The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-11-21
A WIFE BY CHANCE.

KH 4 name lS Ndbnaniel DuSoy' Ier-
1Nl haps you baye seen me, at some time
standing behind the counter Of my employ
ers, Messrs. Haberdasher g. Co., who for
five yearspast have been selling their goods
at an alarming sacrifice as the columns of
the daily papers and large placard in
front of the store have constantly made
known to an interesting public.
This, however, has no direct bearing up
on my story. Let me only say in addition,
while upon this point, that my salary, al
though large enough for my own mainte-
nance, has precluded all thoughts of mat
rimony in the present expensive style of
living. Therefore it may be easily inferred
that must either resign myself not to
marry at all Oh find some one who to heart
super-adds a fortune.
The reader now understands my position
sufficiently to understand the feelings with
which read an advertisement of the fol-
lowing purport in the paper some time
since.
The advertisement in question set forth
the advantage of "a certain gift enterprise
in a brilliant list of prizes, closing with
what do you think? No less than the
hand of a young lady, together with twen-
ty thousand dollars The conditions were
that if upon acquaintance either the young
lady or the winning party should see fit to
decline the matrimonial alliance intended,
the rejecting party should forfeit all claim
to the twenty thousand dollars which
should go to the rejected.
This was on the whole fair proposition,
since neither would wish to be in honor
bound to marry one who might be hideous
with deformity, physical or moral.
The price of tickets in this tempting lot
terry was only two dollars. Boston agents,
Messrs, Shave & Co., State st. Having
fully made up my mind to invest I called
there on my way from dinner.
" Have you any tickets left ?' inquired,
with some anxiety.
ga few," was the prompt reply. "Will
you have one ?''
"Yes, Y believe So"
accordingly passed two dollar bill to
the clerk, and received ticket marked
II, 500.
"Rather high figure" I remarked,
carelessly.
eyes" said the clerk, "tickets are 60
ing like hot cakes. They are in great de-
mand among young men" he said, smiling.
"Some take as many as fifteen or twenty
to make their chance surer."
was about upon this hint to follow
their example and purchase a few more,
when | luckily reflected that a board-bill
due the next day would take up all my re-
naming available funds and prudently de-
MED myself.
Dear reader, did you ever have ticket
in any lottery or gift enterprise? If so,
you can understand my state of mind for
the month that must intervene before the
declaration of the prizes. / was continu
ally speculating upon my chances of sue.
cess and what | should do, if, on being de.
clared the lucky winner of the first prize,
should find the lady whom | had won en-
tirely ugly and unprepossessing. In sucl
a case would the sum of twenty thousand
dollars be sufficient to sugar the pill? l
could not tell but wisely concluded to wait
till the alternative was really presented. III
the meantime was particularly observant
of the pretty faces whom the placard Gar
Alarming Sacrifice drew to our store.
amused myself by picking out particular
young ladies and representing to myself
the possibility that some one of them might
be the lady who was to bring her intended
twenty thousand dollars.
Without dwelling upon this, | will only
say that / saw several whom should have
been perfectly willing to marry at les
high figure. am aware that some of my
romantic young lady readers will shake
their heads at this admission, and brano
me mercenary fellew with heart no
large enough to be worth having. But, m.
dear young ladies, you must remember tina
at that time had no particular interest in
any young lady, was more likely to be in
Auenced by the fascinations of the sex gen
orally, and venture to say that if | hat
, happened to meet any of you before be
came acquainted with the present Mrs
Bugbee, (be it known am married at last
there is no knowing what might have har
pened. can imagine Mrs Bugbee shak
ing in her shoes at the mere supposition.
To proceed with my story. The mont
d slipped slowly away, as all periods of sui
pense do. l should scarcely dare to sa
y Lo,., MANY nniefa lee tha nra occ,,niad etat