The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1871-05-18
! took it and perused as folIows:

" lldL 1EcE Oll Joy EAcLdllu
ed. "What does he mean ~
"Mean :" cried my father eEoitedly
snatching the letter from me anC
crushing it into his pocket. "Meanr
why, to make you his heir, Philip
his heir !"
"WhewT said blushiRg; "thaps :
good idea"
o "You must apply for leave and %
off at once" said my father, "strike
5 while the irons hot. It's a splendid
chance, Philip-splendid Use it vel
, and your fortunes made"
, So thought, applied for leave, and
set off for the Paddington station soon
after, with my ears ringing with le-
giOn of instrctions for pleasing old
men, given me by my fellow clerks.
The only one / could clearly remem-
Der was, to rise whenever he came in
to the room, and then eschew every
, comfortable armchair for fear he
would want it.
felt myself bursting with import
ance, and actually treated myself to a
glass Of hot whisky and water at the
refreshment room. How I wished
my father had not forbidden me to
travel first-class.
''If had money enough, I'd go in
spite Of him; for it's awful cold this
tbs evening"" / thought.
"HallO, Williamsw suddenly cried
voice.
"Why, Jack, what brings you here?"
| replied, recognizing a friend, John
Evans.
"I am going down to Gloucester" ("
said he. "Where are YOU off to ~
"Oh, to such luck % 1 cried. "I'm
off beyond Hereford, to humor an old
gentleman"
"What ?D said Jack.
"Come along, and I'll tell you all
about it," said !. "Second class Z?
Yes, all right Here we are"
After we were settled in our places,
an old man got in. He was poorly
dressed, and wore a green shade over
one eye, while his other looked weak
and dropping. We grunted our strong
disapprOval at his entrance, and made
mutual grimaees, but as his blind
eye was toward Us, they were doubt
less lost on him. AS the train moved
off, told Jack my story, which you
know already.
"Well done, Philip! Your bread is
buttered for yOu," ne exclaimed, when
he heard me to the end. "What a
glorious chance. Man alive! / wish
| were in your shoes, that's all"
"It's an easy way of getting an in
heritance," said /.
'I should say So" replied Jack.
''HOw old is your god d-father p"
"Oh, I don't know, ,"said I. "AbOut
eighty [ should fancy. Most people
say he is cracked, and he himself
owns to being eccentric. He is very
queer 1 believe"
"YOu'll have to please him Phil"
said my companion. "YOu must rub
him down the right way"
"Oh, leave me alone for that" said
l. "Butter won't melt in my mouth.
1 will smooth him down in good
style"
"pm not so sure of that Phil" said
Jack"
"Oh, trust me-" said I careIessly.
"You must not smoke" resumed
Jack.
''Not a whiff" said I.
''NOr smell of whisky, as you do
now" continued Jack.
'Never tasted spirits in my life," I
replied.
DOR talk such slang as you do now,"
said Jack.
always sleep with M,rray's Gram
mar under my pillow" said L.
"Or draw CaTlcaUures or write sat
| ires," said Jack.
"Oh, dear no." I replied, II write
| hymns only"
"Or play practical jokes" said
Jack.
"Don't even know what you mean,"
said I.
"You seem to have your lesson pret-
ty pat" said Jack.
'IYes, yes, my boy. All rightw 1
exclaimed.
"Well, it's u shame if 1 don't secure
a good smoke now, before the light of
my pipe goes out in Obscurity. Do
you object to smoke, sir?'
The latter question was addressed to
the old gentlemen in the corner, who
| appeared a curious mass of seedy old
coats, railway rugs and newspapers.
81 do object very much" was the
gruff1y spoken reply.
every sorry, sir" said. 'IiIl keep
my head out of the window, then"
| Shame seizes me when 1 record this
| incident. In lieu of attending to the
old mans wishes, I coolly Lit my pipe,
and though 1 knew the wind would
/ blow the smoke right into his eyes
! though l heard him growing with
rage-I puffed on heedlessly. 1
should be sorry to be so rude now,
/ but you see was young and very ex-
cited.
az told you that objected to smOk-
| ing" grOwled the old gentleman after
"WeI sir" said I. "YOu're not
smoking"
0I'II tell the guard" said he.
''By all means" said /, "if you can
make him hear"
''YOu are an impudent young seoun-
drel," was his hotly spoken reply.
"Come, gently, old fireworks,n said
I, "don't get excited. There, and I've
done now. Are you better?"
He did not reply; but sat quietly in
his corner, muttering and growing
| like an angry wasp in q cObweb.
The short January afternoon was
drawing to a close, and very soon af-
ter we were dependent for light on
the oil lamp that hung from the CEN
tire of the carriage roof. 1 had been
sitting silent, thinking over my good
fortune, which already looked on as
secured, and Jack was moody also.
Suddenly he burst out with, ''I say,
we've forgotten the niece 7"
"What of her." 1 asked.
fWuat Ofher," he remarked. "Well
by Jove, 1 see it all, I've got it in a
nutshell"
"Got what in a nutshell, Jack ?'' 1
asked.
"Why, your heirloom-your inher-
itance," he exclaimed.
AZ think you've had some whisky,
Jack" said I.
'I.ook here said he, "the old gen.
tleman, your worthy godfather means
to leave his money to hisniece-I feel
sure of that You are to marry her
that's what you are to go down for
You wont be his heir, but this niece,
and you are to get it by marrying
herr
TmmagiuatfYe, Jack said I, "but
wholly improbable. did not know
you were so highly gifted with this
"B1t why not Why else should
he mention her in his letter ?" he ask
I ed. .
"To fill up his paper, perhaps" j" said
I, Chow do knOw?p
"Not he," said Jack positively.
''WeII, then, be sause he is lunatic, "
said I.
.Not that either" said Jack. I'll
lay you half your money present or
future, whichever You prefer, that he
is sharp as a fox. These queer old boys
always are.n
L Twell then" said I, az am TO make
. love to the niece and marry her. But
. ! --,r-n-. aLa r--nnlr have me- IanLE 2ll