Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-12-18
JACKS FATE.

the drcarier because yesterday had
been so bright with sunshine and
sepsually lovely with balmy south
west wind.
To-day the sky looked as hopeless
~ Il only can look when wretchcd
storm is pelting down, lowering ana
leadcn.bued.
The thermometer had tumbled
down to Fifty -four, and the raweat OF
east winds was blowing in damp
gusts. bringing misty sheets OF rain
acninst the window panes OF Jack
.jerome's Office, with miserable,
wuilipg little noise that wits only
eounllcd in gloominess by the APP
pearance of the slowly tinkling rivu-
let's of the rain drops ~ they drlpped
down the glass.
As dispiriting as ever day was or
could be, Jack thought, Ms he turned
disgustedly away into the little room
again, with its stove in the middle,
that stood there pcrpetually, its time
tables of q dozen roads tackled on the
walls, lis rallied of ticket Office with
the telegraph apparatus, whose mon
otonous ick-clckety-click had come
to be positive haunting horror to
jacks life.
And not much wonder, seeing that
he was obliged to listen at it thirteen
hosrs out bf the twenty-four, and to
attend to all the other duties Of sta
ton agent mt this lonesome little out
of the way depot in the suburbs, and
all for the insignificant remuneration
of s40 o month.--Jack jerome, col
lege bred, strong-limbed, handsome
M u young Apollo, and proud as
well, just proud enough to I'LL the
detested position well, since nothing
else had yet offered.
He had always meant such grand
things when college days were over.
He Ind fully decided to study law
to make name for himself that
should bring coy Fame and tickle
Fortune to bis side.
There had been plenty OF money IN
the Jerome Golfers then, and not nn-
ill n week after Jack had carried OF
the grand honors did the sudden,
appalling crash come, in which every
thing was swept by the board, and
the handsome, ambitious young fellow
fvund himself with o fine stock OF
clothes and Al education, in q place
where beggar could not be a
ChOOser.
Of course he had tried other things,
hut other things were not available
and then this had been offered him,
and he had taken it and fulfilled his
duties well, and loathed it equally
we'll
But to-day he was not thinking SC
much of that as the other thing, that
naturally led him to despise the fn'
ture of his position. He was thinking
Of the soft, velvety gray eyes that he
Ind seen once or twice too often tol
his happiness--a fair faced, prout
stepping Soung girl, whose name h
even did not know, but who hat
made an impression upon him tina
he could not shake of.
"But what good would it do, ever
IL ! knew her, and if mutually dc
lightful acquaintance ensnedF' HI
asked himself bitterly, rs he lcanc'
against the big desk and looke'
moodily out into the disconsolat
day. A poor devil with $lOa weeI
is not an object Of much interest t
one of the fair ones, to begin with
and to venture to build hopes OF
future"
An imperative summons on tn
telegraph instrument dissipated hi
thoughts, and by the time he ha
taken his orders, and seen to one c
two details, the down train came il
and it laid off on the siding, waitin
for the Eastern Express, Fran
Wheat came in, CHEEKY and goot
natured as ever, as well paid an
gentlemanly passenger conducto
usually are.
a suppose you've heard the lates
Jerome p he said, with just the lea