Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-08-23

Devoe. and It was said he held some i'm.
portant government position. His letters
Of introduction gave him the entree 20
mary houses, at one of which he met Fe-
lice Struck by her charms and intellect,
he devoted himself to her during the
whole evening. From this an acquaint-
ance grew up, which soon ripened into
love Months passed, and found him more
attentive than ever. He grew familiar
with Pepe, who. recognizing in the young
many sterling qualities, had no hesitation
in showing his daughter that he was not
opposed to Devoe's attentions.
Those who can remember those days in
New Orleans cen doubtless recall the en-
ormous amount of counterfeit money
then in circulation. In volume it almost
equaled tho genuine. In fact, people
hardly stopped to inquire as To the char
acter of bank bill or coin, so freely were
the bad as well as the good taken. In
large commercial transactions, requiring
the shipment of money, it is true care had
to be used; but in every day business here
everything passed current, for no Ques-
tiOns were asked, and a counterfeit taken
to-day could be passed tomorrow any
where.
News of this had reached the treasury
department at Washington, and 1t was
resolved TO crush out the trade In spuri-
Gus coin. After a long consultation it
was determined TO send down the most
daring and astute agent of the depart
ment, with orders to trace to its sources
this river Of cOunterfeits that was flood
ing the southern country.
In New Orleans few had heard of the
proposed crusade against the counterfeits
1t was a matter in which the general pub
lie took little interest.
One day in June Alfred DevOe entered
the Cafe de Resistance. and after shaking
the hand of the proprietor warmly, or
dered glass of orgeat and water. He
asked Pepe If he had a moments leisure
and motioned him TO a seat at a table at
the further end of the cafe. Here they
We're seen in close conversation.
"Senor Pepe,7 said the young man, evi-
dencing some excitement, Il have come to
ask the hand of your daughter love
her deeply and sincerely, and | believe
my affection is reCiprocated. Have you
any objection
"Ah. younger man, Felice IL SO mucher
to me. Liker my lifer. Ef you waiter
two years wiener she be more old, per-
haps may say yes but notter mower,
notter mower"
The young man pressed his suit, but the
old man resisted his opportunities and
would not acquiesce in an engagement
now. In two years he would have more
money to give her and she would then be
~ Senior Devoe must wait.
They talked at the little table until late
in the afternoon, and when they parted
old Pepe was very pale and Devoe flushed
with excitement What argument was
used or what influence was brought TO
bear no one could say, but up stairs the
happy lovers were rejoicing a few min
utes sfterward.
The following week the cathedral was
crowded with people to witness the mar
riage ceremony. There was Just enough
romance in it to give the affair Eest to
the gossipping old ladies, and every pew
was filed with friends and curious spec
tators.
From the church the wedding party was
driven to the noted steamer Reindeer,
bound up the river Long as the steamer
was in sight, Pepe stood on the wharf
waving his handkerchief, which now and
then he applied 10 his moist eyes.
That night the Cafe de Resistance did
not open, nor ever again was the rattle
of dominOes heard within those walls. The
old proprietor gave the place TO free
man Of color, who had been an employe Of
his, and it became a residence for a large
family of cafe au lait people.
With Pepe's departure the amount Of
counterfeit coin in circulation began to
seriously diminish and several well known
individuals retired to plantations in c:her
states. The influential band oS counter
feiters had been broken up and Alfred De
woes report to the government showed
that as a result of his visit to New Orleans
no counterfeit could be found within the
state of Louisiana. He had won his wife,
but had saved Pepe.
The old cafe is still there, but the parrot
has disappeared from the wall. and the
rattle of the dominOes can be heard no
more.-Charles +. Whitney in New Or
leans Times Democrat