Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1854-04-13

sion, Mr.. Pontiac, like true man of busi
ness, set about carrying out his intentions.
He was no, an unpopular man among his
acQuaintances on the contrary, being "Well-
off, good humored, and obligng and hav-
ing habi, Of making pretty little accepta-
bic presents at favorable momeu is, he was
never omitted from the invitation list Of a
ball, and seldom forgotten at dinner-tho', ;,
of course, as dinner-lahles are less elastic
than drawing rooms, bachelors, young and
old, or people who dom. giUe dinners, can
not often expect 10 be ASKED to them, unless
they are ''lions," who are expected TO as
tonisll the guests, or pEofessed wits, who
invariably make thea, selves excessively dis
agreeable.
Mr.. Pontiac now walked through society
with a keen eve for widows. If be were
| introduced 10 Mrs" any body, immediate
" he p,icked up his ears, and made the Ut
most use Of his eyes, TO discover whether
the lady were widow, whether she were
agreeable, whether she looked wealthy
| Diamonds had an immense attraction for
! him-pcint lace never escaped his attention
rich brocaded silks ruslliDg. told Of gold
while a brougham riveied his attention,
and chariot and pair completely fascinated
him.
Alas how rare were widows with all, or
any Of these things! The Grape cap, bomb4-
zne dress class predominaled fearinlly: not
TIA. Mr.. Pontiac Cad fellow = believed that
all these demurey spparefied ladies were
in the extremity Of detection :; but Grape
caps are less expensive than Brussels lace
and French flowers !; and bombaZn dresses
far less extravagant Than moire antiques, bro
cades, aud poplins. That was The differ
eace, in Mr.. Pontac's opinion, between the
two classes-,he bombazfns were the wild
nws with iniutures worthy of the name
and again, he observed, how rare The later
class!
Sometimes he fancied he had marked one
| do"n-a real rich uidow but usl as be
was beginning In feel exhIlaraled with his
success, il would turn out that the lady's
fortune was only payable so long as she re-
NAMED widow. And on this discovery
Mr.. Pontiac would grow irae, and inveigh
agsins, the baseness, and selfi>hness, and
wan. of proper feeling on The part of the
deceased husband, in placing this Infamous
| limitation TO his legacy. He thought law
ought 10 be passed making such limitations
entirely Illegal, and giving every widow
full permission to marry again, and enj y
her fortune in spite Of all the limitations in
the world. None OF the widows with
''miies,'' by the way, were thus tied up
They, poor saul, had always full perms-
sion to marry again, and continue in pos
session Of their ''nites" after doing so.-
! Husbands who had only mites 10 leave
seemed To be ashamed Of putting in the for
! felt clause bul the one, two, or three thou
sand a-year men scarcely ever omitted it,
Shockingly selfish!
One day Mr.. Pontiac was paving q
visi, to some friends and customers of his
own.
"By-the-bye, Pon:ac," said the host, "a
friend of ours wants some Madeira, and
took The liberty Of mentioning your name,
and giving your address, as likely TO serve
her well. dare say she'll write to YOU"
She thought Mr.. Pontiac; widow, no
doubt. Drinks Madeirs too-rather an ex-
pensive wine good jointare, no doubt
| Wonder whether there's any confounded
! Limitation to it
But Pontiac only thought this: he bowed
to his friend and thanked him.
"ShaIl call on the lady :" be asked. ''Will
you give me her address -
"Cerlainly," replied his friend. "Jane dear,
give Mr.. Pontiac one Of Mrs. Comlensy's
cards."
Couttenay, thought Pontiac not bad
name. Sound well, al all evenls''
'IEere's The card, Mr.. Pontac," said bis
| friends's wife, handing him the slender bi'
of pasleboard on which was inscribed
"Mrs. Courlenay, No, HeItlord Street,
May Fair"
| Deuccd good address, thought Pontiac, as
he walked away with the card in his pock
Ell determining 10 call in Hertford Street the
next day, and still wondering whether there
would turn out to be any elimination" in th
case.
The next day the wine merchant called
in Ilerl(ord Street, and inquired for Mrs
Couriensy. The lady was at home-he
sent up his card, and was admitted.
IL must apologize, madam, for the lIber-
Y have taken IN calling on you," said
oontac. with his best bow-and il was mol