登陆注册
19633600000039

第39章 CHAPTER XIII(3)

Ah! by the way--New York, did you say? That reminds me; just met some gentlemen from your State, a week or two ago--very prominent gentlemen--in public life they are; you must know them, without doubt. Let me see--let me see. Curious those names have escaped me. I know they were from your State, because I remember afterward my old friend Governor Shackleby said to me--fine man, is the Governor--one of the finest men our country has produced--said he, Colonel, how did you like those New York gentlemen?--not many such men in the world,--Colonel Sellers,' said the Governor--yes, it was New York he said--I remember it distinctly.

I can't recall those names, somehow. But no matter. Stopping here, gentlemen--stopping at the Southern?"

In shaping their reply in their minds, the title "Mr." had a place in it;but when their turn had arrived to speak, the title "Colonel" came from their lips instead.

They said yes, they were abiding at the Southern, and thought it a very good house.

"Yes, yes, the Southern is fair. I myself go to the Planter's, old, aristocratic house. We Southern gentlemen don't change our ways, you know. I always make it my home there when I run down from Hawkeye--my plantation is in Hawkeye, a little up in the country. You should know the Planter's."

Philip and Harry both said they should like to see a hotel that had been so famous in its day--a cheerful hostelrie, Philip said it must have been where duels were fought there across the dining-room table.

"You may believe it, sir, an uncommonly pleasant lodging. Shall we walk?"

And the three strolled along the streets, the Colonel talking all the way in the most liberal and friendly manner, and with a frank open-heartedness that inspired confidence.

"Yes, born East myself, raised all along, know the West--a great country, gentlemen. The place for a young fellow of spirit to pick up a fortune, simply pick it up, it's lying round loose here. Not a day that I don't put aside an opportunity; too busy to look into it. Management of my own property takes my time. First visit? Looking for an opening?"

"Yes, looking around," replied Harry.

"Ah, here we are. You'd rather sit here in front than go to my apartments? So had I. An opening eh?"

The Colonel's eyes twinkled. "Ah, just so. The country is opening up, all we want is capital to develop it. Slap down the rails and bring the land into market. The richest land on God Almighty's footstool is lying right out there. If I had my capital free I could plant it for millions."

"I suppose your capital is largely in your plantation?" asked Philip.

"Well, partly, sir, partly. I'm down here now with reference to a little operation--a little side thing merely. By the way gentlemen, excuse the liberty, but it's about my usual time"--The Colonel paused, but as no movement of his acquaintances followed this plain remark, he added, in an explanatory manner, "I'm rather particular about the exact time--have to be in this climate."

Even this open declaration of his hospitable intention not being understood the Colonel politely said, "Gentlemen, will you take something?"

Col. Sellers led the way to a saloon on Fourth street under the hotel, and the young gentlemen fell into the custom of the country.

"Not that," said the Colonel to the bar-keeper, who shoved along the counter a bottle of apparently corn-whiskey, as if he had done it before on the same order; "not that," with a wave of the hand. "That Otard if you please. Yes. Never take an inferior liquor, gentlemen, not in the evening, in this climate. There. That's the stuff. My respects!"

The hospitable gentleman, having disposed of his liquor, remarking that it was not quite the thing--"when a man has his own cellar to go to, he is apt to get a little fastidious about his liquors"--called for cigars.

But the brand offered did not suit him; he motioned the box away, and asked for some particular Havana's, those in separate wrappers.

"I always smoke this sort, gentlemen; they are a little more expensive, but you'll learn, in this climate, that you'd better not economize on poor cigars" Having imparted this valuable piece of information, the Colonel lighted the fragrant cigar with satisfaction, and then carelessly put his fingers into his right vest pocket. That movement being without result, with a shade of disappointment on his face, he felt in his left vest pocket.

Not finding anything there, he looked up with a serious and annoyed air, anxiously slapped his right pantaloon's pocket, and then his left, and exclaimed, "By George, that's annoying. By George, that's mortifying. Never had anything of that kind happen to me before. I've left my pocket-book.

Hold! Here's a bill, after all. No, thunder, it's a receipt."

"Allow me," said Philip, seeing how seriously the Colonel was annoyed, and taking out his purse.

