The Opelousas courier., 1885-08-08
OLD BULLI0N'S BRIDE.

reddlsn pearl slowly aSeended u Oh
the East-the shadows of the great
bridge resting softly On the mirror
like surface of the Hudson river; the
sound of a flute played softly afar off,
and all of a sudden the keel of my
boat came sharply in contact with
somebody else's oars.
"Hallo, your cried out a clear incl
sive young voice. "Where are you
going to- Why don't you look which
wayyou are steering
sCharley DresdenI'' cried out |, lit
tie needing the torrents of obloquy he
was beginning to heap upon me.
"Old Mottimore," he responded joy
ously. sNhy, who on earth would
have thought Of finding you dreaming
on Harlem River. Here! Come into
my boat; hitch on your old craft be-
hind, and let me introduce you to Miss
Sophy Adriance."
looked as sharply at Miss Sophy as
the moonlight and my own modesty
would let me, for / knew that she was
the especial admiration Of my friend
Charley Dresden.
She was pretty, slight, round and
rosy. with ciina-blue eyes, a dimplel in
either cheek, and golden-brown hair
worn in long, loose curls. There was
something fiower-like and delicate in
her prettiness-something unconscious
~ imploring in her way Of lifting her
eyes up TO your face.
We rowed home together-or, at
least. as far IN our way home as the
Harlem Ever would take us. Sophy
sang little boat ballads. Charley
reared out tenor b~arcarolles. l even
essayed a German student song which
had learned in Heidelberg nc n
knows how long ago, and we parted
the best of friends.
A week afterWard Dresden and I
met face to face on Wall street.
"Hallo, MottimoreF' said Charley,
his honest visage lighting up. "What
do you think of her?'
II think she is a pearl-a jeWel-a
princess among Womenp' I answered,
with perfect sincerity.
Congratulate me, thenl' cried
Charley. beaming all over, sfor an
engaged to her! Only last night! Look
herel'' opening a mysterious silver case
which he took from his inner vest
pocket. "What do you think of that
for ar engagement ring?"
"A fine diamond said ]. putting
my head critically on one side; '.and
fancifully set"
"We're to be married in October"
said Charley, lowering his voice to the
most confidential tones. ut might
have been sooner if I hadn't under
taken that business in Europe for our
firm. But L shall be sure to he back
by October, and the money I shall
make will be acceptable toward fitting
up and furnishing our new home.
Because, you know, Mottimore, I'm
not RICH"
/ spent an evening with her after
ward at the genteel boarding house
where she and her mother-a nice,
brightreyed little woman, the full
blown rose to correspond with Sophy's
budding loveliness-dwelt in the COST
est of apartments. furnished in dark
blue reps, with d turn-up bedstead, IN
geniously disguised q a hlgh-backed
sofa, and canaries and geraniums in
the windows.
ut is so kind of you to come" said
sophy, with q gentle pressure Of the
hand when | went away. Il am SO
glad TO welcome Charley's friends"
And | felt that + could cheerfully
Sit through another evening Of com
monplace chit-chat and photograph all
buns for such d reward as that.
Well, Charley Dresden went away,
and as he didn't particularly leave
Sophy Adriance In my charge, I didn't
feel called upon to present myself at
the ganteel boarding house. T sup
posed, naturally enough. that all was
going right. until one day ! received d
note from my old friend, Bullion, the
banker, a man Of sixty, who ear q
wig and spectaeles, and counts his in
come upon the double figures.
Bullion wrote from Saratoga, where
he had gone because he didn't know
what else 10 do with himself in the
duh season. He asked me to be his
groornsman. Bullion was going 10 be
married.
s0f course, you'll think IL d foolish
thing Cor me to d." wrote Bullion;
but even at 90 4 man has not entirely
outlived the aye of sentiment; and
when onse you aes sophy Adriance
you Will forgive any seeming InConsls-
tancy on M part.
/ went straight 10 che genteel board
las house. Il was possible that /
might be misled " 4 similarity III