The mountain Democrat., 1863-02-14

,.. - - AA>Nlatnly, anu 1 VI pTOuU
to bear the illustrious name
Il do not doubt you will add glory and
honor to it. The DouglAses we're ever
brave
Can you give me the invoice Of my
purchase p asked the captain, not liking
the fulsome compliment
Directly, SIR said the jeweler, and,
conducting his customer to private room
behind the shop, he went to give the ne
cessary orders.
Meanwhile the naval Douglas helped
himself to sherry from decanter on the
table, and taking up the newspaper lolled
back On The ottoman comfortably.
Would you like them to g. t0-Oigbtp
asked the silversmith, presenting the bill.
4 think not; they will he safer here till
we 60 down to Derby, which will be very
shortly, for London doesn't agree with
me. In the meantime friend, who is
absent in the north, has placed his estab.
lishment at my disposal said the captain,
taking up the bill, and then continuing,
one tirOds4Hd two hundred and fifty.
Discount for ready cash p
Yes, sir, said the shopkeeper descend
ant Of the Douglas, Certainly
'Oblige me with materials for writing.
must send to my wife; never care to
carry notes Of value with me- said the
naval Douglas, preparing to write with
his left hand but after several fruitless
attempts, he threw down the pen in dis
gust.
'Deuced awkward, to lose the right
hand
You may say that said the silver
smith.
His customer inwardly thanked him for
the kind admission, then said aloud:
Just write for me. Though my SER
want is as trusty as any in England, l
think it shame to throw temptation in
his way
Just so.'
And, by the way, where do you dine
today Come, you are a new-found
relative; say you'll come with me do,
now
We'll, thank you for your frankness;
and, not to be behind-hand in courtesy, l
will
Done like Douglas, said the captain;
and now for the note.
The slversmith took up the pen. will
you dctate?'
Thus he dictated, while the unsuspect-
ing wide awake Douglas wrote:
DEAR WIFE-I have found a new rela-
ton, who will dine with US to-day. And
have made a rather large purchase in
plate. You will find roll of notes in my
desk; send me one thousand pounds by
bearer, who has the key. Yours,
ID. DoUGLAs.
And then taking out bunch Of keys
he selected one, and dispatched the ser
want, bidding him drive quickly, and lose
no time in returning to him there. The
two DouGlases then returned, and talked
and drank bottle Of wine very amicably
together.
i see Berry is promoted, said the cap
tain, taking up the paper again.
lie deserves to be, was the reply.
That he does! What an audacious
fraud on the bank, that
Terrible! | am sure nobody knows
when they may trust servant
Indeed they don't Did you ever suf-
fer
Il have been very Fortunate said the
Shopkeeper, with complaccnt smile.
'Ah shrcwdness is the Scottish char
acteriStic, and the English would do we'll
to copy, rather than sneer at it.
4 have often said so, and felt grateful
for it has saved me more than once from
the Philistines.'
Really you cannot depend upon SER
wants even for trifiing errand; how long
Green has gone, to be sure, said the cap
tain.
why, yes, he is long time but per-
haps Mrs. Douglas herself was absent, or
twenty things might detain him.
%, yes, certainly; but | think I'll walk
out to meet him, while you finish busi
ness, ready to accompany me. So au re-
voir He can't be far away now, said the
naval gentleman, while the silversInith
bowed him out and then returning, he
added, in the hearing Of the shopkeeper,
You might get those goods packed; may
send for them tonight
They will be ready, sir, was the reply;
and the feeble captain lmped slowly down
the street, where he was presently joined
by an inferior officer Of his ship, with
whom he held an earnest conversation,
that resulted in their calling a cab and
driving rapidly to an obscure street.
Mr.. Douglas had finished his business,
had given the final orders for the night,
and 'freshened himself up to use his
own phrase, ready to dine and, it being
past his usual hour, he was impatient for
the strangers return but another hour
flew by without his re.Appearance, and,
thinking it possible he might have been
detained by unexpected circumstances, be
determined to 60 home, and, as he rode
along, it was o comforting assurance that
he had left the goods at the shop. This
was a source Of great satisfaction to him,
but he now suddenly recollected that he
had net forbidden their being taken away,
and that his foreman heard the purcha-
Ser's final order, should he return: it would
make assurance doubly sure, and yet he
could not doubt the honesty Of his Gus
toner, or the correctness of his own esti
mate of that gentleman's character, and
while he unused on these things he was
drawing near to home, whore he deter
mined to 60, have hearty dinner, and re-
turn TO the shop.
1t must be all right, he said, and yet he
was far from easy about the matter. 1t
was not late, the city dimes so early, and
he might get back and find his newly
found relative waiting for him at the shop.
This rather treasured him, and he ascen-
ded the stairs into the dining-room and
his wife's presence, tolcrably good humor-
ed and we'll contented with the days busi-
ness.
But it so happened, for particular rca-
sons, Mrs. Douglas wanted to dine early
that day, and here was he an hour later
| thon uSual and she consequently out of