The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-08-29
For The Constitution.

III L w $500
For The Constitution
Begging the ma jor's pardon. l Will first
introduce Jack Livingstone into this story.
Properly speaking Jack is the hero. If
there is such 1 quantity, and, though not
half SO large. half 50 old, or possessed of
half the majors capacity for stories and
wine, it is quite proper that he should come
first
The major is so fond of Jack that he will
not object to this preference, | am sure;
though if he were here, seated by me,
with his cigar and glass of his favorite
tippIc, ! think he would suggest that |
Just ring us in together, for that's the
way you find u.s.
And the major would be right, but l fear
if | presented this amiable pair together,
without first writing a few words in Jacks
behalf. the situation would be such rs TO
create the belief that young Mr.. Living
stone was a very dissipated and light
minded young man. The cards, the wine,
(which is always of the finest quality,
the cigars Ghey have delicious favor
that is positively cnslaving), which would
he found on the table between them, if so
introduced, would conduce 10 that unfayor-
able impression.
But such is not the case. I might speak
of him, as a great many do. only in con
necton with late hours at the club. cards,
flrtations with actresses. wine and racing,
but | prefer to bring quite as prominently
forward his bright and generous nature,
his reverence for good and beautiful things,
notably women, his lavish freedom in Civ
inc to charitable causes, his loyalty to his
friends and his gallantry to the weaker
sex. He had money and he liked his
club and his club associates.
These carried him into ex-
trayagances that would have been foolish
ly prodigal in a young man of moderate
income. but he had bis limit. and, though
4 t.ues he seemed 10 be going reckless
pace, he was always perfect master Of him
self.
/ should in enumerating his virtues. have
mentioned his love for the ma jor's daugh-
ter. He was quite proud of II. but for the
life Of him he couldn't see how it was to
end The situation struck him as being eX-
tn,edirgIy odd but as the major was not0-
riously olg%use in matters where the alice
tions OF his daughters were concerned, 1t
did not strike him at all. lie had never
viewed Jack in the light of Il prospective
Son-ir-aw To him Jack Livingston" was
mate companion.
lie liked Jack. Jack always listened to
his stories with a show of interest, and
laughed dutifuIly and immoderatcly over
Them MoSt of his stories were funny, bar
once he told Il sad, pathetic tale aud
Travers. who was sitting at the table with
them laughed as lie was accustomed 10
dc mt the others. Jack did nor. His face
WAS appropriately grave and serious and
The major faucicd there was moisture about
+he youn- fellow eyes. Jack was good
at ,.ards rs well as ut enjoying the major
stories and many an hour has he sat IL
tbp ..Iuhroom across Il table from the maj
Looking thOu@htfuily ar his hand and never
saving word. IravcrS and Bankston and
Collins, and the other fellows at the club,
were good enough in their way. but the
big bluff, hearty major made no secret OF
his preference for Jack
Jacks love affair progressed under diff
entities and embarraSSm"ntS not usual IN
the. ordinary romance III when young
man and Young woman are engaged. 1t
rcached that interesting junrture where he
madly worShipcd Miss Marie and was
forced to endure the most Indifferent treat
1npnt from that imperl0uS ana Seli-Wllled
Young lady. lie now fancied that he had
zone about his love making all wrong. lie
vas only a novice in this kind of enterprise
and if was to he expected that he would
make = bungIing job of il. He could never
recall a time he had even family suggested
IN Miss Marie that he intended making So
riouS love to her. It began by his going
home with the major to dinner. AT first
She was no more to him than IS any good
Looking woman to IL young man with whom
she is accidentally thrown. But more IN
yirati0ns from the ma or, more dinners,
more talks with Miss Marie and the logl-
cnl result was love altar.
What first interested him was the Gle
ncnt Of uncertainty about her. 1t was Il
hobby Of the ma j0r'S to discuss the pecu-
Iiarifies Of women, and often at the club
lack had heard him hold forth gloWinsly
upon this topic. Women, the mayor con
tended were always doing the unexpected.
After he met the majors daughter. Jack
wondered if his cubmate had not gathered
much of his philosophy from watching MISS
Ai,ria's character. Jack could never quite
understand whether she thought him quite
clever or Il shallow youth, who was inter-
cstjng only because he could make people
laugh ana to"rabIe only BECAUSE lie was tle
majors friend.
II nm effort to discover whether the ma
ior's daughter was poking fun ut INN or
Teal!y trying to find out what manner OF
nam he was. Jack found new charms IN
h. and while he utterly faned III making
'~~ n,r her motives he ended by falling more
hnueIeSsIv in love with her than ever. o
lin If seemed to be Il very onc-Slded affair.
The majors daughter, for ALL he knew, lett
m more interest in him than III IraVerS,
who was dull; Oliver, who was clever, but
, failure; or Hardyman, who was success
frl. but otherwise uEnterestlng. she ga
,,nf uf,pcar To think them such fools as he
TIr blamed himself for not having some
understanding with her before the thing
Went 80 far. 1t occurred TO nm 'ha ,, me
foolish man who went ahead blind,
l.. and allowed himself to fan
Ina,lly in love with a woman without hr ,1
,'cn;rinr assurance from her that he WoHli
80 ba laughed ut for his pains presented
rar, ridiculous picture. He now felt
a,at he was making just such Il spectacle
IA u himseIf The many calls he had maGe
", rh,, majors home were presumably on
the majors account ami nohody ch Whcu
,ha,r M to the majors daughter men
oaI!eJ Miss Marie presented herself or
not as she chose. Often when she dld