The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-12-17
A CURIOUS ADVENTURE.

~ tne uilBence from hlarsellles 10 -.
The railway that now connects those cities
was not yet contemplated.
There were five passengers in all. OF
these one was a short, fat man, with smooth
cheeks and red face. Though plainly dress
ed, his clothes were very good he had a
great number of rings on his fingers, and
across his waistcoat he wore thick gold
chain, which he was careful to let me see
was attached to handsome watch, on the
back of which was a crest of jewls.
There was no doubt he was 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
he bid fair to double it before five years
were gone, so prosperous was his business.
was partly amused and partly disgust
ed by his loquacity. Why he should make
a confident of me in particular don't
know, unless it was that happened to sit
next him. Among other bits of informa-
ton he gave me to know that this was the
first holiday he had INDUCED himself with
for three years.
"Where do you get outP' inquired.
"At F." said he.
"But why do you go SO far from Mar
settles for holday?" | asked.
"Monsieur," he aswered, ''I am going
to get married"
"The deuce ~ l exclaimed, laughing,
"and do you call that taking holiday 9'
"why," said he, "that would depend.
III were going to marry an ugly woman,
now should call this tour by another
name. But, my friend, the lady am en-
gagged is an angel, sir; she might have sat
for one of Mahomet's houris. Her eyes"
Here we went off into long account of
his mistress perfections, decorating his
fluent description with all manner of
shrugs, grimmaces, and gesticulations
"You are are very fortunate man, sir, ="
said l, !" and wish you joy"
"Yes, and you may wish the lady JOY,
too, and congratulate her as WE'LL for,
give me leave to say it is not every woman
who has the luck to meet with husband
who unites to the splendors of wealth the
accomplishments of genius and the graces
Of courage"
I smothered laugh.
$50 you have genius and courage as
well as money ?'
He nodded vehemently.
"Without boasting," said he, 81 think
a., &C
all the qualifications that recommend a
man to the ladies'"
$50 long as they are sufficient to re-
commend you to the lady of your choice,
you should be satisfied"
"They should be sufficient" he replied,
"and in my own mind am persuaded that
: they are sufficient; but, though the young
lady is beautiful as houri, regret to say
she is rather perverse in her taste, so that
for long time l could hardly make any
Roadway in her affections. Indeed, she
was weak-minded enough TO avow pref
erence for cousin of hers,a young lieuten-
ant--a beggar, sir, and mighty impudent
dog to boot. What she could see in him
could never tell. III 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 l, drowsily, for the
day was warm, and the tendency to sleep
was aggravated by my droning companion.
an be perfectly frank with you," he
continued, "and confess that don't think
she would have ever accepted me had it not
been for her father, who is q poor man and
is very eager to have me for a son-in-law,
thinking shall pay off his debts. ! wish
he may get it Bah 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 beau
ful ----n
And here he went off again into another
long description, which he liberally garnish-
ed, as before, with shrugs and grimaces.
"Then you don't care about her love ?''
said /, dreamily.
"Not a fig" he answ ered-" not fig
| only want her. At my time of life, sir,
we know the hypocrisy of love-how easily
it is counterfeited. have ring at home
with paste stone in it. l declare to you,
it flashes like diamond, 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 l can't get it
should be just as well satisfied with the