, should swoop up the
only daughter of gouty old fool
worth a quarter Of million-and all
my fault, too !' ...
"Your fault2 What do you mean !
What the deuce have you got to do
With Jacks love affair p
"Tho scoundrel owes his good for.
tune solely and entirely to me, and
now he walks by without even poign-
ing to bestow q glance upon his bene'
factor. This ingratitude truly is
black-diabolical!'
Look here, Sam, you have the
nightmare-you haven't got over the
effects of yur dinner. Or, if such is
not the case. then explain"
"My usual luck !" groaned Sam.
"Sam," said I, with great awaken.
ing ire, II command thee, elucidate
Whence this mystery
"Listen, George" said Sam, heav'
ling a deep sigh. "Tis now but three
months since, when O'Bandel and I,
after having dined and played a game
of dominoos at this very table, which
I, of course. lost, strolled over into
the post-officc, | to resume my duties,
and he to purchase q quantity o1
stamped envelopes. Istcpped around
into my office, Jack waiting ut the
delivery window. I was just on the
point Of handing him his envelopes
when up stepped rather pretty
young lady, of seventeen or eighteen
summers, and Jack, with the most
unblushiug politencss. stood aside
and made way for her.
"The little bread-and-buttcr miss
Inquired for registered letter, with
fifty dollars enclosed, for Miss May
Moonshine. l found the letter al
once and she made On eager grab tol
it.
"Not SO FAST said I, keeping the
letter safe beyond her. reach. you
must first prove Identity
"Identity!' she repeated, pretend
ing not to understand, and assuming
an air of CONSERVATION.
"Of course! exclaimed, with the
sharp accent of the official on duty
you must prove that you are in real
]ity the person for whom the letter il
intended. IS
Indeed, Sir, / really didn't know
THAT, she protested in q pIaintlyt