St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-02-10


song. and burst out crying in the mid
the hall. He could hardly walk. Bob
said it was his emotions. but | am sure
{ it was whisky, or some horrid drink. +"
!. Nonsense said Alice Benton.
Jack is so finely string that the least
thing affects him. Jack sssa dear fel-f
low is Jack So good hearted and
clever. They adore him at the club
Perhaps so, resoined her friend;
"hut it must take a fortune to keep
him in cloves. By-by. must get
down town to match that lace. And
| with one of those natty little loye-you-:
for-y r-mother kisses that girls ex-;S
change, Bessie Morris skipped away.
Alice put another stitch in the curl Of
the j, and examined it critically. Then
she sighed. put her work aside, and fell
into a. fit of detected musing. "Jack
does drink horribly she said; 81 wish
I was not so fond of him. Then, re-
pentantly, her woman's loyalty assert
ing itself: "That is, I mean l wish
could cure him. Yet he has so often
promised me to swear of, as he calls it;
but fear. swear off and swear on are
all the same TO poor Jack. am rum
ming a fearful risk. they tell me, in
marrying him. But what can dop |
can not give him up. / would not if |
could. And i can not reform him. =
And Alice. in true feminine fashion, be-
gan to cry. III
.Tears. idle tears, l know not what
We mean, cried merry voice in her
ear, and tall. manly young fellow
caught away her hands, and laughed
| heartily at her look of distress. Chow
now, coz" he said soothingly, "what
has gone wrong9 Are there to be no
calls this yearp Does the stern papa
lcgislate that the basket shall be hung
on the outer wall, and no beau allowei
| to taste our cake and wine? Outwith it,
Tell me all, and by yonder3 drowsy po-
| liceman on the corner, swear to right
our wrongs
| aOh, Charley" said his cousin, sit is
ali about Jack. You know his irregular
habits-that's whatsy men call it. |
believe. i must make him stop drinking.
Charley, dear, you are man; do give
me some advice. 2
Charley grew grave in a moment.
"You are right, Alice he said. '.We
must put our heads together to save
Jack Quimby. And if tor your sake
alone, dear girl, shall sit awake all
night thinking how it can be done.
Give me twelve hours to concoct some
scheme that shall bring Jack out of the
mire, and make his freauent swear offs
of some permanent value. Now, don't
fret any more. Finish that pretty thing
VII ~ n
seek counsel Farewell, and joy be
with YOU And he rushed away in
time to spring on a dummy at the risk
of death or mutilation.
ssIf it can be done. Charley will do
it, said Alice, cheerfully. 20 Jack.
Jack, if you could but understand how
much trouble you are giving us. y
Jack Qnimby saw the old year out
and the new year in according to the
usual fashion of such ceremonies. And
he awoke with the same old head, only
intensified by deeper and more varied
rotations. While he was celebrating
whether it was worth while gett ng up
at all or not, knock came at his door,
Immediately followed by a couple of
young fellows, faultlessly dressed in the
regulation visiting costume.
s.Come, come. Jack! You're a nice
fellow for calling chum. Over forty
visits to make today, and you not up
yet and they dragged the unfortunate
roysterer from his bed and watched his
hurried efforts at dressing with uproar-
ious mirth.
"Deuce take you BOTH" said Jack;
didn't you bring an eye-opener to help
fellow .out?',' The eye-opener was
produced.in the shape of a pocket flask,
and under its cheering influence Mr..
Quimby was soon ready for the road.
We shall aot follow him to the various
houses he favored with his presence. He
was consc entious about drinking the
health of his fair hostesses, individually
and collectively, and it was quite late
in the evening before the Quimby car
rage halted before Judge Benton's
door Alice had been anxiou slylexpect-
ing him all day. but when gush of
cloves preceded his entrance her heart
sank within her. Jack felt the impor-
lance of a softer appearance, and his
bow was cold, almost stern, and full of
the most preternatural gravity.
II wish you, Miss Benton, the COM
plinents Of the season" he said. in
slow and deliberate accents. There
was not solitary ..r'' IN this sentence,
for Mr. Cuimby knew from past exper-
fence the danger surrounding that conso-
nant at this stage of the proceedings.
Judge, am delighted to see you look
ing so well. and this time the bow was
directed to stiff, high backed chair,
an heirloom in the Benton family.
..Sit down, Jack, and don't be silly"
whispered Alice. after greeting his
friends. 4 Oh, you wicked boy! what's
the matter with your eyes? And your
necktie has slipped up under your ear.
How your gloves are stained with clar-