Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-10-29


takes Uncover to Southend whenever he
hears that a packet is scomng in, and walks
me up and down that long pier. And he
is always on the lookout for concerts or,
entertainments OF any kind we can go to-
Can you explain itY" .-....-...g
al think can give guess" said Miss |
Plumpree; in fact, i expect that my IN |
fluence may have something todo with 1t. |
The plain truth is my dear, that he wants
TO get you married"
"Nor' cried Annie, with Jump. but
he told me distinctly, when l first came
here, that though might expect to be
provided for IN his win, must not look
for any ,dowry, or even much of a trons,
seau, In case were to marry; ana that
did not look much like great anxiety ON
the subject
"No, dear; but his views have under
| gone change. The fact Is that he does
| your humble servant the honor 10 wish"
go, and you will take him. won't youg
| 1t will be so nice to call you aunt and
have you living in the house, cried Annie,
enthusiastically. a+&N ~ -sfr E.e.r
"Well, DEAR" continued Miss. Plump
tree, "it seemed to me that the Opportunl'
| ty was a good one for advancing your in
terests, so 1 refusedto give him definite
answer while you were unsettled; not but
Wlat WOutu SOouCE nave J ou AOi " 'Nlh7
panion, of course, but it does not do to be
selfish; and as your uncle is inclined to
be what we may call careful in his money
matters, which is often the case with those
who have been somewhat extravagant in
youth, | thought a little stimulant TO his
generosity would be beneficial. Hush
here he comes. Can anything bethe mat
terg" ....
| This possibility was suggested by Mr..
| Johnstonc's face and manner, the former
being bcwildered, the latter horrid and eN-
! cited, as he came towards them from his
joss House with an open letter in his
! hand sg - ~. .
Something the matters Indeed there
was; nothing less than threat of losing
his late wifes property, and being reduced
once more To the straits which had driven
him into permanent matrimony thirty
years before. One of those Doctors
Commons grubbers, who live by holding
out that they have discovered something
to somebody's adyantage,-which general
| ly turns out to be fraudulent mares nest,
but every now and then Just often
enough to tempt fresh floCks of gulls-
proves to be q discovery of real impor
tance-had fisheG up evidence that the late
Mrs. Johnstone had by rights only % life
interest in her first husbands property
and having thereupon discovered the per
son who, under such circumstances, would
be the claimant, he had put himself into
communication with him. Said claimant
proved indeed to be in the legal profession,
which was disappointment for the grub
Der; but as there was really something in
the evidence he had lit upon, his time was
not entirely thrown away.
Thswas the startling information which
was conveyed to Mr. Johnstones in the
hard, sharp words of lawyers letter, and
which he now communicated in his dis
tress to Miss Plumptree and Annie. They
cheered him with sangune speeches; and
when he had gathered his wits together
he started for London to seek an inter
T view with his solicitor.
The acute gentleman informed him that
there really seemed to be something in
the claim which was set up, but that it
would take deal of legislation to prove
it, and so far as he could see, 1t was odds
on the man in possession eventually win
ming the day But still, if an advantage
GUS compromise were to be suggested, 1t
might be as well to take it into considera-
ton.
SO Mr.. Johnstone took to walking for
hours about the garden of joss House
Villa with his eyes bent on his toes, and
his hands closed behind his back, lost in
thought, and muttering at intervals, "Ad-
vantageous compromise" .. q t.,rVl
He was accustomed to spread silk
pocket handkerchief over his head after
dinner, and take forty winks-at the rate
of one wink to two minutes; but his
slumbers now were strangely disturbed.
He would turn and muttcr, and his muter-
ings to the excitement of Annie's curios.
ity, invariably formed some part of the
words advantageous eOmpromiseH q.
Ill. THE ADVANTAGEOUS COMPROMISE.
Miss Pumptree and Annie Johnstone
sat in the same queer summer house over
looking the dragon in the chickweed, en-
ployed in the same description of needle
work, the advance of the year being
shown by basket of apricots which stood
in the place of the strawberries Mr..
Johnstone sat near them in silent abstrac-
tion At intervals, indeed, he would tilt
his chair forward to bring his hand in
= range of the mellow fruit, Of which he
was devouring a choleraic quantity but
he seemed to do so mechanically, as if he
did not quito know what he was about
and, indeed, while his palate was engaged
, with the apricots, his mind was absorbed
in contemplation of his position.
3" That fine that remarkably. fine wo
2 man." he said to himself, as his eyes rest,
ed admiringly on Miss Plumptree, "will
! not marry me until that girl is off my
J hands, which is less likely to happen than
ever, now that it is doubtful II l can give
her, or even leave her penny. And yet
' if these fellows really manage to take
away my money--and there Is no know
i ing what lawyers may not do in that way
it will be an extra reason why l should
a marry woman with nice competence tC
e make up l wonder how George the
a Fourth would have acted under similar
: circumstances But bah how could hC
4 possibly have been placed in thems WheI
a a king has his property taken from him
e he does not 60 TO law he fights, or rather
G other people fight which is better still
!, and settle the matter that way"
j His meditations we're interrupted by {
t servant bearing a card, who told him tina
a gentleman wished to see him. ..-t
n "Where have you shown him."
"Into the grand music-hall," replied the
# Too much furried to say a word t
either of the ladies, Mr.. JohnstOnC
:. hastened to the grand music hall, an apart
e ment fifteen feet by thirteen, where hi
J found a young man. ,fa .-,cr--. % r, q.
The-ah!-the claimant believer
II said Mr. Johnstone, glancing from hi
e visitor to the card he held in his hand
It "Yes" replied the other. "The course
y which have taken IN calling upon yol
o personally, may seem somewhat strange, es
7 pecially for lawyer; but there ha
" been some mention Of the pOssibil
IS ity of compromise and TO tel
It the simple truth, you have beer
d in possession so long, and the information
which enables me to contest your right
has come from 81 disreputable quarter
e that am rather ashamed of my position
Q and would prefer settling the matte
amicably to commencing a long course o
Is litigation. ,lhE Hfrfo a
3 "a very unprofessional view Of the cast
1 own, but l beg you 10 believe that
: should have no such scruples II wer
3 acting fora client 1t is delicate matter
however, TO make the first approaehe
+ towards a aoOmpromise in writing, because
if your opponent is unwilling 20 entertain
d il, he may take it as an acknowledgment