Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-01-13
A SWlNDLER DETECTED.

WHEN / was boy, | had an extreme
fondness for conjuring. My favorite treat
was to be taken to see wizards, as protes
sors of magic were then called and my
great amusement at home was The endeav
or to initiate their various feats of leger-
domain. In this way became consid
cradle adept at sleight of.hand, and with
cards especially could perform nearly all
the tricks current at the time AS grew
course took the place of my boyhood's
fayorite, and | little thought that my
knowledge of sleight -of.hand would some
day stand me in good stead but so it was.
| was young man at the Bar, and my in
come was barely sufficient for my own
moderate wants, when fell in love with
Margery Lawson. 1t was not so foolish an
act as it might appear at first sight, for
Margery was an only daughter ner father
was a merchant, retired from business, and
was said to be very well off. | had met
them at a quiet seaside watering place;
an accidental acquaintance had sprung up,
and had quickly ripened, as seaside &C
quaintances do, into intimacy Margery
was my beau ideal of woman. Not too
tall, lissom and graceful, quiet in her move
ments, with wealth Of light-brown hair,
and blue eyes. Suffice it to say that l fell
in love with her. When they were leav-
ing for London, asked permission to call
upon them, and not long after had the
happiness of learning from Margery's lips
that she was not indifferent to me. TWAS
a nervous time for me when | requested a
private interview with her father, and
stammered out my tale of affection for his
daughter nor was my nervousness de-
creased by the calmness with which he
listened to me- When had done, he said
quietly, "As am not the person In love,
Mr.. Travers, you must permit me to view
the matter in a business light How do
you propose to keep my daughter ~ /
explained that my income was not, was
well aware, sufficient to marry upon at
present, but that my prospects were fair,
and that of course we were willing to wait.
"Then under those circumstances, Mr..
Travers," he said, "does it not strike you
that it would have been fairer to my daugh-
ter if you had waited until your circum-
stances were altered before you endeavored
to gain her affections? At any rate, for the
present, even according to your own show
ing, it is out of the question thinking of
such a thing so please let us put it aside
altogether. | did not foresse the matter at
first or should, of course, have prevented
it; when | did notice it, | saw 1t was too
late to try to interfere, and therefore de-
termined to let matters run their course
However, Mr.. Travers,' and here he spoke
more kindly, Il really like you, and do
not wish to act the part of stern father.
You shall therefore continue to visit at
the house, under the distinct understand
ing that there is no engagement existing,
and that there is in future to be no love-
making whatever between my daughter
and yourself" .r
I took my leave considerably cast down,
but still, when | came to think the matter
over, acknowledging that it was quite as
good as | could have excepted under the
circumstances For some time after this
Ibid not see much of Margery that
that made me at all anxious, for. had
the most perfect confidence in her faith. |
had only had one private talk with her
after my interview with her father, and
the dear girl was quite in good spirits, and
looked upon the matter in the most hope
full light
Gas to our not being engaged" she
laughed, "of course that's nonsense; we
know we love each other, anu mean to be
married some day. | don't see what en-
gagement we require beyond that, Harry"
As could not say that did either, we
determined to be happy. AS | have said,
saw little of her, for my profession pre-
vented my making formal calls; and her
father went out almost every evening TO
his club, and did not return until late
and naturally could not call upon Mar
gerry of an evening when she was alone.
Sometimes Mr. Lawson had dinner. parties,
and to these he generally invited me, but
could get no quiet talk with her upon
these occasions. Mr. Lawson, | knew,
belonged to the Pallas Club, and dining
one day with friend, who was also
member, | asked him If he knew Mr..
Lawson.
Elderly man; gray whiskers?'
eyes, that is the man."
"No, don't know much of him except
by sight. Am afraid he's going to the bad,
by what hear"
"Going to the bad !" exclaimed. "How
do you mean, Charley? Tell me all you
know, for it is matter of great interest
to me-"
els IL" Charley asked "What has
the old gentleman got daughter"
nodded "Then | tell you what it is,
Harry; Iny advice to you is, if you are
going to marry that young lady, DO 1t as
soon as you can, and see that her money
is placed in the hands of trustees
Go on, old man" said urgently; "do
tell me what is the matter"
"Well," Charley said deliberately
Charley was a fellow who hated being
there is never anything definite
in these things. People say, you know
there Is generally something at the bottom
oft; don't you think so?"
"Of course, of course, man but what
do people say ," asked irritably. "Why
the duee don't you come to the point9"
"Well, you know, they say he's losing