The Van Buren press., 1871-07-18
VAN BUREN, ARK. JULY IS, 1871.
So he sat down and wrote this quixotic


DEAR ToM-You once said that you
would oblge me by giving me half OF
your fortune. if | would accept it !
told you | would accept the will for the
deed flor / knew it was nothing but fool
ish enthusiasm in you to offer TO pay me
for doing my duty by dragging you out
of the river), but now if you will simply
transfer the whole ofyour bank stock to
my credit for few days, il would be
great accommodation. | pledge you my
word that | will return every cent Of 1t
within a month
Aud then he signed 1t and sent away
TO the post office. Three days later he
walked into the office of Squire Merriam,
the deacons brother, and told him he
wished to obtain his advice.
In what respect2' demanded the
Squire.
The investment Of money. Ny pro
perty is mostly in bank stock, and lwsL
to invest portion in something else
What would you advise p
Il would prefer to see your certificates
of stock, as preliminary, dryly oh
served the Squire.
Out came pocket book and memoran-
dums, and sufficient stock was accounted
for to amount to thirty thousand dollars.
The deacon's brother began to rub his
eyes.
"By Jove," he said to himself--he
wasn't deacon, you know-if he has got
that much money old Reuben is making
a fool Of himself I'll put flea in his
ear forthwith,
Then turning to Ross, he added aloud
I'D put it in real estate, young man
I'd put it in real estate
Ross handed him ten dollars, and left
the Office. And before night Deacon
Merriman was posted.
OF came the lock and key, and the iron
bars, having never been put on, were
slowed away wih other old rubbish in n
hurry.
The next day Ross ventured to call,
and the warm reception he met was a
great surprise to Lefty, who never had
known her father to relent before. She
held her peace, however, and did not al
lude to it after he was gone.
Her father did
"I've changed my'mnd, Lefty he
said. I've heard something about Ross
ilardinge that has convinced me he is
not so bad as | thought him. Young
people will be young people, and ifyou
wish to marry him, forget what have
said. "
But he did not tell her what he had
heard.
Ofcourse, the deacon's objection re
moved, it was all smooth water. and Ross
drove his wooing SO furiously that in
three weeks they were married
Then her husband explained his arti
flee to her, fearing that she had been de.
ceived, but her father had never told her
what had changed his sentiments. And
instead Of blaming him, she kissed him
and called him dear, nice fellow.
In a week the deacon began to talk
about bank stock.
at don't trouble me, said Ross, with
a laugh.
Don't trouble you IIavn't you thir.
ty thousand dollars invested in bank
stock ?" thundered his fathcrin law.
"No, sir, nor thirty cents.
The deacon said something that dea.
cons are not supposed to utter.
"What has become Of the wealth you
showed my brotherY'
"Oh, that was borrowed for the occa-
sion, said Ross quietly. 81 returned
it as soon as had accomplished my pur.
IL - 7
vowed to be even with you, as | rather
think am
II the deacon prayed that night more
fervently than usual, it was because be
had had a terrible struggle with Old Ad-
am within him.
After all, Ross Hardinge did not make
a bad son in-law And when he got to
own half Cedarvale the deacon forgave
him entirel.