The Republican journal., 1871-12-28
Mr.. Franks Wager.

.'Ntyer! never will
.sNnnspnse, nv dear fellow Don't ex-
cile yonrqelf; and above all. make no
rash vows"
II am neither excited nor rash. |
merely ayoW a fixed determination. You
ought to know my tirmuess Of purpose. -
s'Firmness of rubbish p said the other
New. come, Frank. talk like sensible
fellow, if YOU can Here You are. with
some seven thousand a year, broad lands
and a splendid house, the last Of an old
family, n fine scholar. and a handsome
a hermit. Look al vollr dresS-ueglected
and -ovenly: your hair and beard-un-
kempt and ragged; your general appear
ance, that ct an invetprato old hachel-
OF
"rrue,r interrupted Mr.. Frank, with a
merry laugh, al look like an old bachelor
and am what look"
s'itanp it. man - exclaimed the other
10 YOU think that vour wealth and posi-
ton entail no duties upon yon9n
Just look here, my friend" resumed
Frank. rising from the lounge on which
he had been reclining. "Dialectics are
lost upon You, but there remains An ar
gnment, which. if proverbs are 10 he re-
lied en-, is the touchstone ot a person of
vnDr mental calihre"
"A wager" said his friend.
Mr.. Frank nodded his head
"Good,n said the other. lyon talk
sensillY At last What shall he the
amount o.
"A couple of hundred said Mr.. Frank,
:
would fetch as much Al an auction. TO
which they will certainly he brought it
the money is not paid"
"Verv well, {" replied his friend, conf
IDENTIFY, "l'll bet you two hundred pounds.
you're a married man in two years
Hadn't Won better make it two thou
sand wears ?h said Mr. Frank. Two
years - he repeated Prepare, my poor
fellow, At the end Of that time to he sold
our, and youl wiip and children turned
our 10 starvp.''
The speaker AIs Frank Churchill. was
= Al -----. -1;z'ti~ ~--~>-i.,--. anu
most nnapproachable OF men. in his coun-
II. Heir 10 fine fortune, and bearer Of
au ancient name, winner Of high honors
AZ Oxford, 4 rrarl. shot, daring rider, a
dabbler now and then in poetry the pos
SCISSOR Of line intellect, and 4 heart
whose innate generosity and tenderness
not even his studied eccentricitv could
conceal he was a perpetual thorn in the
side Of every mother with maria gesble
daughters for miles around
The other individual whom l have so
nnceremoniously introduced was his legal
adviser, and n man of business, Mr..
Charles Ford. an old college chn1n, and
Mr. Chnrchill'4 only visitor,
Here you are" said Mr.. Ford, hold
ing up the stamps "That's Yours, and
this is mine
".Eune fifteenth, 1891 On The Iifeenth day
OF June. 1868, / promise to pay 10 Francis
Churchill, Esq, or his order, the sum Of two
hundred pounds sterling, provided he shall so
long continue, and be at the time Of demand free
from any matrimonial engagement. and un-
married GH4S FORD
f20q
This i dra,! robbery, said Mr.
Frank. dipping his pen in the ink, pre-
paratory To signing hs note
Stop a moment interrupted Mr.
Ford, Il have something TO tell you
which may a)ter yonr mind-rve let the
honse."
'And pray how does the fact OF your
having let the adjoining house bear upon
this matter" ," inquired Mr. Churchill. loft
lily,
i've let it 10 = lady. that's ALL re-
Piled Mr. Fort
The dence yon have 2' exclaimed
Frank. This is IN organized swindla.
suppose >"
lyon forget that Your tirmness Of pur
pose would defeat any scheme Of that
sort, even ii I We're capable of entering
upon it. replied Mr. Ford with a sly
smile
"As 10 ynu capability OF swnding,"
retorted Frank ''the honorable dealings
OF LAWYERS are matters of history
al you are frightened you'd better not
sign it," observed the lawyer.
enlightened !" echoed the owner of
The Beeches,' scorntully; 81 don't know
the feeling. No, my unfortunate victim,
| am not frightened There's your note,
give me mine. Who is this ogre you
have introduced ~
The lessee OF the villa? Mrs. Beau
champ" was the reply.
"A widow ?" said Frank
"A widow" responded Mr.. Ford.
Her husband was friend Of mine.'
Shabby genteel woman. with heap
OF brats, / suspect ?" said Frank, with a
doleful grimace.
"Yon are wrong said Mr. Ford.
''She has only one child"
And that one q great, reckless fat
faced youth, ready to rob orchards, climb
fences, break my palings and windows,
throw stones, and play the deuce general
ly." said Frank,
''You are at fault again" said Mr..
Ford, lighting cigar 1T is daugh-
ter, Young lady OF seventeen, who will
palings or windows, on throw stones,
though she might play old Harry by mar
rying you.''
''Id like to catch her at it ~ exclaimed
Frank.
Take my advice old boy" said the
lawyer; "shut up this place, bury your
self at The Beeches.' never 60 out, live
with closed shutters and admit no one to
yonr presence. for if you once see her you
are hopeless case"
"And ?" said Frank grimly; "I'll
show you trick worth two OF that
Granting that Though OF course. new
er shalI-but granting the possibility of
my falling in love with the girl, (ridicu-
lous idea y. would never tempt For
tune after my first experience. I have
resolved to die single. and ! shall keep
my determination"
''She will MAKE You break it." said Mr.
Ford.
Never - exclaimed Frank
And 80 yon mean to say continued
Mr. Ford, THAT if, when yon see this
young lady. you find her TO be beauti.
full and good, modest. accomplished and
well-bred, Of good birth and honorable
family, and you were to fall in love
with her and sec every prospect of sue