The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1869-04-08


tion of having seen me before He was
quite at his ease, and / felt much less en- !
barrassed in discussing business matters
with him than with his son there was,
moreover, warmth and urbanity in his
manner that quite charmed me-
S:Now, my dear young lady y said he,
in quick earnest way, ''the facts of the
case are just these I do not wish 20 be
regarded by you in the light of flibuster,
nor as coveting what is legally and prop
erly yours but have bad my eye on that
property for some time past and it was
only lately, while in neighboring city on
a matter of business, that was informed
that it was for sale. Immediately wrote
| to George to secure it at once but he
/, syrote back that it had been bought by a
single lady for a school. CAnd here I may
as well say in parenthesis that you do not
at all answer the idea we had formed of
the single lady in question, and l cannot
help looking on you in some sort as an i'm
poster.) / then marched George immedi-
ately off to this elderly maiden of our i'm
aginations to see if she could be prevailed
upon to sell at an advance. The young
man, however, returned in an unsettled
state of mind, having evidently failed to
bring you to terml, and coolly requested
me to finish the business myself [ be-
lieve Miss Mapleton that you paid 81 600
for the house 1 will double that amount
willingly"
I bit my lip to keep from smiling
Truly the son acds unbusiness-like 81
did not buy the house to sell again." l re-
| piled, very quietly.
II know it. You bought it, of course,
for your school, and / suppose it just suits
you but, unfortunately, it just suits me
too. Would $4,000 tempt you ?''
remained silent, fearful that if spoke,
I should laugh.
Now" said Mr.. Helmwood, rising in
his earnestness, "I mast have the place !!
and, rather than lose it, will give you
$4,000 for it."
''That is just what your son offered me
at frst," | replied, without raising my
eyelashes.
The young idiot p' exclaimed his father
laughing. "Pray, how did he word his
offer, if you can recall it ?
''To the best Of my recollection he
said: MY father is willing to give $4,000
for the property-he must have it, if pcs
sible'"
me- IN 1onr sleeve al this f;n,s ls'sbi33g sb3 MT at
visitor. II am willing to give SO, 900 for
the property. but [ preferred it for S.
900, which is considerably above its value
to any one but myself. Is it bargain,
then, at $4,000 %
''Mr Helmwood," said l, as felt the
color rising in my face, lone thing you
will please remember in this matter-I
did not offer my property for sale, nor had
| any idea of disposing of it but much to
my surprise, [ was solicited by you to part
with it. am not sharp woman'-a
character that l particularly detest-as
have lost nearly all the little possessed in
foolish ventures and after your sons visit
to me [ went much perplexed, to consult
my friend, Mr.. Portman, through whose
assistance was enabled to buy the house.
He advised me to accept Mr. George
, Helmwood's offer, and explained to me
that you would be an immense gamer by
purchasing my little property, even at this
extravagant price. [ have great horror
of taking advantage of any one, and | was
afraid that it might not be quite right to
. receive so much more for thing that
had given 50 little for
MY dear Miss Mapleton," replied Mr.
Helmwood, with manner of great re-
, spect, 81 should never think of fastening
upon you the term of a sharp woman )
: but you viii not object, hope, to my re-
, garding you as remarkably clever young
, lady. You are quite right in saying that
the property is worth more than $4,000
to me; and give it the more cheerfully
since | have seen the owner. But shall
certainly have good laugh at George for
his style of doing business. Perhaps, how,
/ ever, had l been his age instead of mine,
should not have acquitted myself any
better"
This was rather embarrassing, and ]
fastened to say "Mr George Helmwood
could not have mentioned to you that |
have rented the premises"
"Oh.. YES he did say something of the
kind. But will undertake to reconcile
the inmates to change Of residence, pro-
yided have your consent to proceed IN
the matter.
Finally I gave it; it seemed to be the
lest thing could do and just as be was
leaving. Mr.. Helmwood scrutinized me
closely, as he asked
will you allow me to inquire, Miss
Mapleton. if Mr.. Sylvester Willingfeet is
a relative of yours %
HE was my grandfather" replied
81 am very glad to hear it p he eH-
claimed, seizing my hand warmly. "He
was one of the old merchants of this city,
and valued friend of mine. Many a
pleasant hour have passed in his hospit-
able mansion where, besides entertaining
his equals, there was an especial table set
for the poor every day. The grand
daughter of such man should not"
"Be earning her own living % said I