Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-06-26
CAVALIER JONES.


Very Respectfully,
3Od-3t-w-1t A. A. PosT, Wichita, Kan.
CAVALIER JONES.
Julia X. wetheril in N. o. Times Democrat
Vicksburg was then. as now, roosting rre
cariously on the brow of its steep, ragge
bluff; and it was in one of tho rooms of tn
only hotel in the town could boast that tn
first act was played.
Cavalier Jones, one of the merry min
strelsy of the cork opera" was filling tn
innocent, though not peaceful, Office of nur,
to Col. Legrand's daughter Clelie, aged 8
She was pretty young lady. very mucl
spoiled by her father, ruined gentleman
and gambler. As she sat on tho table
swinging her feet, the ribbon that tied be
hair slipping on one side, her pinafore awry
and one little shoe untici, it was easy T.
guess that her mother was dead Be that a
it may, 10 sense of loss afflicted her at tina
moment, for Cavalier Jones had just bear
performing a clog-dance for her benefit
'Do it again, Jones" she suggested, whei
he paused to take breath.
"Wait a bit, Missy" said Cavalier, wipiDi
his forehead
Min ,treisy was then in its infancy, and
like many another promising child, wa
most highly priz,d during the period Of
adolescence.
| Cavalier was u boon to the company o.
which he was member His features
seemed to have been tossed together by ma
ture in burlesque mood-a stray eye Oh
nose, as it We're from a rejected lot. Hi
voice. which had hopeless crack in it, wa.
high and mournful in its tones, and the set
tied melancholy Of his expression add4i
point to those "black jokes for blue devils,
which he had to deal His head, already
rather bald, was encircled by a nimbus Of
stubby hair; and he was SO exceptionally
tall aud thin that he appeared, in the words
Of n professional friend skillful in pervertins
| Shakespeare, "as if he had, upon the rack
| of this tough world, been stretched Out
| longer"
| In short, he was one Of natures most de-
pressing practical jokes, the point of which
he himself did not much appreciate.
My papa'll be comm soon,' said Clelie,
"an' he's goin' to bring me a ill jumpin
| jack. He solemn promised he would-you
Amt listenn' TO me, Jones'"
But oblivious, for once, to the voice of the
tyrant, Cavalier was leaning out Of the win.
dow, startled by the uproar that had sud.
denly sprung up in the street below.
WHAT'S up!' he called ont to q waiter on
the Doorstep
"Why, they've got right out done with
them gamblers, an they're a-goin' to lanch
EN- in de river, cards, faro boxes, bones, an
ali, with nothin' but q inch plank apiece for
a boat" the negro replied enjoying the ex
element of the scene.
whats out dere, Jones! Sumpin' funnyin
and the fair little head was thrust under his
arm.
Run away, Missy" said Cavalier
The door burst open. and Col. Legrand
rushed in, his face as pale as death. Here,
Jones" he painted, thrusting a packet into
the minstrel lands, keep this. Those
devils are after me; but won't be drowned
like dog. Clelie-be good to her. for Gods
sake. Ny darlingi' and he snatched her up
and kissed her. "Where's my ILL jumpin'.
jackp asked Clelie, thrusting her fingers
into his pockets.
Goodbye. Jones. I'll see you again soon
He swung himself out of the back window
and was gone Cavalier ran to watch his
progress, and Clelie followed at his heels.
Legrand was rapidly clearing the opening
\
between the hotel and the woods at the rear
OF the town, when the report OF a rifle struck
the air.
He staggered and fell down dead.
my God? said Cavalier.
where's my papa gone to-" piped the lit
tie voice by his side the little bead was
not so high as the window sill.
He never gave me my jumpin jack, an
ne solemn promised he would.
A poet might have lived and died in St
Anthony's alley, in the city of New Orleans
Died, most probably, if he had any weakness
of the lungs; for it was damp as well as pic
turesaue.
The house in question was low to the
ground, with two or three sunken steps, and
the windows were furnished with little bal
comics guarded by iron ratings. That they
had once been green was M ter of history:
that they were dusty was matter Of fact.
1t was in the latter part of March, and the
mild air was full Of the smell of pollen, and
the grass sprang prosperously between the
irregular stones Of the pavement.
Outside of this house, with his chair tilted
back against the wall, sat Cavalier Jones,
In company with younger man.
81 wonder where she's stopping So longP
said the latter.
You're always IN hurry for things, amt
youf Don't you mind. She'll be along
drecly; but Missy amt one that likes to be
clucked after-you know that, Bones"
Don't call ne Bones, retorted the youth,
wish q jerk OF his shoulders. Then he sprang
to his feet, and looked down the length of
the street.
he had slender, agile figure; and the
most noteworthy Characteristic about his
face was the tuft Of hair that grew low in a
point on his forehead, thence rufiiing up into
curl. His eyebrows bad Mephistophe-
lean inclination to turn up at the corners,
and his mouth was like that OF pretty and
petulant child.
This was Bill-or William, as he preferred
to be called-Calvert, the bones of tho min
strel troupe OF which Cavalier was the end
man.
lie was a tragedian manque, and while his
fingers ratified the bones they yearned to
clutch hamiets dagger.
These bones, IN fact, were the skeletons in
his closet
"Ah! here she comes" he said, change
passing over his restless, attractive face;
but there's some one with her. he addei.
The person OF whom be spoke was tall
and slender girl one was one OF natures
mos. chsrnhg Mcohsis'ehcies-a oionie
CI7oie. ner eyes "ere Oh pecuiiar' uusky
u ., anr .u9 .an . ..t Sna' "i .,
,-;,h It. Ia Tha - T., .n .,,.ei,s
was deep and rich; so that she produced,
more than most blondes, an impression of
warmth and fervor.
The man who walked beside her was
young. handsome and gentleman, one Of
those bright, far OH beings whom, hereto
fore, she had contemplated from distance.
Il thank you very much,' she was saying;
you have been so kind"
The obligation, the honor is on my side,'
he replied, with splendid bow. Then he
left her
"Well, MissyF said Cavalier, interroga.
lively, when she came within speaking dis
tance.
"Oh, fatherl you can't Think she cried.
Il was walking past the St Louis hotel, not