The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-01-25
A SOUTHERN LOVE STORY.

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
prejudiced 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 well known men, but
had refused them. The truth is, she
loved a man named Bickles, a 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 q
lazy sort of way which was of itself at
tractive, and the old major was exceed
ingly friendly toward him until Bickles
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 outl Don't stop to say word.
could tolerate you so long as l 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 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 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"
"Yes, could live here very comforta-
bly,. I could take charge Of the planta-
ton, and could relieve you of q 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 factT the old man sar-
castically rejoined. "Run away with
her, ehP All right will follow along
and seek an early opportunity Of filling
your hide 80 full of holes that it wouldn't
hold wheat straw Loves you, does she:
All, ha, loves you'll Well, now I'll call
her, and you may start to run away with
her right at once. Better roll up youl
breeches before you start, Loves you.
does she2"
eyes, do" The girl stepped out
upon the veranda.
The old major turned angrily upon
her.
eyes, do," she repeated, "but I viii
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 a pompous air ant
broken veins in his face, dismounted
the gate, He and the major were the
warmest of friends. For each other
sake they were heroically self-sacrihcing
they would fight for each other, and,
poker, they had often won each other
| 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 wer,
accustomed to see the two old men NEE
each other had long since ceased to smilt
at their ludicrous gallantry, so familiar
had the system of salutation become.
"Zalie," said the major, ego in the
house, have something particular t.
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 rascalP the general ex
claimed.
"And he swears," the major contin
ued, THAT if don't give my consent hi
will run away with her."
"Oh, the venomous wolff the gen
eral cried.
"He is a pauper," said the major.
"And a 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 game of poker.
A few weeks later the major and th,
general went down to New Orleans, aud
rs they were returning on steamboat
the general suddenly exclaimed;
"By George, major, yonder is a MAJ
who did me favor in Havana. Yes,
gazing intently, "that is Victor Dinzo
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 me il made mistake, bu
is not this the Hon. Victor Dinzolasg
The Cuban, after a moments reheC
ton, recognized the general, and wit
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 sever1
grounds" at the bar, the genera
proposed a game Of poker. No objeC
tions were raised the Cuban was aC
/