The Jersey City news., 1889-12-20
A BRIDE THE ANTE.
Romantic Story OF a Southern
Bellies Marriage.


The Eckly plantation lies near Camp
bells Bend, on the Arkansas side OF the
Mississippi river. Old Maj. Eckly, the
owner of the plantation, has. in many
respects, the unstrung liberality of the
ideal planter, yet in other respects he is
preiudiced and narrowly self-opinion.
ated.
Zalie, the majors daughter, was re-
garded as the handsomest girl of COM
munity in which handsome girls were
not rare. She had made an impression
upon the brilliant social life Of New Or
leans, and had received offers of mar
riage from many we'll known men, but
had refused them. The truth is, she
loved man named Bickles, young
fellow without fortune, without pros
poets, and, worse still, without particu-
lar industry.
Bickles was bright and pleasingly hui
morous; he told amusing stories in a
lazy sort of way which was of itself at
tractive, and the old major was exceed
ingly friendly toward him until Bickes
one day began to speak of zalie. He
told the old major of his great love for
her. The old man turned upon him with
fury.
"Why, confound your impudent hide,
get out of my house." the major yelled.
"Get out! Don't stop to say a word. |
could tolerate you SO long as supposed
you to be simply an amusing pauper,
but, finding that you are nursing de-
sign against rny-my- get sout, / tell
you"
''Wait minute, major, you will sure
ly give me a chance to defend myself"
''No, won't" shouted the major. 81
don't want to see my daughter married
to a man that is not able to take care of
her. You have no money, sir"
won't need much money. We could
live here with you.
"Oh, you could, you trifing rascal"
"Yes, could live here very comforta-
bly,. could take charge of the planta-
ton, and could relieve you of great
deal of trouble"
''Oh, yes; I've no doubt that you could
relieve me of everything I've got"
''Your daughter loves me, and Iprom-
Use to work faithfully, If you give your
consent, but If you don't will run away
with her without making any promise
at all"
'Oh, is that fact?" the old man sar-
castically rejoined. "Run away with
her, eh? All right. will follow along
and seek an early opportunity of filling
your hide SO full Of holes that it wouldn't
hold wheat straw Loves you, does she?
Ah, ha, loves you! Well, now I'll call
her, and you may start to run away with
her right at once. Better roll up your
breeches before you start. Loves you,
does sheT'
eyes, I do" The girl stepped out
upon the veranda.
The old major turned angrily upon
her.
Eyes, do" she repeated, "but will
not marry him without your consent.
For gracious sake, don't say anything
more, for here comes Gen. Griddleton."
Bickles withdrew. Gen. Griddletor,
an old fellow with pompous air and
broken veins in his face, dismounted at
the gate. He and the major were the
warmest of friends For each others
sake they were heroically self-sacrifcing
they would fight for each other, and, at
poker, they had often won each others
money.
"Ah, good morning, general"
"Ah, major, good morning"
Beautiful weather, general"
"Maior. magnificent"
This form OF greeting changed only
with the weather, and people who were
accustomed to see the two old men meet
each other had long since ceased to smile
at their ludicrous gallantry, so familiar
had the system of salutation become.
"Zalie," said the major, ''go in the
house, have something particular to
say to the general. What do you Think"
he added, when the girl had withdrawn,
''that internal Bickles wants to marry
my daughter.
''The trifing rascalt' the general ex-
claimed.
''And he swears," the major contin-
ued, 'that if don't give my consent he
will run away with her."
"Oh, the venomous wolf!' the gen
eral cried.
"He is pauper," said the major.
Sand wretch" declared the general.
General, you have always stood by
me-"
"And always will"
"Give me your hand"
They shook hands, and then entered
into the close and absorbing communion
Of a game of poker.
A few weeks later the major and the
general went down to New Orleans, and,
as they were returning on steamboat,
the general suddenly exclaimed;
"By George, major, yonder is man
who did me favor in Havana. Yes, y
gazing intently, "that is Victor Dinzo-
las, one of the most prominent planters
in Cuba. He's coming this way"
The general advanced to meet the
Cuban, who came walking with an easy,
graceful swing down the cabin, bowed,
made an open arm gesture and said:
Pardon me if l made mistake, but
is not this the Hon. Victor Dinzolas?"
The Cuban, after moments reflec-
ton, recognized the general, and with
graceful heartiness seized his hand.
When the major bad been introduced,
the party withdrew to the bar. Dinzolas