Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-09-19

SO long as they are sutficent 10
recommend you to the lady Of your
choice you should be satisfied. y
They should be sufficient" he re-
piled, "and in my own mind / am per-
suaded that they are sufficient; but,
though the young lady is beautiful as
houri, regret to say she is rather per-
verse in her taste, 80 that fer long time
/ could hardly make any headway in her
affections. Indeed she was weak
minded enough to avow preference for
a cousin of hers, young lieutenant-a
beggar, sir. and a mighty impudent dog
to boot. What she could see in him |
could never tell Ill allow that his nose
is straight, his eyes good and his teeth
white and regular, but what's the use Of
these things in a man without money!
4 To be sure, said drowsily, for the
day was warm, and the tendency to
sleep was aggravated by my dreaming
companion.
I'll be perfectly frank with you" he
continued, and confess that | don't
think she would ever have accepted me,
had it not been for her father, who is a
poor man, and is very eager to have me
for son-in-law, thinking shall pay off
his debts. i 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, whe, |
declare to you, is beautiful" =
And here he went off again into an
other long description, which he liber-
ally garnished, as before, with shrugs
and grimaces.
"Then you don't care about her lover"
said |, dreamily.
z "Not fig" he answered" not a fig.
] only want her. At my time of life,
sir, we know the hypocrisy of love-how
easily it is counterfeitcd. have ring
at home, with paste stone in it. de-
clare to you, it flashes like diamond,
and is thought as costly as the best OF
the real stones l wear. So with love.
The counterfeit passes for the real nine
ty-nine times in the hundred, and
though Ill own would rather have the
real, If / cant get it should be just as
well satisfied with the sham"
he then branched off into some very
cynical remarks on the nature of love,
which, however, am ashamed to say |
do not remember, as | fell sound asleep
very shortly after he had commenced
them
l was awakened by the diligence stop
ping at the Golden Lion inn, in the
principal street of F..
The fat, red-faced blabber, who it
seems had been awake through the whole
Journey, and had been boring a mild
looking gentleman who sat opposite him
when he had found me asleep, got out,
and | followed him.
He pulled out his watch, which spark
led most gorgeously as it took the suns
rays, and exclaimed, turning to me:
" A quarter to four, sir. Half an hour
after time"
"Tll bet you that it is not, said a gen.
tleman, with very fierce mustaches, who
stood smoking a cigar before the door of
the low-roofed apartment.
II should know" retorted the little
red-faced man, turning sharply upon
him, for this is one Of Leroy's best
1t cost two thousand francs"
"I'll bet you ten louis that tits not one
of Leroy watches, said the mustached |
smoker, coolly. 2 &A IUaaA 34i
The red-faced man shrugged his shoul-
ders, and went into the travellers room,
saying to me- aq lFg
"Don't dine here. We can do better
at cafe.
"Tll wager you the value of the watch
that the watch is worth nothing, and if
you win you will receive what you will
not find it worth your while to take"
said the gentleman with the mustache,
us. -t4
~ did not address my remarks to you,
sir" g.-a
"I'll bet that you did, said the other,
with the most provoking GOODNESS.
The little man, amazed by this perse-
cution, touched his forehead to signify
that the gentleman with the mustache
was mad.
"Tll bet you don't prove that I'm
mad, said the other. effT
There was pause. They looked like
TWO dogs waiting to be slipped for fight.
Upon my word, said the red-faced
man, Il know nothing of this fellow.
de is most impudent rascal, whoever
le is; and have a good mind to make
him march of"
"Tll make you any bet you like you
ion't make me march off exclaimed
he other, pulling his mustache, and
I'll further bet anything you like that /
make you take the road back to Paris,
md that, too, without any delay
The little man, whose face was now
leep crimson with rage, blurted out:
" You won't find that very easy mat
er, for came here to get married"
Zone hundred Napoleons you do not
narryl"
"Sir, you are an impertinent scoun-
lrel, and / will pull your nose"
I'll make you any bet you like you
ier" ar hr
The little man stamped with rage.
de glared around him for some moments
n silence, then exclaimed:
Do you want me to shoot your
I'll bet you don't shoot mel
Where can we procure pistols2" ex-
claimed the red-faced man, breathing
hort. .,st.
The landlord will accommodate us,
the other.
de hurried into the house, and reap
reared with a box containing a brace of
pistols. l.f.-l .4
had hitherto treated the affair as a
oke, Laughing in my sleeve at the red
aced mans rage and the other S cool
nsolence. But thought it was now
ime to interpose.
Gentlemen-' -
But the mustached man turned upon
ne with frown, -rr 1- r,rr-|
81 believe this gentleman to be
oward, = said he, and if you interfere,
shall conclude you are eonspiring to
'revent him from proving himself a
oward." r |,
] said no more, but followed the two
men into lonely spot in the park, where
he cigar hero was saluted by an officer
Il the garrison who was willing 10 he