Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1860-01-20
THE TEST OF cHARAcrER.

y
now and he led the way into the room.
He helped his niece to an arm chair and
took a seat opposite her.
"Uncle," said Julia, with little becoming
confusion, Il have received an offer."
"Whew ' exclaimed her Uncle "that is
coming to the point with vengeance"
And l wish to consult you as to accepting
it or not"
"A very sensible resolution. May / know
from whom the offer has been receyed?"
Edward Fitzroy."
~ ou havn't known him very long"
''Not-very," said Julia slowly
But you think you know all about him, ]
dare say. Are you very much in love with
him ?''
Not desperately answered Julia smiling
ly. AT the same time l confess that 1 am
strongly prepesessed in his favor"
And this preposesson is likely to become
warm sentiment. Well, my little niece, as
you have requested my advice, will give it.
l do not object TO this lover of yours. Indeed
| know nothing against him. But then l
know too little Of him at any rate to be able
to form deliberate opinion of his character.
If | mistake not this is also your case. Now
it is my theory that no woman ought TO mar
ry unless she is sufficiently well acquainted with
her intended husband to have a pretty conf
dent assurance of leading happy life with him.
| therefore counsel you to delay giving your
answer for a month, and in that time / will
contrive to become better acquainted with
him.
"Your advice" said Julia, thoughtfuly, sis
good and viii follow it,
Thank you,' said her uncle kindly, 'for the
confidence you have reposed in my Judgment.
l sincerely hope that the young man will prove
to be all that we can desire"
Edward Fitzroy was in business in the neigh
boring city. He had embarked small prop
erty inherited from his father, in dry goods
establishment en Washington street, and hav
ing good business tact, was driving -four
ishing trade. His acquaintance with our hero
inc had commenced during summer residence
at the village which she made her home. 1t
was not strange that he should have been at
tracted by Julia. Her gayety. vivacity and
beauty made her generally admired, and had
anything else bce: requisite, the reputation of
being her uncles heiress would have procured
her suffers But it is not uecessary to dwell
further on this point in cur story. We are i'll
terested to know how Uncle Hcnrys plan sue
ceedcd
He first made cautious inGn;ries relative to
the young mans business standing, all of which
were answered satisfactorily. But this did MOI
satisfy him. He wished to see for himself
Accordingly he purchased il suit of clothing s.
different lrom that whicil he was accustomed
TO wear that with pair of green goggiess Sill
per added be felt convinced would disguise him
sufficiently for his purpose. Tins attired h.
lounged into the store, and inquired for som;
trifiing article. He was purposey very slow
III being suited. Meanwhile he watched with
some atteat:on the bearing of Fitzroy, wh,
was trading with f.shiouahly attired lady a;
little distance. Nothitsg could be more po-
lite and ol,stquicus than the conduct of th,
Young: ira ltsinan. With unwea,ietl asSitIuity
c took ct,~a ir:.,a the shelves and displayed i,
large stock Of merchandise until the f,stidior,
taste of the lady was at length suited.
/ lie is attentive to his customers thot Un-
Gle Henry. That is good sign. Bat per
haps it may be simply because she is rich ano
! fashionable. Here's customer Of a diiftren;
kind. Let me see how he treats her.
! At this moment woman very poorly dress
ed, with Il worn and weary expression ii she
were better acquainted with the dark than tn,
bright side OF life entered the door aud adj
vanced TO the counter. The afflbIe smil,
which Fitzroy had worn in his interview with
the last customer disappeared, and in its place
was seen supercillious glance.
Il would like 10 look at some caicoes, sait
the customer.
Here are some,' said Fitzroy curtly. and
he pointed to pile which lay on the conuter
He cid not stir from his position, bat gazed
at the woman with an air that seemed to he
patronage.
"Will you show me some of them ?"-askec
the woman mildly.
"There they are ma'am you can see then
for yourself"
':What is the price of this >" she inquired
looking at the one which lay at the top.
IN inepcnce yard"
Il don't altogether like the figure, she sal
after pause
Don't you,' replied Fitzroy indiffi:rently.
The customer began to examine some of III
, other prints. Of course on doing so she wa
obliged to disarrange them somewhat.
: Don't pull them to pieces" said Fitzroy
rutiey There isn't much difference in then
You'd better take the first that comes. How
f much did you want"
Ten yards
"Well you had better let me cut it off quic
!; as l can't stand here waiting ON one customt
d all day"
Thus importuned the woman hastily indic
,- ted one of the prints and the quantity WI
+ measured off. Change was hastily made ar
o the woman departed. Her place was take
d by a wealthy lady like the first, the rustic
t whose silk proved an immediate passport to Il
t. good graccs of the merchant.
V 81 don like that thought Uncle Henry wi
o had not been unobservant of this scene. It
d has no right to treat one customer better tn;
,r another. AT all events all ought to be treat
with common civiity whatever their attire mi
be or however small may be their purchase
.'rhese gloves are half dollar are they? (tle
Il, words were addressed to the shop man VI
20 was Waiting on himC very well, l will ia
u, them"
to Meanwhile the woman who had just purch;
ht cd The calico re-entertd the store with hHrri
;, step and look of trouble She waited
Ii Fitzroy was through with the lady upon wh'
in he was waiting, and then pressed to the COZ
m ter.
in "Well. what now? ?" asked the young IN
~ superciliously.
r II believe you made a mistake about
change you handed me-
"A mistake :" he repeated ait is quite.
-, possible"
~ But, said the woman, anxiously, don't J
' remember that gave you two dollar b
~ ~ and you handed me back only two quarter
wasn't that right ?"
"No-I bought ten yards at nnepence
me yard which made but dollar and quartz