The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-01-15
A SOUTHERN LOVE STORY
milwaukee Sentinel


respects, the mstrung 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 a 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 well known men, but
had refused them. The truth is, she
loved a man named Buckles, young
fellow without fortune, without pros
poets, and, worse still, without particu-
lar industry.
Bickles was bright and pleasingly hu-
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 Buckles
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 word
could tolerate you SO long as | supposed
you to be simply an amusing pauper,
but, finding that you are nursing a de-
sign against my-my-get out, tell
you"
''Wait IA minute, major, you will sure
ly give me a chance to defend myself"
"No, l won't" shouted the major ~
don't want to see my daughter married
to 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"
sob, you could, you trifiing rascal"
Eyes, 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 reioined. "Run away with
her, Ell? 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?
All, 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 she?"
eyes, l 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. Griddleton,
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-sacrificing;
they would fight for each other, and, al
poker, they had often won each Others
money.
'Ah, good morning, general"
"Ah, major, good morning"
Beautiful weather, general"
"Major, 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, ego in the
house, l have something particular to
say to the general. What do you thinkT'
he added, when the girl had withdrawn.
''that internal Biclles wants to marry
my daughter"
''The trifiing rasoalp the general ex-
claimed. tgor
"And he swears," the major contin.
ued, "that if don't give my consent he
will run away with her."
"Oh, the venomous wolfl' the gen.
eral cried.
"He is pauper," said the major.
Sand wretch" declared the general
General, you have always stood by
me-"
Sand always will"
"Give me your hand"
They shook hands, and then entere,
into the close and absorbing communion
of a game of poker.
A few weeks later the major and th
general went down to New Orleans, and
as they were returning on a steamboat
the general suddenly exclaimed:
"By George, major, yonder is a mai
who did me favor in Havana. Yes,
gazing intently, "that is Victor Dinzc
las, one of the most prominent planter
in Cuba. He's coming this way"
The general advanced to meet tn
Cuban, who came walking with an easy
graceful swing down the cabin, bowed
made an open arm gesture and said:
"Pardon nle if made mistake, bu
is not this the Hon. Victor Dinzolas?"
The Cuban, after moments refiec
ton, recognized the general, and witt
graceful heartiness seized his hand
When the major had been introduced
the party withdrew to the bar Dinzola
was not an i'll looking man; he wor
enormous black whiskers and long hail
and spoke English easily, but with
slight Spanish accent. After severa
rounds" at the bar, the genera
proposed game of poker. No objec
tions were raised; the Cuban was &C
commodating. They went to a privat
apartment, and were soon deep in tn
thrilling anxiety of the "great American
pastime." From the very first Dinzola
began to win. The major snorted anC
the general fumed, but the Cuban, un
disturbed, continued to rake in til,
money.
It must have been nearly daylight
when the major showed back his chat
AID said:
"rm broke"
80 am T." the general took occasio
to remark.
Il am very sorry, gentlemen" tn
Cuban declared, "for have just begu
TO get interested in the game. Have 20
nothing that you can put up?"
"No," the major remarked. Gas
have often been compelled to remark,
have nothing left except my plantation
my soul and my daughter"
"Ah," said the Cuban, "and woul
you like to put up one of them-th
plantation OF the daughter"
"Sirr' exclaimed the major, springin
to his feet, "what do you meanY
"Oh, no offense, assure you. hay
more respect for my friend, the genera
than to insult his friend. / once won
vn,,pc, IaI1 ,alaoea he ooafa6 1aI0