Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-02-24
Won by Proxy.

. ~ say, Dllll, my DOy, i I'll Ill SUCH bCIhpcL
Give me the benefit Of your advice, there's
q good fellow" .'.. {. u. o . orr
HWiIiingly, jack" said 1. "Whatis the
use of wisdom like mine but to benefit
ones fellow creatures? Unfold your grief,
my friend. Has your mare turned lame ?
or has the terrier got run over ?" llj u-I
/ "Worse even than that, Phil" he replied.
'Read this letter Ihave just got from my
father" H' h7
I SO saying, Jack handed me over the epis-
tie and proceeded to console himself with
one of my best Havanas. Gen. Grants let
ter ran thus: .r
"MY DEAR jack have today received
letter from my old friend. Sir Thomas
Ashton, inviting us to spend New Years
dav at Ashton park There is to be agrand
bail on that day, as it is the 10Th birthday
lofhis only daughter and heiress, Gertrude.
L cannot 90, as am summoned to your un-
Gle Godfrey, at Paris, but l have written
Sir Thomas that you will go down on the
30th. His drag will be sent to meet you at
SheTeham junction. .... .r......y .,;r -.
Now, Jack, Sir Chomas has been kind
enough to say that nothing would give rim
greater pleasure than match between his
daughter and you. The property is splen-
did, and without incumbrance. Don't
stand in your own light, bat be particular
ly attentive to the heiress, and l shall still
live to see you married to the richest and
prettiest girl in England. With Sir
Thomas, appreciation you have the matter
in your own hands. .q j.. ...,.. ,.i....
"Bqst wishes Of the season, ,''
I'D ',a',y- T',a1'Y 1'Yours, &C., .a 10 G. GRANT"
I looked up at Jack after perusing this
document. "Worldly old fellow, isn't he,
Phil ~ said he., SHE'S a. good old boy, bless
him! but he has one little weakness, and
that is heiress hunting for me. Miss Ger
trude Ashton makes the sixth ! have been
destined to bless. My father is like an old
pointer; he goes about seeming game and
am the retriever expected to 60 and pick 1t
up. The, last heiress | was sent after, an
uncommon pretty girl and with 100000
besides her beauty, l was smitten with and
thought I'd try and make myself agreeaT
BILE, though / am not lady's man.. Phil,
and have not the power Of, conversation
of some people (here Jack cast an admiring
glance at me;) butt did my best, and [ of
fered to let her see my little terrier Snap
kill ten rats in rs many seconds-an offer
I would not have made to every one, i
can tell her-apd you should just have seen
her face Of disgust. and the air with which
she called tor glass of water and said she
felt quite faint, How the governor did
rave, at my betise, as. he called 1t! But
what am to do now, Phil ?' .,''.
"Why 60, to be sure" said I and think
yourself well off to have such a prospect
Of amusement, o,f Il+,[' 'i ''..l
EGoi" shrieked Jack; 'Igo! and the match
coming off on the second-the match l
have been in training for for the, last three
months, and which has kept me on the short
allowance of three cigars day all that
time! The idea Is not to be thought OF.
But what is to be done? My father will be
furions,if / don't go, and l certainly would
not like to vex him., Bother Sir Thomssl
Why couldn't he have asked us, at some
other time? But / say, Phil, l have an
idea, Why shouldntYon go instead, OF me
Nobody, there knows me-, II would be a
good lark. You'd make q much better
wooerI of tbe heiress than should and if
YOU win her, why, i III give you my benedic-
tion-Pil give you all the credentials; and
as | don't expect, in his heart Of hearts,
nv father has much hope of winning the
,heiress, judging at least from the past, why,
he'll think I've done the tef :dtti, dtptitnl, and an irl be
's'is @But IT. JACK said I, dit Would never do
be sure to bef bel found 4ull gut Be-
a0R. pnoSpasae2nlsas!p9 Interrupted Jack. at
would be all right. DO go, likes real friend.
You have Just to leave again when all the
fun lis over, and no one will be a bit the
wiser, and tEere'll be no, harm done. Oh,
YOU don't know. what a weight you have
taken off my mind, Phil You are good
Samaritan, and no mistake" ~, ~! 90.
y NButL havn't tpromisedlt TO 60, Jack" "',l
tH0h, but you mean togo," said he "aild,
on the strength ot y9nr g9od ~ LII lntentIo e ms \
bass, though / am on short allowance of 1t
| tOo--bass relief you may call 1t. Phil, Don't
sbudder. / know the Joke is as old as the
| hills; but, under the circumstances a fell
| low may be excused. Here's your jolly
GOOD health, and successl ',rAttfeo6a.i I'll
Come back at night, and coach you up."f
lsg.So saying, Jack Grant took his departure,
| leaving me in a pleasing state OF bewilder-
I.ment, not very well knowing what ! had ,un-
| dertaken to do, or rather, what my friend
4 Jack intended Il should do, The idea OF
getting away from my dull rooms in Ok
i FORD was not unpleRsipg. i had been con-
.demned to It from the absence Of my friends
/ In Italy, and not possessing the resource Of
4 INV friend Jack, two, days Of 1t bad been
j sufficiently, depressing 10 make me wei
| come any prospect Of release, To 60. or moi
to gos was the question. Reason said '.no,
inclination said t.yes," and, as usual, incli'
nation carried the day.; S9,.o-5. - -.
.I,s BY the time. Jack returned had decided
Ito brave all and 90, packed my dress sTcoal