The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-09-20
What more would we seek? What more wOul(
THE WAGERS.

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diligence from Marseilhes to F.. The
railway that now connects those cities
was not contemplated.
There were five passengers in all. Of
these one was short, fat man, with
smooth cheeks and red face. Though
plainly dressed, his clothes were very
good; he had great number of rings
on his fingers, and across his waistcoat
ne wore thick gold chain, which he was
careful to let me see was attached to a
handsome watch, on the back of which
was a crest in Jewels.
There was no doubt he was a rich
man, and that /, at all events, might
have no doubt of it, he informed me
that his income exceeded fifty thousand
francs year, and that he bid fair to
double it before five years were gone,
so prosperous was his business.
was partly amused and partly dis
gusted by his loquacity. Why he
should have made confdante Of me in
particular don't know, unless it was
that | happened to sit next to him.
Among other bits of information he
gave me TO know that this was the first
holiday he had INDUCED himself with
for three years.
"Where do you get out?" inquired.
"At r" said he.
"But why do you 20 so far from Mar.
settles for holiday" asked.
"Monsieur,' he answered. 81 an go.
ing to get married.
"The deuce!" | exclaimed, laughing;
"and you call that taking a holiday"
why said he, that would depend.
If | were going TO marry an ugly wo.
man. now, | should call this tour by an
other name. But, my friend. the lady
am en- aged to is an angel; sir, she
might have sat for one Of Mahomet's
hours Her eyes"
Here he went off into long account
of his mistress PROJECTIONS, decorating
his fluent description with all manner
Of shrugs, grimaces, and gesticulations.
~ on are very fortunate man sir"
said |, "and | wish you JOY"
Eyes, you may wish the lady Joy, too,
and congratulate her IA well; for, give
me leave to say, it is not every woman
who has the luck to meet with such
a husband who unites to the splendors
of wealth, the accomplishment of genius
and the graces OF courage" | smoth.
cred laugh.
$50 you have genius and courage as
we'll as money!"
He nodded vehemently.
without boasting," said he, ~ think
may pride myself on being possessed
of all the qualifications that recommend
man TO the ladies'
$50 long as they are sufficient to
recommend you to the lady of your
choice you should be satisfied"
"They should be sufficient" he re.
piled, land IN my own mind am per.
suaded that they are sufficient; but.
though the young lady is beautiful as a
hour, regret TO say she is rathar per.
verse IN her taste, so that for a long
time | could hardly make any headway
IN her affections. Indeed, she was weak.
minded enough to avow preference
for a cousin Of ners, a young lieutenant
"a beggar, sir, and a mighty impudent
dog to foot. What she could see in
him | could never tell. I'll allow that
his nose is straight, his eyes good and
his teeth white and regular, but what is
the use of these things in & man without
money!"
"To be sure" SAID drowsily, for the
day was warm, and the tendency to
sleep was aggravated by my droning
companion.
"l'll be perfectly frank with you," he
continued land confess that | don't
think she would ever have accepted me,
had it not been for her father, who was
poor man, and is very eager to have
me for son-in-law, thinking shall ply
Oft his debts. | wish he may get it!
I've allowed him to think anything he
likes, for his thinking costs me nothing
and being anxious to wed the girl, who
declare to you, is beautiful"
And here he went Off again into an.
other long description, which he lib.
orally garnished, as before, with shrugs
and grimaces.
'Then you don't care about her love?'
said dreamily.
Not a fig he answered-"not fig
only want her. At my time of life
sir, we know the hypocrisy of love-
how easily it is counterieited. have a
ring at home, with paste stone in it.
declare to you, it flashes like q dia
mond, and is thought as costly as the
best of the real stones wear. So with
love. The counterfeit passes for the
real ninety.nine times in the hundred
and though I'll own | would rather
have the real, if | can't get it | should
be Just as we'll satisfied with the sham.
lie then branched off into some very
cynical remarks on the nature of love,
which, however, l am ashamed to say
do not remember, as | fell sound asleep
very shortly after he had commenced
them.
was awakened by the diligence stop
ping at the Golden Lion inn, in the
principal street of p.
The fat, red-faced blabber, who il
seems. had been awake through the
whole journey, and had been boring a
mild looking gentleman who sat OPP
posite him when he had found me
asleep, got out, and | followed him.
He pulled out his watch, which
sparkled most gorge ously as it took the