The Shasta courier., 1869-04-24
SHASTA COURIER.
SMITHS GOOD LUCK.

was always lucky fellow, and the most
fortunate thing that ever happened to me
was being born Smith Listen.
Three years ago | had just been Tilted
ard was out of money. That doesn't sound
lucky; but it was the prelude to the best
of luck. | concluded to 90 into the coun-
try, down at Plymouth, to my uncle's house
partly that the murmurs of the sea might
soothe my inward perturbation, partly to
save months board.
Istepped on board the early down train.
1t was full of six o'clock passengers, mostly
men. The sun was shining ON the water,
but the fog hugging the banks, and cling
ing to the FURNISHED surface ofthe tide. /
suppose poet could have made something
pretty out of the sight, but | only wrapped
myself closer il my overcoat, and looked
at it sulkily. After while got to listen
ing to two men who sat behind me.
"A pretty girl with fortune isn't
always to be had for the asking"
"Oh, but the girl isn't asked, / take
it. It's all arranged by her aunts. She's
shining pretty, buta mere child-not six
teen, | believe. They had another fellow
booked for her, but he died in New Orleans
of the yellow fever last Fall"
"And she'd never seen this Smith ?"
"No, nor they either The aunts plotted
with Mr. Dunbar, the guardian, and he
picked Smith up for them, opened a cor
respondence, and got Rose to write letter
m fxua a. / l. x..l
her letter and her picture; but of course it s
the money-forty thousand if she marries
before she's seventeen"
If the girl amounts to anything, it's a
deuced shame ?"
She does amount to something. She
has the making of Il splendid woman in her /;
but nobody knows it or cares They are
bent only on saving the money for her
If she forfeits it, it goes to some pet charity
of her crazy old grandfather's He was
always an old tyrant, and eccentric as the
ID"
"You know Smith ?'
Only by sight, but know chum of
his, Burton, and got the story, with copy
of the letter of the girls. I've seen her
many time down on the shore, always with
her dragon aunts.
.Ive got it here in my wallet Now
you know the right sort Of. man won t
have HIS letters hawked about among his
associates. He les Burton take this
copy, and Burton gave it to me- Let me
see-this is it. Listen
"DEAR Mr.. SMITH My aunts wish
me to reply to your kind letter | do not
know what to say. am not accustomed
to writing to gentlemen but | must tell
you that was sorry to have Aunt Sophy
send you that picture l am not near so
pretty; it fatters me very much. You
are so handsome that you will want hand
some wife; 50 don't think you ought to
be deceived. | don't want to be married :
but my aunts say must on account of the
money; and perhaps it may turn out right.
l am very lonely. | would like to live in
large city, and Aunt Sophy says you
would do everything to please me. Have
you any sisters Will your mother like
me? l always wanted sisters, and a
mother of my own. | don't know what
else to tell you, except that if you love me,
L Will do whatever you want me to- Very
truly yours, ROSE ROGERS"
There were comments upon, and a laugh
ing discussion of the letter, which was GER
talnly very unique. But as we ratified
along, there was bump, shock, the cars
stood still, and everybody was in consterna-
ton. :.
We are off the track-be patient a
very little while" said the conductor. pass
ing through the car
But, in consequence of this little acci-
dent, ltwas two o'clock before we got down
to Plymouth. As we swarmed out upou
the platform, | noticed a very pale young
man, not unlike myself in looks, emerge
from the foremost car-his coat sleeves torn
out, and violent pruise on his forehead.
of that should be the lover Smith. now. y
said | to myself, "what plight he is in y
He seemed to be very much out of
humor, beckoned angrily to hackman,
jumping into carriage, and desiring to be
taken to the best hotel. After that saw
several other persons more or less disorder
ed and bruised by the railroad accident
was leaving the depot, when colored
coachman bowed before me.
Beg pardon, sir-Mr. Smith ?v
| eyes"
Carriage is waiting Step this way,
sir, if you please, sir"
followed him, wondering if indeed
my uncle had sent up carriage. It used
to be my aunt's pet hobby barouche
with the old English coat OF arms which
had, indeed, belonged to us, but had been
in disuse since the impeachment of Raleigh
Smith, of England. | wasn't quite sure
what they were, but believed it to be q
sword and helmet upon piece of parch.
ment; but it proved to be pen and q
sword against palette, which was yer,
appropriate, as there had been scholars
artists and military men among our ances
tors.
'All well?" 1 asked, good humoredly