The record-union., 1898-08-29
A QUARANTINE EPISODE.

1t was Monday, September 9th, Ills
a. m, and the place was the foot of
Canal street, whence the train to Mo-
Dlle was about leaving.
Alice was as pretty a girl as you
nave ever seen looking into the shop
windows of Canal street. Now she is
sitting in the Pullman and around her
are few friends who have come to
see her off, for she is going to Mobile
10 De bridesmaid for her dear friend and
FORMER schoolmate She is in quite a
hurry in anticipation of the great event
Her aunt, Mrs. Ratoul, has just bid
den her good-by, and so has Jack, who
wants to marry Alice, and whom the
aunt favors as being quite eligible.
There is another young man who is
In love with Alice, but Tom has not
put In an appearance, which fact has
brought a little frown between the
brown eyes of the lovely girl.
The aunt is not favorable to Tom, be-
cause he is a rather briefless young
lawyer, and having had no distinguish
ed immediate ancestors, he is in So
clety only by sufferance and because
ne dances quite well and is good form.
Alice Is an orphan, and by some sim
guar caprice of father, who inherit
cd French ways, her little fortune de-
penos upon the consent of Aunt Ratoul
10 her marriage. Aunt Ratoul has dis
1lnctly tntimated that she will consent
as to Jack, but will never no, never
consent as to Tom.
Now, Alice likes Tom infinitely more
Ihan Jack, and herein we find all the
elements of that old love tragedy that
mas worried the world since Jacob had
10 take Leah instead of Rachel.
Jack and Aunt Ratoul and all the
girls had hidden Alice godspeed, and
the train had rolled as far as the South.
ern Pacific depot and had come TO a
malt, when who should saunter into the
Pullman but Tom. Tom was very
much surprised to find Alice there. and
Alice raised her hands in glee and said:
On, Tom, I had no idea of seeing
you" t--9
Whlch observation may be taken cum
grano, as it was only last night that
she had let Toni know at the Singleton
party that she would leave for Mobile
to-day at 11:15 a. m.
rom had doubtless forgotten. and the
magazines and papers, mostly of
fashion and feminine character which
ne spread upon the seat were intended
Tor his own pastime.
rom was quite a handsome young
yellow and good company. Aunt Ratoul
hao no reason to be ashamed of hin,
even II he had come from Tangipaboa
parish and had worked at sbortba NJ,
with the great law firm of Vellum e,
wax. Tom was getting a pretty firm
holo on the lower round of the ladder
ne nad beaten the railroad coupanv
not long ago in COW case. wherein
Inc road preferred to spend $500 in liti
satlon rather than pay $50 to the owner
Oh the decapitated cow. Tom foupbt
the case from the Justice Court all tbe
way up to the Supreme Court and Nh,
Inc road to heavy costs. besides win
hlng the gratitude of all the cattle own
ers along the division Then. seefns
mat ne was a formidable fighter tho
road concluded to secure him with q
retainer IN all COW cases, and gave him
an annual pass, and the Directors ba.
gan noddfng at him on the street Ona
oI them went so far as to invite him
10 lunch at the Boston Club. Evident1v
LON was making Roadway, and prettv
soon ne would go to the Legislat11ra
ana wage war against the insatiato
oeihahds OF corporations, and then the
corporations would think it prudent m
give him fat retainer now and thor
with various refreshers to keen him
quiet --'iii
But Toms great triumphs at the bar
are IN the. culture. At present he is an
humble COW lawyer, with a moderate
salary, and desperately in love with the
pfIsht raced girl who is so happy bv his
side
Ihey are the only passengers in that
Pullman. Time flew on merriIv The
train passed by station after station
where unusual numbers of people and
unusual quantities of baggage an
peared ready for the southbound train.
Tom and Alice, like Calico. Of whom
the Apostle speaks, cared for none of
these things. They looked into eacb
others eyes with glances that weak
ened only when they thought of Aunt
RatouPs grim determination to turn
Alice adrift, penniless, unless she mar
ried Jack.
You know, Tom, that 1 cannot dis
obey my dear aunt, who has been a
second mother to me, and you know
that we cannot live without money
There Is nothing to do but to wait"
How happy they were with their
woes and their hopes, and how swiftly
sped the hours They barely noticed
that the train had been delayed half an
hour by hot box.
"Hello!" said Tom, starting up, 1.-THE
down train will have left Mobile before
We get there, and 1 must return on it"
The conductor informed them that
they would meet the down train at
Grand Bay, so for another hour Tom
and Alice continued their dialogue
After their train had passed Scranton
the conductor came into the Pullman
and, with a very grave face. announced
that Mobile had quarantined against
New Orleans, and that passengers
would not be allowed to leave the train
Tom we must get off at Grand Bay
and return to New Orleans at once"
said Alice.
eyou will not bel able to return, as New
Orleans has quarantined against all
points west of Mobile"
"Merciful heavens said Alice; what
are we to do?"
Tom went forward and engaged the
conductor in a protracted conversation
Alice watched them with increasing
agitation. At first Tom seemed much
troubled. then more at ease, and fin
aIly quite tranquil. Coming back, he
said:
"The situation has its difficulties. The
Board Of Health OF Mobile say we shall
not land there. They have already
Guards upon the train, who boarded us
.. co,onton We might take the down