Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-07-14
WAS THERE EVER SUCH LUCK {!
CHAPTER L.

CHAPTER 1.
WILLIAM FAsslL lived with his grand
mother and his sister Ju. at Hilltop, near
Rcigate. He was clerk in the Admiralty,
and had to 90 up to London in the morning,
and back to dinner in the evening, which
he did not mind. He called the railway
carriage his smoking room.
William Fassil was thirty, the grand.
mother eighty, Ju. twentythree; the in
termediate generation being dead. On
Sunday afternoon it was William Fassl's
delight to take long walk, if only he
could find a companion; and the friend
who most commonly came to his rescue
was Tom Chatteris.
Tom was not such good company on
one of these afternoons as usual he lis.
tened well enough; so does "A horse but
he did not seem TO take in meaning with
words. AT last he said "Look here, old
fellow, want to speak to you seriously"
About the weights in the Cambridg-
shire, | suppose" replied Fsssil Take
my advice, Tom, and never bet on another
horse till his number is up"
81 mean to improve upon it, and let
them run backward altogether. Don't
look astonished fellow must give up
betting some day, and / prefer doing it
before | am quite smashed
You. l thought you were always on
winners"
"No doubt have had better luck than
the majority of hackers, but that does not
make penuyworth OF. difference. A man
always increases his expenditure when he
wins, but he never reduces it again in pro-
portion when he loses. Upon my word,
though it sounds contradictory, am GER
tain that it pays better to lose steadily
from the first, than to start successfully,
even if you win on the average"
"There is a good deal of truth in what
you say, Tom," replied Fassil, "but how
ON earth did you come to discover it?"
swell, William, the fact isl want to
marry your Ju. There, the murders
out"
Fassil, who was forging ahead at the
rate of four miles and half to the hour,
stopped so abruptly that his hat shot over
his forehead. "Whatp he exclaimed
Tom continued bashfully, AZ dare say it
sounds queer TO you who know more
about me than most other fellows do, and
terrible deal more than Ju. does 1t is
true that l am not worthy of her; but
there would be precious few marriages if
men were expected to be as good as girls
are"
ut is not that" said Fassil; "but the
idea of your marrying And Ju. I" And
picking up his hat, he walked ON cogita-
ting:
81 have sold my hunter and my hack
have paid all my debts, have given up
my chambers, and taken quiet lodgings at
SVdenham, where some of my people live
and have looked into my affairs boldly
before mentioning the matter" said Tom.
"Then you and Ju are not actually en-
gagedl"
"Not precisely; but it is all right if /
can manage to board, lodge and clothe
her. That is the worst of il; 1 find that
have been living, like fool, on my
capital, and have only five thousand
pounds left. I must do something, and
the question is, what am fit foi? Idoubt
whether should make a good parson;
besides, left the university without taking
degree. 1t is late to start educating ones
self for a lawyer or doctor at thirty Do
you think l could get secretaryshipY
AS for competitive examinations L never
knew but little, and have forgotten that
little long ago"
MY dear Tom" said Fassil, gravely,
"we have always been friends, and / do
not know any man l would sooner have
for brother-in-law but we must look
facts fairly in the face. Ju. has nothing
she is entirely dependent upon me, and l
live up to my small income; so that she
will be able to bring nothing to help"
81 knew that old fellow"
"Well, then, it is absolutely necessary
that you should, as you say, have some
other source of income than the interest
upon five thousand pounds. 1t is true that
Ju. is an excellent manager, and makes
my salary go a marvellous way; but, then,
think what your habits have been"