Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1883-03-31
- MY JEAN"


Dallas Armstrong stood reading those two
!, words over twice or thrice, with half.impn
tcnt smile lurking about the corners Of nis
mouth, Why could not John Mackenzie
have written " My JOhn"-just plain John
like himself? Because he had been living
4, in Paris for the past twenty years, he must
fOrsO0th give the lad II Frohch name. Proba-
bly, he had done something toward meta
mOrphOsng the Mackenzie too. Let me see
| there is no especial way of Frcnchifying 1t,
but he might call 1t Macon-zie, with the ac-
cent very much upon the " zie."
Dallas Armstrong was u man who hated
what he called nonsense !; but he had a kind
ly feeling for his old college chum though he
had lost sight Of him ever since Mackcnsie
, went to take up his abode in Paris with his
wits and infant--the latter plain John then.
That was-ycs, twenty years ago this young
Monsieur Jean, Armstrong had told himself,
must be we'll on towards twenty-One: one
would fancy he had OutyrOwn the care his
father seemed no anxious to bespeak for him.
Armstrong required to the letter again:
MY Jean is coming over on the Baltic,
which sails On the 10th instant Our friends
have promised to be there on the steamer
arrival but as they reside out Of town, and
night miss the exact time, my wife and i
would take 1t very kind Of you, old friend, If
You would meet my jean at the steamer.
he child is wholly unaccustomod to travel
Ing alone, and we are perhaps the more anx
lous, as we have only theone ! am sure you
and my Jean Will be great friends, as you
amt have always, IN spite of separation,
been-etc., etc.
Not word more about Jean; but the
young milksop, who could not at twenty he
| trusted to travel alone, would be here direct
ly. Dallas Armstrong had not come quite up
to his friends requirements some business
engagement had detained him but he had
sent his carriage and he was every moment
expecting the young mans arrival. That
was the sound of wheels at the door now,
| MIR Armstrong came leisurcly out OF the
library but his guest had evidently been
already ushered into the drawinY-r0om. II
was dim IN there, as Armstrong entered
the night had gathered outside, and there
| was only II feeble glow from the CRATE fire.
But that was enough to show Dallas Arm
strong II slim figure wrapped in dark cloth
ulster wearing II seal-skin cap, and sitting
halfburied In an easy chair before the hearth.
lhc ligure did not turn, perhaps did not hear
his step on the thick carpet 50 Armstrong
went forward, and clapped his hand heartily
on his guests shoulder,
wei, my dear fellow"
There, his hand fell at his side, The stran-
ger turned round quickly, and showed him
blushiny girls face
Good heavens IL beg your pardon. |
am sure. ] was expecting some one from the
steamer-l--"
a. have Just come from the steamer" she
voice.
"l--oh, no doubt, no doubt. But my guest
~asa young man from Paris BY the steam
cr Baltic. Perhaps you met him Mac
hcnz Z, Jean Mackenzie was the name"
The girl stared AT him. and then broke into
a merry, singing laugh in which, as if 1t
was infectious. Dallas Armstrong joined |
But the next moment she put up her hands 10
uer hot cheeks.
on, how could pala-how could papa