Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1890-03-22
A Southern Love Story.

The Eckly plantation lies nea
Campbell's Bend, on the Arkansas sid
of the Mississippi river. Old Majo
Eckly, the owner of the plantation, ha
in many respects, the unstrung liberal
ity of the ideal planter, yet in othe
respects he is prejudiced and narrowly
self-opinionated.
Zalie, the majors daughter, was re
garded as the handsomest girl of ;
community in which handsome girl
were not rare. She had made an i'm
preston upon the brilliant social life Of
New Orleans, and had received offers
of marriage from many well known
men, but had refused them. The truth
is, she loved man named Bickles, {
young fellow without fortune, without
prospects, and, worse still, without par
ticular industry.
Bickles was bright and pleasingly
humorous; he told amusing stories in 3
lazy sort of way which was of Itself
attractive, and the old major was very
friendly toward him until Bickles one
day began to speak of Zalie. He tolc
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 q
word could tolerate you so long as
[ supposed you to be simpl y an anus
ing pauper, but, but, finding that you
are nursing design against my-my
get out, tell you"
"Wait a minute, major, you will
surely give me chance to defend my.
self"
"No, 1 WON'T" shouted the major
81 don't want to see my daughter mar
ried 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"
ooh, you could, you trifing rascal.
eyes, could live here very comfort
ably. | could take charge of the
plantation, and could relieve you of {
great deal of trouble"
ooh, yes; I've no doubt that you
could relieve me of everything I've
got
"Your daughter loves me, and
promise to work faithfully, if you give
your consent, but if you don't l vii
run away with her without making
any promise at all.
"Oh, is it fact?" the old man sar
castically rejoined. "Run away witt
her, eh :? All right. / will follow along
and seek an early opportunity Of filling
your hide so full of holes that il
wouldn't hold wheat straw. Loves you
does she All, ha, loves you! Well
now I'll call her, and you may start tc
run away with her right at once. Bet
ter roll up your breeches before you
start. Loves you, does she?'
eyes, | do" The girl stepped out
upon the veranda.
The old major turned angrily upor
her.
eyes, l do" she repeated, "but !
will not marry him without your con
sent For gracious sake, don't say
anything more, for here comes Gen
Griddleton.'
Bickles withdrew. Gen. Griddletor
an old fellow with a pompous air anC
broken veins, in his face, dismounteC
at the gate. He and the major were
the warmest of friends. For eacl
others sake they we're heroically self
sacrificing; they would fight for eacl
other, and, at poker, they had Otter
won each others money.
"Ah, good morning, general
"Ah, major, good morning"
Beautiful weather, general"
"Major, magnificent"
This form of greeting changed onl
with the weather, and people who wer
accustomed to see the two old me-
meet each other had long since cease
to smile at their ludicrous gallantry
so familiar had the system of saluta
ton become.
"Zalie," said the major, ego in tn
house, have something particular
say to the general. What do yo
think ?" he added, when the girl ha
withdrawn, chat Internal Bicklt
wants to marry my daughter"
'The trifing rascalp the generl
exclaimed.
"And he swears," the major contil
ued, that if | don't give my consel
he will run away with her."
ooh, the venomous wolfP the gel
eral cried.
"He is pauper," said the major.
"And wretch" declared the ge
eral.
General, you have always stood |
me-"
"And | always will"
"Give me your hand"
They shook hands, and then entert
: into the close and absorbing col
munion Of a game of poker.
A few weeks later the major and Il
general went down to New Orlear
and, as they were returning on
steamboat, the general suddenly e
claimed: