New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-07-05


dreadful thing to have ones pocket picked.
Did he not think sos
Her husbands face was crimson, but M.
Oakhurst's cOuntenance was quite calm and
unmoved, as he gravely agreed with her,
| and walked by her side until they passed
the little garden that he had admired. Here
Mr.. Oakhurst commanded a halt, and,
gong to the door, astourded the proprietor
by prepOsterously extravagant offer for a
choice OF the flowers. Presently he re.
turned to the carriage with his arms full Of
roses, heliOtrope and verbena, and cast
them in the lap of the invalid. While she
was bending over them with childish de-
light, Mr.. Oakhurst took the opportunity
Of drawing her husband aside.
Perhaps" he said. in low voice, and a
manner quite free from any personal annoy
ance, perhaps it's just as well that you
lied to her as you did. You can say now
that the pickpocket was arrested the other
day, and you got your money back" Mr..
Oakhurst quietly slipped four twenty dol.
lar gold pieces into the broad hand Of the
bewildered Mr.. Decker. Say that-or
anything you like-but the truth Promise
me- you won't cay that
The man promised. Mr.. Oakhurst quietly
returned to the front of the little carriage.
The sick woman was still eagerly occupied
with the flowers, and as she raised her eyes
to his her faded cheek seemed to have
caught some color from the roses, and her
eyes some of their dewy freshness. But at
that instant Mr.. Oakhurst lifted his hat,
and before she could thank him was gone
grieve to say that Mr.. Decker shame
lessly broke bis promise. That night, in
Gus self.abregatior-he, like all devoted
husbands, not only offered himself, but his
friend and benefactur, as sacrifice on the
family altar. 1t is only fair, however, to
add that he spoke with great fervor OF the
generosity of Mr.. Oakhurst, and dealt with
an enthusiasm quite common with his class
on the mysterious fame and prodigal vices
Of the gambler.
"And now, Elsie dear. say that you'll for
give me-" said Mr.. Decker, dropping on
one knee beside his wifes couch; x did it
for the best. 1t was for you, deary, that l
put that money on the cards that night in
Frisco. l though to win heap-enough
to take you away, and enough left to get
you a new Dress"
Mrs. Decker smiled and pressed her hus-
bands hands. Il do forgive you, Joe,
dear" she said, still smiling, with eyes alb
stractedly fixed on the ceiling; land you
ought to be whipped for deceiving me SO,
you bad boy, and making such speech.
There, say no more about it. If you'll be
very good hereafter, and will just now
you" She took the branch in her fingers,
lifted the roses to her face, and presently
said, behind their leaves:
'Joew
"Wht is it, lovely9"
"Do you think that this Mr.-what do
you call him!-Jack Oakhurst would have
given that money back to you if l hadn't
made that speech!"
"Yes."
.sIf ba HADN'T coon me- at alll-
Mr.. Decker looked up. His wife had
managed in some way 10 cover up her
whole face with the roses, except her eyes,
which we're dangerously bright.
mo; it was you, Elsie-it was all along
of seeing you that made him do it,"
"a poor sick woman like metz
"a sweet, little, lovely, pooty Elsie
it,"
Mrs. Decker fondly cast one arm around
her husbands neck, still keeping the roses
to her face with the other. From behind
them she began to murmur gently and
idiotically, "Dear, ole square joey. Elsie's
oney booful big bear" But. really, l do
not see that my duty as chronicler OF
facts compels me to continue this little
lady's speech any further, and out of res
pect to the unmarried reader l stop.
Nevertheless, the next morning Mrs.
Decker betrayed some slight and appa-
lrently uncalled for irritability on reaching
1.-THE plaza, and presently desired her hus-
band to wheel her back home. Moreover,
;she was very much ast0nlshed at meeting
sMr. Oakhurst just as they were returning,
and even doubted if it were he, and ques-
'tioned her husband as to his identity with
the stranger of yesterday as he approached.
Her manner to Mr.. Oakhurst, also, was
lutte in contrast with her husbands frank
Melcome. Mr.. Oakhurst instantly detected
it. Her husband has told her all, and she
1lislikes me-" he said to himself, with that
aatal appreciation of the half truths OF
motives that causes the wisest
9pasculine critic to stumble. He fingered
only long enough to take the business ad-
t-ress of the husband, and then lifting his
at gravely, without looking at the lady,
y,ent his wav. 1t struck the honest master
9 arpenter as one of the charming anomalies
y his wifes character, that. although the
: netting was evidently very much con-
9 trained and unpleasant, instantly after
ard his wites spirits began TO rise. "1Ou
as hard on him-a leetle hard, wasn't you,
l lsie9' said Mr.. Decker deprecatingly; I'm
: fraid he may think I've broke my prom
! e." "Ah, indeed" said the lady lndlffer-
t atly. Mr. Decker instantly stepped round
] the front of the vehicle You look like
{ Al first class lady riding down Broad
/ lay in her own carriage, Elsie" said he;
| / never seed you lookin' SO peart and sassy
kfOre."
, Ia few DAYS later the proprietor of the
, In Isabel Sulphur Springs received the
flowing note in Mr.. OakEurst's we'll
Eown dainty hand:
, IDEAR STEvE-Ive been thinking over
,ur proposition to buy Nichols quarter in
mt see how the thing will pay until you
we more accommodation down there, and
r the best class-1 mean my customers.
| hat we want is an extension to the main
Hiding end two or three cottages put up.
send down builder to take hold of the
D at once. He takes his sick wife with
N. and you are to look after them as you
,uld for one OF us.
NAV run down there myself after the
,es, Just to look after things; but shan't
up any game this season.
JOHN OAKHURST
t was only the last sentence Of this let
| 1 that provoked criticism. Il can under
snd," said Mr.. Hamlin, professional
bther, 10 whom Mr.. Oakhursts letter was
own. II can understand why Jack goes
iheavy and builds, for it's sure spec,
al ia bound to be mighty soft thing in
oe, if he comes here regularly. But why
blank he don't set up bank this season
al take the chance of getting some of the
mey back that he puts into Circulation in
blding, is what gets me. wonder now,
housed deeply, "what is his little game"
he season had been prosperous one to
NJ Oakhurst, and proportionally disastrous
toseyeral members of the Legislature,
JUICES, colonies, and others who had en-
| josd but briefly the pleasure Of Mr.. Oak |
knts midnight society. And yet Sacra-
tmsto had become very dull to him. He
f4a lately formed habit of early-morning
wdrs-ao nnnsnal and afarfling to hia |