Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-11-06
IN. G. J. MARABON."

IN. G. J. MARABON."
IN. G. J. Marathon" his name stood
on the class roll. The rules of the col
lege required that the name of each
student should appear in full, and mine
was there as Gabriel Pierce Belfort.
His was the sole exception, and why it
was so, as in the case of Lord Dun
dIeary's puzzle, ''no fellow could find
out" When n. G. J. came he de-
clined to comply with the rule and de-
sired to give his reasons, confidentially,
to tie faculty. That august body,
being as curious as the juniors, met in
secret conclaye to consider the case
and listened to the petition. His eX-
cuses were sufficient and they accorded
the exemption. But when he emerged
triumphantly from the faculty chamber,
Just as the door closed, there was a
terrible burst of laughter in his rear.
This piqued our curiosity still more.
The secret seemed to be impenetIable.
\. &. J. himself was as mute as an
oyster in the matter, and We dared not
pump the professors, though we always
pronounced them to be old pumps.
However, n. G. j. turne1 out TO be no
end of a good fellow. He was as strong
as a bull and as agile as a cat, and after
lie had thrashed half dozen who had
undertaken to haze him and proved
himself to be the best batter in the
ball field he became popular. He used
to tell great many stories of life in
North Carolina, from whence he came,
and always, no matter how funny they
were, with a grave face. So we nick
named him North Carolina Joker Mar
rowbone, and it stuck, or part of it.
and we addressed him indifferently as
North Car'lina, or Joker, Or Marrow
bone, as the whim struck US, and he
took either in good part.
Marabon and / became quite init
mate We were chums, passed through
our four years of college life together
and were graduated at the same time.
Then he went back to North Carolina
and took up the study of law and in
three years. time was called to the bar.
We kept up a correspondence. though
We did not meet. About two years
after we had taken our degree he came
to New York and our letters continued.
He was quite rich and liked New Y ork
and club life. L was not quite so well
off, and lived in Brantford, our coun-
try town, rarely going away. even for
a vacation. l was quite surprised then
one day, short while after l began
Practice, he walked into my office. OF
course / was glad to see him, seated
him in my clients chair and produced
a box of cigars from one of the draw
ers. We each lit a cigar when We
leaned forward.
BELL - lie said-he always called me
so for short-''I'm n a mess of trouble
| I hax ahu "
thought of you and as l know you
are not so great a fool as you look / Fan
| up here by the ten O'Clock train 10 con.
| suit YOU"
We'll" said 1, not much flattered
| by part of his speech, and determined
| 10 return him Roland for his Oliver
| .sthe conference of two fools is moi
| likely to amount to much, but what
| is ltr''
sit involves a secret" he said,
(Which you must consider professional
| By the way, what kind of a cigar Il
this?"
'Key West,' replied laconically.
81 thought so. Why don't you
smoke Havana?"
Cant afford it,
Cant, ell? Well, partly as a fe,
and partly out of regard for yours truly
shall send you hundred OF the righ
sort as soon as l get to town again"
"All night, I'll accept them; but an
l to wait for your story until the cigar:
get here?"
s.No. You see I've been expecting
to marry The lady has confessed sh'
reciprocraies anu all wai sailing alon.
smoothly when up pops an obstacle" p"
WHO Is the lady, Marrowbone?"
Miss Z lith ket-itas. \ on have
heard of herf"
Il should think had. Daughter o
old keteltas who made his money in
no natter how he made it-he dl
make it. The lady is belle, a beauty
his sole heiress and every one speak
we'll of her. Permit me To congratulat
you. But what is the obstacle?"
Take notice that all this is unde
the rose. The obstacle Is this: L sha
have to give my full name when l &c
married. In fact. she wants to knoN
it now. What shall do?''
do! Why give it, of course VIII
not?"
''But how can L ever do 1t? YO
don't know We but wien you do 20
will see that it is quite impossible.
should never helr the last OF il. Til
newspaper reporters would get it, Til
} little boys would shout 1t on the street:
1t would he in the comic paper'
They'd sing songs about it at the mil
strel shows. 1t is too dreadful to thin
Of"
What on earth can you mean? Yo
seem excited. Take another cigar"
Thank you, will. A you SUI
there IS no one in hearing!"
Not soul"
"WeIl-N stands for Napoleon"
"a good enough name. What
there dreadful in that?'
"And c stands for Caslr."
1.-The two to- ether are odd, but nC
80 yery,u