Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-07-04
VOL. 3.----N0. Sc.
TAKING CARE OF NUMBER
ONE.
BY T. S. ARTHUR.

transactions and social intercourse; tho
guardedly, whenever too manifest ex
hibiion of selfshness was likely 10 af
fec, him in the estimation of certain par.
ties with whom lie wished 10 stand par.
tlcularly fair. In all his dealings, this
maxim was alone regarded, and he was
never satisfied unless, in bargaining, he
secured the greater advantage, thing
that pretty generally occurred.
There resided in the same town with
lllghman--a western town--a certain
young lsdy. whose father owned large
amount of properly. She was his only
child, and would fall heir, at his death
to all his wealth. OF course; this young
lady had attractions that were felt to bt
Of most weighty character by certain
young men in the town, who made
themselves as agreeable to her as posi-.
bic. Among these was Lawrence Tilgh
man.
81 arry," SAID friend to him one day
they haG been talking about the young
lady-"it's no use for you 10 play thu
agreeable to Helen Walcolt."
"And why not pray!' returned Tilgh
man.
They say she is engaged"
"To whon?'
ITO young man in Columbus.
"Who says so?''
IL can't mention my authority; bu
it's good"
Engaged. ha! Well, I'll break tha
engagement; if there is any virtue in try.
ing
"You wil!"
"Cer,ainly. Helen will be worth /,
plum when the old man, her father, dies
and I've made up my mind TO handl,
some of his thousands"
But certainly, Larry, you would no
attempt to interfere with a marriage con
tract"
al don't believe any contract exists,
replied the young man. Anyhow
while a lady is single | regard her as il
market, and TO be won by the boldes,.
"Still, we should have some respec
for the rights of others"
Every one for himself in this world
replied Tilghman. "That is my motto
If you dou't take care of yourself, you'll
be showed to the wall in double quick
tine.
Long ago, resolved to put some
forty or fifty thousand dollars between
myself and the world by marriage, ant
you may be sure that will not let thi.
opportunity slip for any consideration
! Helen must be mine.
Additional evidence Of the fact ,ha
the young lady was under engagement
of marriage soon came to the ears o
Tilshman. The effect was to produce
"a closer attention ON his par, to Helen
who greatly TO his uneaslness, did no
seem TO give him much encouragement
although she always treated him witt
poli,encss ana attention whenever ht
called to see her. But it was not true
as Tilghman had heard, that Helen was
engaged to young man in Columbus
though it was true that she was in cor
respondence with gentleman there ma
med Walker, and that their acquaintance
was intimate, and fast approaching ;
loselike character.
Sill, she was not Indifferent TO the for
ner, and, as he showed SO strong pref
erence for her, began, gradually, to fee
an awakening interest. Tilghman wa,
quick 10 perceive this, and it greatly ella
ted him. In the exultation of his feel
ings, he said to himself
.l'll show this Columbus man tha
I'm worth dozen Of him. The bold
es, wins the fair. | wouldn't give mucl
for his engagement"
Tilghman was a merchant. and visite,
the East twice every year for The pur
pose of buying goods. Last Angus,
he crossed the mountains as usual
Some men, when they leave home AM
go among strangers, leave all the l'tl'
good breeding they may happen to have
had behind them. Such man wa
filghman. The momen, he stepped in
to steamboat, stage, or railroad car, TIT
every -onc- Tor himself principle by which
he was governed manifested itself in al
it's naked deformity, and II was at one,
concluded by all with whom he came il
contact that. let him be who he would
he was no gentleman.
On going up the river, on the occasion
referred to, our gentleman went on tn
free and easy principle. as was usua
with him when in public conveyances
consulting his own inclinations and taste
aloud, and running his elbows into an,
and everybody's ribs that happened L
come in his way. He was general,
first a, the table when the bell rang; AM
as he had good appetite. managed
while there, TO secure full share of th'
delicacles provided for the company.
"Every one for HIMSELF" was III
thought in his mind Ola these occasions
and his actions fully agreed with hi
thoughts.
On crossing the mountains in stages
as far as Cumberland, his greedy, selfish
and sometimes downright boorish pro
\ pensilies, ANNOYED his fellow. passengers
and particularly young man Of quiet
refined, and gentlemanly department