Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-02-17

SO she mockingly assured him, and left him
more disparihg than before.
At last he could not endure it any longer,
and accordingly sought an interview with
Mr.. Lafourn.
so you come to propose for my daughter,
Mr.. Cover p queried the gentleman when
he was ushered in.
No, l have not, he emphatically re-
turned. II have come to make confes-
sion, to ask your forgiveness, and carve
boon. You know how you come to make
the offer you did 4! Well, having been brought
up to believe myself independent, and to
study profession more for pleasure than
aught else, after finding myself suddenly be-
reft of all hopes, and poor, gladly accepted
your proposal. l scorned the idea of love !;
vowed l loved my ease better than any
woman on earth. and though was inform
ed your daughter was-was-'
"a scraggy old maid,' slyly interposed
Mr.. Lafourn, and Bart blushed at his own
remark, but proceeded
Il determined provided she would accept
me. to marry her tor your money.-There,
sir, is the truth, and l know 1 cannot be
but lowered in-your estimation.-Sincet then
l have met your niece, and Tve-rve-''
Fallen in love with he," observed the
father aiding him along.
''Yes, sir, exactly so; and I'm willing if
she will have me, to give up all ideas of
wealth obtained by such mean practice,
and go away and work bravely for her. Do
you think there is any hope? Will you
forgive me p
Certainly" he responded promptly. VI
should not want my daughter welded to
any man for such mercenary motives. I'll
call Nell aud see what she says" And suit
ing the action to the word, he summoned
Nellie.
This gentleman has withdrawn his claim
to your cousins hand" he observed, taking
Nellie by the hand, land actually has the
audacity to ask for yours. Shall tell him p
And I'm poor, Nellie, calculated Bart,
''but you shall see that I'm no eonceited
jackanapes. will go way and commence
to practice my profession if you will only
give me hope.
Nellie looked at her father through her
bushes.
But would be a penniless BRIDE
And all the dearer if you are not worth
working for, you are not worth having"
If then, she returned slyly, ''you wait
year and do no. change your mind, if un-
cle's wiling"
(which he will be-" interrupted the gen.
tleman, and so it was settled.
The ruse was still kept up. Mr. Lafourn
gave letters of introduction to several inhu-
entiai friends, and he went away and set up
work in earnest. For while he was un-
successful; at last he began to be apprecia-
ted, and he was on fair way to prosperity.
At the end of the year he wrote and told
Mr.. Lafourn how he had succeeded, and
asked if he had any objections to his wed
ding taking place then. The required an
swer was returned, and when he arrived he
found his Nellie prettier than ever. Mr..
Lafourn said nothing, and Bart wondered
at his giving such costly wedding to his
niece; but when he, as the brides father.
gave her away he was entirely dumbfounded
As soou as the ceremony was over he rush
ed to his father-in-l law:
What does it mean p
1T means you have married my daugh
ter, sir, responded the happy parent, land
we have been deceiving you all the while.
Lucille is my maiden sister"
Bart was paralyzed.
Your daughter?"
And my money as promised Nellie
and | overheard your conversation, and l
determined to test you. We did SO, and
Nellie insisted on your being tried, and"
You have made man of me, he ex-
abruptly. ''You hare taken the
conceit out of me-
But though rich he did not leave his pro-
fession and enter into his careless, idle life
again he steadily pushed his way up and
now is one of the most influential men of
the times, which he always AYERS is more
due to Nellie strategem than Marrying a
fortune"