Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-11-14
CHE Sturp TeMer.
THE WAGERS.


THE WAGERS.
Some years ago took my seat in the dill
gence from Marseilles to F.. The railway
that now connects those cities was not con-
templated. - :, ,,
There were FIVE passengers in all. Otthese
one was a short, fat man, with smooth cheeks
and red face. