The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-07-12


ner on the soil The town was the gate
way of the Yazoo delta, that garden spot
Of Mississippi whose twin portals are
Memphis and Vicksburg, and on which
the benson of plenty seems to have been
poured. We men Of the press were too
cosmopolitan to feel or be susceptible to
any restraint which others might have
experienced. Hail fellows well met, we
expected and received the courteous
treatment we accorded all men.
As for the ruffian and the braggert,
we were familiar enough with him in the
cities Of the north to meet him on his own
ground-by ready resort to the pistol
when necessary. Into the gay social life
Of the place we entered with pleasure
able abandon all the more sincere be-
cause the relaxation from work came so
seldom. Thus it was with good deal
of satisfaction that learned early in the
evening that might attend the Suffer
er's ball, Jones for a wonder being sober
and the rest Of the gang all on hand.
But it was close to midnight when, hav-
ing donned clawhammer coat, pre-
sented myself at the door, and looked
around for Brigham. did not see him
at once, and wandered about looking5for
an acquaintance upon whom might be-
stow myself.
l had been in the city long enough to
make some friends, bat ] couldn't help
thinking that it would be tiresome work
for my associate on the paper who was
doing that most unenviable of all assign
ments reporting an affair where he
knew no one, and would likely be treated
with Indifferent grace as a reporter by
the people he did meet. Imagine then
my surprise when caught sight of the
object of my solicitude the center of a
beVy Of fair girls, who were listening to
something he was saying with the most
evident interest. An occasional peal of
laughter showed that his powers as
rencounter had humorous subject.
There was no Disgusting the fact that
Brigham was feeling perfectly at home,
and that he was covering himself and
The Avalanche with glory.
What was Wiley as society reporter
compared with this brilliant cavalier
who could hold the attention of half
dozen bellies and who looked every inch
the gentleman in a borrowed evening
suit? He was too thoroughly master of
the situation for me to encroach upon
the ground, and waited until the little
group was broken up by an Eruption
of evidently envious cavaliers, when
Brigham strolled off with the sweetest
little bit of fenininity imaginable upon
his arm. It was the daughter of the
wealthy cotton factor, jerome Percival,
and Emily Percival was one of the bellies
Of the town Not that kind Of a beauty
who overawes one, not the girl who
would be the seasons belle at Saratoga
or Old Point Comfort.
Hers was not the luxuriant southern
beauty you read about, but of the sweeter,
less obtrusive sort, which is associated
with home belongings, a tete-a-tete in
the conservatory presence such as
would make almost any sort of place the
dearest spot on earth-brown hair, blue
eyes, red lips, and cheeks that kept their
color all the time. You see I'm not much
Of hand to analyze or describe feminine
beauty, but Emily Percival had the kind
that lasts. that don't wither after bali
room season; the hind that comes from
good health, good spirits, innocence and
affection.
"Ah, you here, Gilman" Brigham
said gayly. "You have met Miss Perez
val? Then help me to thank her for the
aid she has rendered me tonight.
should have been moping about as a pitia-
bic example of the most detected wall
flower if she had not come to my assist
ance, told me where to get the names Of
the guests, found me messenger, and
raised me from a most forlorn condition
of loneliness into state bordering on
ecstasy"
81 have reason to know what good
Samaritan Miss Perciyal is" | rejoined,
"and also know that it sometimes re-
quires as high an order of courage to sue
cor the wayfarer in these latter days as
itdid of old in Judea.n
Don't you think it depends good
deal on the wayfarer?' asked Miss Perci-
val.
Il am becoming Unfortunately vain,n
said Brigham sententiously.
You needn't be bit" responded the
charming woman on his arm. Il meant
that there are some depths Of distress so
heartrending that even the Pharisees
would relent and take pity on them"
Consider me the embodiment Of woe
then" said Brigham. as the orchestra be-
gan to play waltz quadrille, and as
further evidence Of your gifts as min
istering angel give this dance to me-"
HE will do very WELL" thought, as |
stepped back out of the way of the dan
GERS and watched the couple float by me
in the graceful movement of the qua
drille. HE will do very well, but it's
deucedly strange that fellow like that
should be so manifestly anxious to con-
ceal his identity"
CHAPTER III.
didn't see much of Brigham for a