The Colonel protested he couldn't think of it, and muttered something to the barkeeper about "hanging it up," but the vender of exhilaration made no sign, and Philip had the privilege of paying the costly shot; Col.

Sellers profusely apologizing and claiming the right "next time, next time."

As soon as Beriah Sellers had bade his friends good night and seen them depart, he did not retire apartments in the Planter's, but took his way to his lodgings with a friend in a distant part of the city.

同类推荐
  • 吏学指南

    吏学指南

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 眉寿堂方案选存

    眉寿堂方案选存

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 西夏书事

    西夏书事

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 波罗蜜多心经挟注

    波罗蜜多心经挟注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 石洞集

    石洞集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 凡尘枯

    凡尘枯

    主角是普通县城的一个三岁孩童,原本一生平平无奇,后来被一个下山历练的修道之人看中并带回了山门。在门派中,主角偶然发现了自己神秘的身世,并且奇怪的发觉魂魄竟然有两个主导意识,在另一个意识的帮助下,一路见神杀神,见佛杀佛,直至征服整个神界。只是···主角戏剧性的发现,自己竟然不属于这个世界
  • 流氓大师

    流氓大师

    当我们总结历史时,不难发现在一个领域异常杰出的人总会被历史所铭记,这类人的身上会自带一种属于自己的人生标签:爱因斯坦-原子弹、牛顿-经典力学、贝多芬-音乐大师、梵高-伟大的艺术家;陈凡,ohmygod!如果非要将这个人定义成人类,那么他将是人类历史上毫无争议、举世无双的流氓大师!
  • 私人电影典藏·成长电影

    私人电影典藏·成长电影

    《成长电影》为私人电影典藏系列之一,主要收集了一些经典电影,共收录了100部未成年电影。
  • 日久生情:霸道老公好凶猛

    日久生情:霸道老公好凶猛

    大婚前一周,未婚夫离奇消失,她收到匿名包裹,接到任务:若想你未婚夫平安,成为陆予琛的妻子!她毅然前往,但没想到这个任务比她想象中的还要简单得多……第一次见面,那个叫陆予琛的男人就直接丢给了她两张红本本:从今以后,你是我的女人!他迫不及待要娶她的目的是什么?
  • 英雄去超越

    英雄去超越

    英雄联盟全球最火热的游戏,看我们如何去超越自己吧!英雄,去超越吧
  • 扼住命运咽喉的人:介绍德国音乐家贝多芬

    扼住命运咽喉的人:介绍德国音乐家贝多芬

    德国作曲家路德维希·凡·贝多芬于1770年12月16日出生在波恩。他的祖父和父亲都是宫廷里的乐师和歌手,母亲是宫廷厨师的女儿。他们一家象当时为宫廷服务的所有仆人一样,过着贫困清寒的日子。贝多芬的母亲生过七个孩子,只活下了三个,贝多芬最大。
  • 逆旅归途

    逆旅归途

    NH_370带我踏上异世的征途,敢问路在何方,我只是一匹想要回家的孤狼。
  • 一夜燃情:总裁老公超给力

    一夜燃情:总裁老公超给力

    结婚三年,秦经年对乔一都熟视无睹,却因为一场误会,把她变成了自己发泄的对象。“转过身,闭上眼,不准喊我的名字!”亲热时,他冷声吩咐。她默然承受……秦经年以为自己迷恋的不过就是她的身子,但是在她逃离后,却用尽手段把她绑了回来。“好大的胆子,居然带着我的孩子跑路?”他把她压在身下。“先生,我们熟吗?”她巧笑嫣然。“不熟?没关系,多睡睡就熟了……”--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 豪门权谋

    豪门权谋

    想在这个家继续活下去,你就要比他们强,手段比他们狠!朋友比他们广,圈子比他们精,这家无时无刻都充斥着各种阴谋,各种黑暗手段一个不小心不是万劫不复,就是化为灰烬这就是豪门的准则。
  • 携剑走七国

    携剑走七国

    战国时代,七雄争霸。一个小小军官也被卷入时代的洪流。是随波逐流,向命运低头?还是逆流直上,让时代的车轮倒转?小小军官的想法在悄然变化,而围绕他身边的谜团也逐渐清晰。