Los Angeles herald., 1892-08-01
DON JOSE GETS LEFT.
HE THOUGHT HE WAS BETTING ON
A SURE THING.
A Fin de Steele Romeo and Juliet Story
With Happy Conclusion.
The Old Man Wsen'tin
1t, at All.

A good story is going the rounds
about an old French gentleman of this
city, who is we'll known for his great
wealth. Don Jose---that is not his
name, of course-has elathersiof money,
laboriously accumulated during res
idence Of half century, right here in
Los Angeles, and prudently guarded
against all the rest of mankind, whom
he has learned to look upon with the
mistrust that lopg career in this vale
of vanity entails.
Don Jose has daughter. An attract
i've young widow she was until lately, if
gossip be true, with very satisfactory
competency, and likewise expectations
that will be realized very soon by the
settlement of an estate. The daughter
is still as attractive as ever, but if the
gossip already referred to does not lie,
why, then, she is no longer a widow.
Between Don Jose and young coun-
tryman Of his there has been consider
able bad blood during the past three
years, for a diversity of reasons which
cut no figure in this story. The young
widow does not seem to have shared the
antipathy of her father toward the
young man to any alarming extent, as
lately she has willingly had him along
as an escort while shopping.
Not long ago she went to visit friends
at ranch near by, and Romeo, whose
name, by the way, is John Peter, took a
flying trip to San Diego. News will
travel, no matter how well it is con-
cealed. 1t may lose it's truthfulness
in the ups and downs of the journey,
but it gets there just the same. And so
it came to pass that couple OF weeks
ago many people said: Behold here
is the daughter of Don Jose, and here
| likewise is John Peter. 1t is the story
of Romeo and Juliet over again, only
modified in so much that it is fin de
| steele. The family of John Peter has
not been mixed up in the feud at all.
This makes it likely that Shakespeare q
tragedy will not now be repeated, but,
on the contrary, that this pretty love
story will end like vaudeville, in songs
and smiles. Verify, it ought to be,
since they besought them the services
of worthy J.. p, and are no longer a
| twain, but one."
Thus cackled the gossips, until one,
bolder than the rest, took comfort in
Don Jose's old age, and twitted him with
the story that had come here, no one
knew by whose agency, proclaiming the
young widow Mrs. j. Peter.
"Couquinas de Boun Diou," exclaimed
the descendant OF the Phenicians, look
ing for all the world like Nero fiddling
while Rome was burning. "Troune de
l'aire. This is base slander. 1t is not
80. am willing to bet you
Then Don Jose halted. He reflected
that it could not possibly be fact that
a daughter of his had done him the
slight-he the man of much boodle-of
marrying without consulting him. That
would not be as he had learned TO gauge
| the world. Therefore if he were to bet
now it would be on sure thing, and
why, pray, should anyone be SO foolish
as to bet on anything but a sure thing ?
If that golden rule be not observed, one
is liable to lose his money, and that,
"bagasse," would never do. And if it
were sure thing, why, then bet the
| other fellow for all he was worth, by all
means.
"I'll bet you $1,000 that my daughter
hasn't married that knock-kneed,
spawned professor of the only language
that st. Peter, his patron saint, never
could learn" exclaimed the ancient
financier of Marseilles.
"Done," said the other, draw your
check. Here is mine, or if If you pre-
fer gold that glitteas, am still truly
| yours !"
Is was a bluff. pure, unadulterated
shameless bluff, but it worked. Don
Jose halted, and begged for a little time.
He would have to 60 to the bank, but as
soon as he had the money with him, the
bet would be concluded. OF course the
other man expressed himself satisfied.
Pretending to have business elsewhere
he went around the corner, concealed
himself and watched his good friend
Don Jose.
1t was not long before the compatriot
of Tartarin sailed forth from his dwell
ing, not to 60 to the bank-not he-but
to call upon his dutiful offspring, who
was far from expecting him.
"My daughter, it has come to my ears
that thou hast convoled into second
nuptials. Tell me that it is not so. !
| do not like it, but much depends upon
thy word. Therefore, l do beseech thee
that truth shall flow from thy lips.
| Hearken have offered to bet an even,
cool thousand dollars that thou still re-
mainest widow in weeds, and, in the
words of the poet, if thou deceivest me
now, | shall be q sucker, and bathed in
| the consomme.'
"Welll mong bong word to the
wise. 1t is not true, but you'd better
not bet."
Don Jose is still wondering whether
he knows when he has a sure thing or
il 1t wouldn't be better to quit such sim
| ful practices.