Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1867-07-19
WV STRATEGIC COURTsHIP

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wv STRATEGIC COGRTsHIP
GA beauty an heiress an eccentric
guardian, whose invitation includes any
friend you like to take with you for few
days shooting Why, my dear Fred, you
have bound me to you forever by the Sc
lection Of myself 1 feel quite a new man
already; for must confess that when you
came in Just now, was suffering from an
unusually desperate fit of the blues" >
Consequent, in a remote degree, on last
nights supper suggested Fred Clayton,,
- md good deal, also, on the way in which
You Keep cooped up in these dismal quar-
ters." j
Fred glanced CONTEMPORARY round my
dingy Temple chambers as he spoke--a
survey scarcely necessary, considering
their intimate resemblance to his own ad-'
joining rooms. However, / forbore any
remark indeed the delightful prospect
Just presented to me absorbed all my atten-
ton, ard grasped my friends hand in a
fever of gratitude
"Tell me all about It," said, and how
YOU came to think of me-"
"There is nothing to tell, replied Fred,
seating himself on the corner of the table
and swinging his legs backwards and for
wards lazily. "This morning gota letter
from an old fellow in the country, remind
ing meas if could remember it-that
he and my father had been friends thirty
years ago, aid asking me down to his place
for few days shooting, with permission to
bring friend if liked"
"And bis niece thatyou told me of-the
heiress |" said I.
ooh. of course he did not mention her."
said Fred "and merely tell you because.
if yeu choose to put yourself under my
guidance, may be the means Of helping
you to good thing. You know" he added
more deliberately, how disinterested my.
assistance can be after the little condolences
we exchanged last night. "oYroI rgnss
{ ~ 10 True" said 4, charmed with the recol-i
lection, "your pretty cousin-the secret
engagement"
ayes" interrupted Fred; "you know
all about it !; and we know more about
each other than most fellows; 80 it was
natural should think of you as a com
panion for my holiday, and I'm right glad
you inclined for the trip.YCIE II
So saying, and silencing my renewed
protestations of pleasure, Fred left me,
appointing rendezvous at the first train
leaving for our destination, some two or
three hours later.
Fred Clayton and had been school fell
lows in our early days, and many OF his
vacations were spent in my fathers house.
Of aats years, however, hes had lived exclu-
sssiEely In london like me, ayoung aspir-
ant to the uncertain honors of the bar, but,
unlike me, possessing large circle of
friends and acquaintance, and never with
out superabund0nce of invitations to
dinners, balls and concerts for Fred was
70 bo ronn1Ior ncnaoio llyy in To-
dies society.
Except in the m3re fact we were both
younger sons without any expectations
there was but little resemblance between
Fred Clayton and Jack Harris. My resi-
ydence In London only dated back a few
months, and already the great city pos
aessed no charm for me; pined for the
country, for freedom, and for the active life
of ,hoale.i I might, indeed with the assist
ance of1Clayton, or through letters of in.
PRODUCTION from members of my own fam!
lily, have procured fashionable Invitations,
and received partial toleratioH in society !;
but the prospect Of a crush, heated rooms
and strange faces, was q thought of terror
tony tirhid nature, especially with the n-
DERIVING chance of presentationto young
lady, and the unhappy knowledge that my
deficiencies in the art of small talk would
IudhC SuCu u CIluHCC PtOopCtolfC Wy l.
DOM, MOI II confessed in my own heart
that society was not my forte other talents
L certainly had-deeper, more intrinsic
merits than those that passed for genuine
in ball room--but they were merits to
develop In an atmosphere of peacefulness
and repose; qualities tG expand in the
quiet of a domestic hearth.ad And thrill
of Joy shot through me as, examining every
available article of clothing into small
portmanteau, took leave of my comforta-
BILE chambers, and allowed my fancy to
dwell on a brilliant possibility that Clay
tons words had evoked, An 1heiress and
a beauty country beauty, of course !;
bushes and simplicity, and rich-how
richs Rich enough to live on grand es-
tate; to keep a large stud; to dispense
princely hospitality? / must ask Fred
This, however, was secondary. would
not, of course, acknowledge myself to be
nlercenary. Love must come first love,
Independent of fortune t5.atFtsa.,
" Dixie DAMS kiss, masked, unsought,
20 Love giyesitstlf butt not bought,' ! u
So assured myself; but then, in all can
DOR did not anticipate any very great
difficulty on this score, for had ever been
painfully susceptible of the tender passion.
FINALLY, for success, must trust some
what 5os my own Individual attractions
land here nervous tremor seized mel, and
not q little to the cooperation of my
friend, for whose engagement / was
more gratified than liked to acknowledge
TO myself aii tia =. kiTe4 e.t{,is..,s1 81. :
- -5ssii, sis-tl p s3--- 2-3
assssia2a ~ aif3it ..- 1T t'.l --ttaf st
~" Fifty thousand pounds said CLAYTON,
IN answer to my inquiries, when we had Sc
cured a coupe to ourselves, and were pre-
pairing it for the comfort of all future tray
elers by lighting our cigars; !" fifty thous
and, my boy, and the estate, if you con-
sent to take her name" u -
II" Her manner What is her name Z"
asked .sasIlo a. d.e 8.sa .s
Effing-Miss Effing," he replied, ''And
now, If you think the attempt worth max
ing, | will let you know how the land lies,
and give you sketch of your campaign.
The time is short and of course l cannot
insure you second invitation if all is not
concluded during our present trip. Now
then, old fellow, pro or con sa3.f.
MY reply was given with fervor quite
warranted by the occasion.