The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-07-18
FRED LUDLOW'S MISTAKE.

r DON'T think there can be any mis-
Il take, Fred old fellow. There is the
lawyers friendly letter, beginning My
dear Ludlow ; and here is his formal letter,
beginning, Dear sir ; and they both tell
the same story"
" Videlicet, that my beloved old uncle
you needn't grin, Jack; he always was a
dear old boy--has peacefully departed to
better land, and has left me his heir, Lud-
low Manor and the estates thereunto apper-
tanning, worth about one hundred thousand
dollars per annum but it can't be true,
Jack, how can it?'
"Too much good luck to fall upon your
undeserving shoulders is that what you
mean? "Well, it is rather hard lines that
an idle fellow like you, Fred, should turn
up such trump card suddenly. However,
I congratulate you with all my heart"
"But tell you, it's all delusion; l
never could have hundred thousand a
year. Give me those letters again." AS
he read them, the expression of his face
suddenly changed, and he started up, ex-
claiming, "By Jove, Jack, we forgot all
about the condition under which inherit"
"I don't remember any condition what
is it?'
"a settler" answered Ludlow. 81
would not do it for twice the money"
"Hang you, what is it, man? There is
not anything wouldn't do for a hundred
thousand year, except marry woman
with squint.
"Well, I've got to marry a woman.
How is it you didn't take in all old Frank s
letter properly? Look here?" and Fred be-
gan to read aloud, Dear Ludlow, / have
much pleasure e'-hem-hem-where is it ?
have it-'has left you heir on condition
that within twelve months you marry your
cousin, Miss Magdalene Hepburne-(she is
his sisters child). Should you refuse to do
this, the property goes to her, house, plate,
horses, and carriages, and you get alegacy
of five thousand dollars That's generous
Jack, isn't it?''
at might be worse" responded Jack,
laconically.
"Worse? tell you it's a pretty ending
to mans hopes. knew it couldn't be
true.''
"But why not marry the girl She won't
say no, you may take your oath, and you
don't care very much about any one else,
suppose"
"My dear fellow, it's very easy to say,
marry the girl, but she's six feet if she's
an inch /; and as to her feet beetle crush
ers,' by Jove, as the fellow in Punch says"
But think of the hundred thousand +!
Surely you won't be fool enough to let her
have it without you, while you retire upon
your modest incompetence -
"Well, even five thousand dollars will
stop gap or two," returned Ludlow, re-
lapsing into his usual indolent manner, as
though the affair of the inheritance were
quite settled but he might have made
it ten Miss Matilda Martha, or whatever
her delightful name is, would never have
missed it,
DO you know, Ludlow, you're enough
to drive man mad. DO you mean to say
that you are going to let that splendid for.
tune slip through your fingers, simply be.
cause a woman happens to bea good height
wish to heaven had the chance
wouldn't care were she as high as St
Pauls."
"If she didn't squint2 Well, you see
Jack, we all have our little prejudices.
prefer that my wife should look up to mC
in every sense of the word"
II. T
growled Jack.
"Come, I've thought of a splendid plan
won't marry my cousin that's settled
but why shouldn't you? You have rather
taking way with youwhen you like ant
I'll introduce You and praise you up TO thu
skies. Won't that do?" ai ..
GAS il a girl with such pot of none.
would look at poor devil like me No