The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-23

and say, 'What DTlncely tortuneI In wealthy
England, l sit as am, aud say "A modest nde-
pendence, dear sir; nothing more. Enough,
perhaps, for wife In your own rank of life,
who has no social prejudices to conquer. Not
more than half enough for wife VINO Is n
meanly porn foreigner, and who has all your
social prejudices against her. Sir If my niece
is ever TO marry you, she will have what you
call uphill work OF 1t in taking her place at
stating. Yes, yes; this is not your view, but it
remains, immoyably remains, my view for all
that. For my neces sake, claim that this
uphill work shall be made as smooth as pos
slble. Whatever material advantages she can
have to help her. ought, ia common
justice, to be hers. Now, tell me, Mr..
Vendale, on your fifteen hundred a year can
your wife have a house In a alashi0nable quarter,
a footmau to open her door, a butler TO wait at
her table, and a carriage and horses TO drive
about in? l see the answer IN your face
your face says, No, Very good. Tell me one
more thing and have done. Take the mass of
your educated, accomplished, lovely country
women, is 1t, or is 1t not, the fact that lady
who has house in fashionable quarter, a
tootman to open her door, butler to wait at her
table, and carriage aud horses to drive about
in, is q lady who has gained four steps in female
estimation at starting Yesl or Nor"
"Come to the point" said Vendale. you
view this question as question of terms. What
arc your terms W
"fhe lowest terms, dear sir, on which you can
provide your wife with those iour steps at start
ing. Double your present income-the most
rigid economy cannot do it in England on less.
You said just now that you expected greatly to
Increase the value of your business. To work,
and increase it'll am good devil after all On
the day when you satisfy me, by plain proofs,
that your income has risen to three thousand
year, ask me for my niece's hand, aud it is
yours"
MAY / inquire if you have mentioned this
arrangement to Miss 0benrezer?"
"CeTtainly. She has a last little morsel of
regard still left for me, MIR. Yendale, which is
not yours yet; and she accepts my terms In
other words, she submits to be guided by her
enardian's regard for her welfare, and by her
guardians superior knowledge OF the world"
He threw himself back in his chair in firm
reliance on his position, and in full possession of
his excellent temper
Any open assertion of his own interests, in
the situation in which Vendale was now placed,
seemed to be (tor the present at least) hopeless,
He found himself literally left with 10 ground
to stand on. Whether 0benrezers objections
were the genuine product of Obenreizer's own
view OF the case, or whether he was simply
delaying the marriage in the hope of ultimately
breaking it off altogether-in either of these
events any present resistance on Vendae's part
would be equally useless. There was no help
for it but to yield, making the best terms that
be could on his own side.
81 protest against the conditions you impose
on me, ne began.
Naturally said Obenreizer; 81 dare say
should protest myself, in your place.n
Say, however," pursued Vendale, chat
accept your terms. In that case must be per-
mitted to make two stlpulations on my part. In
the first place shall expect to be allowed to see
your niece"
"Aha to see my niece? and TO make her in as
great hurry to be married as you are yourself?
suppose say No? you would see her perhaps
without my permission" ?"
"Decidedly J"
"How delightfully."- frank How exquisitely
English You shall see her, Mr.. Vendale, on
certain days. which we will appoint together.
What neXtW
"Your objection to my income" proceeded
Vendae, "has taken me completely by surprise.
l wish to be assured against any repetition of
that surprise. Your present views of my qua l.
hcaton for marriage require me TO have an in-
come OF three thousand year. Can be GER
lain, in the future, as your experienced England
higherN
'In plain English" said obenreizer, 'you
doubt my word ?n
"Do you purpose to take my word for it, when
l inform you that have doubled my income ~
asked Vendale. 'It my memory does not de-
ceive me, you stipulated, minute since, for
plain proofs 7"
"Well played, Mr.. vendale You combine
the foreign quickness with the English solidity
Accept my best congratulations. Accept, also
my written guarantee"
He rose; seated himself at writing desk at
side-table, wrote q few lines, and presented
them to Vendale, with low bow. The engage
ment was perfectly explicit, and was signed and
dated with scrupulous care.
"Are you satisfied with your guaranteeW ~
81 am satisfied"
had our little skirmish, we have really been
wonderfully clever on both sides. For the pre-
sent our affairs are settled. l bear no malice.
You bear no malice. Come, Mr.. Vendale, a
good English shake hands,"
Vendale gave his hand little 5ewildered by
ObenreZer's udden transitions from one humor
to another,
'When may I expect 10 see Miss Obenreizer
again ?n he asked, as he rose TO go.
Honor me with visit tomorrow said
ObenTeizeT, land we will settle it then. Do
have grog before you go. No? Well! well
we will reserve the grog till you have your three
thousand year and are ready TO be married.
Ahal When will that beY'
II made an estimate some months since of the
capacities OF my business" said Vendale. Ill
| that estimate is correct, shall double my PIE.
sent income"
"And be married !" added Obenreizer,
"And be married, y repeated Vendale "Within
year from this time. Good nght.n
vENDALE MAKES MISCHIEF.
! When Vendale entered his Office the next
! morning, the dull commercial routine at Cripple
! had an interest in it now The whole machinery
which Wilding's death had set in motion, to
realize the value OF the business-the balancing
! ofledgers, the estimating of debts the taking OF
! stock, and the Iest of twas now transformed
into machinery which indicated the chances for
| and against a speedy marriage. After looking
over results. as presented by his accountant
and checking additions and subtracdons, a;
! rendered by the clerks, Vendale turned his
attention TO the stock-takiug department next
and sent message to the cellars, desiring tC
see the report.
The CellaTmans appearance, the moment he
put his he ad in at the door OF his masters private
loom, suggested that something very eXtraor
binary must have happened that morning
There was an approach to alacrty in JOEY
Ladies' movements! There was somethul
which actually simulated cheerfulness in Joe