Southern telegraph., 1836-08-09

tate this cousin Of yours; or, rather we will
kill him. Let me see. Yesi jacques Me-
ran died at Martinique, leaving a large su-
gar plantation, one hundred and fifty slaves,
personal property valued at two millions Of
francs, all Of which he bcqueaths, real, per-
sonal and mixed, 10 his dear cousin, Louis
Meran, through partiality to the nanle."
We all laughed heartily at this pleasantly,
and | thought no more Of it; but George and
Albert, heated by a second bowl of punch.
which i had ordered in gratitude for my
newly-acquired fortune, on quitting me, cir
culated, with all possible seriousness, the
report Of my great inheritance.
Conceive my astonshment, when, on
rising next day, was fairly run down by
persons calling to congratulate me. In vain
| insisted the report was all joke, They
seemed prepared for my denial, and their
confidence increased in proportion to my
endeovOrs to undeceivo them. They woull
not believe me. My two friends had told
them the news. Some of them were sure
they had known my cousin Jacques, and
had seen him embark at Nantes, in 1889.
Among my visiters, and the most disa"rco-
able OF them all, was my tailor. Like most
young lHen, | had Il fancy Of going well
dressed; and Ike some of them, had or
dered fashionable coat without the means
of paying for it The coat was more than
half gone; it had begun to assume that
seedy appearance which the habiments of
gentlemen in difficulty are sometimes seen
TO expose TO the eyes of the scrutinizing,
My creditor had looked so cold upon me for
three or four months past, and had been so
pressing of late in his attentions to me, that,
in my Imagination, "Dobtor's Apartment"
was written on every lineament Of his Ian
term jawed yisagc.
"How are you, Mr.. Mathicu?" said I,
with embarrassment. "Yon come with the
bill you have against me, suppose; but
really"
"My bill? how can YOU think | would
trouble YOU with such a trihe?'' cried he, in
terrupting me. "No, sir, it was for the
mourning"
" "What mourning?"
"The mourning fJr your cousin-you
will want IA complete suit, YOU know"
"Blt tell you, Mr., Matthew, as have
told more than fifty persons already this
morning, that"
"Ab, sir, you certainly will not deprive
me of your custom. Coat, pantaloons and
vest of black, and cIolk--same color,
suppose, lined with"
"lrepeat, ! have not yet received"
'"I beg you will not concern yourself
about the money! it will come soon enough"
added the tailor, who had already produced
his scissors and slip Of paper, and begun to
take my measure.
What could do? | was dencodly bad
off in my outer man, and let him have his
own way.
"My dear sir" exclaimed one who sue
ceeded the tailor, " it is in YOUR power 10 do
me on immense service. Buy my house
nay, don't deny me-you are rich, very
rich, and will want such one--it will suit
you exactly. Fifty thousand francs are no.
thing to you-not half your income-and |
have great need of that amount Just now. |
believe Mr. Felix would buy it; but he has
not yet made up his mind, and | have en-
gagements to meet forthwith, that must, at
any sacrifice, be attended to-"
F" /! what, buy your house? what fuIly!"
"Not on your part, l promise you. |
know | am cursed fool to sell it now.
Twill be capital purchase; in two years,
with some little repairs, you will double
your money. have your word" And off
he darted, without giving me time to answer
him. He spread the report of his sale so
indus'riously, that in less than two hours
after, Mr.. Felix, out of breath, perspiring
at every pore, and trembling with agitation,
burst in upon me.
$50, sir, you have taken the bread out of
my mouth; my own fault, though--my own
fault. Mr.. Meran, the house you have
bought is indispensable to me. have set
my heart upon i'll thought it good as mine.
| offered forty thousand francs for it:
he asked fifty thousand--Ihcld back. knew
the owner was embarrassed, and thought he
would have to fall to my price; but he has
outwitted mc--my own fault, though, my
own fault. You will not, ! know, be forced
to sell, SO without further preliminary, |
came to offer you fifteen thousand funcs
profit for your bargain"
Here was now getting fifteen thousan
francs, knew not how. ], who toiIed y
hard for my salary of eight hundred francs
as clerk in Registers Office. Though all
unused, as may well be supposed, to such
operations, | was not green enough to ex-
pose my ignorance, and | replied, with a
Auuering heart, and as much Importance as
my feelings would allow mo to assume
|" Mr.. Felix, it is impossible for me to give
you adecided answer just at this moment
but if you viii call on me at five o'clock,
will see if can accede TO your proposal
At three quarters past four O'Clock hc was
at my door.
" MIR. Felix" said / to him, I" have NJ
fancy for the house. Ientertained no though
Of purchasing it; when the owner pressed
me to buy it, | acceded to his wishes; th,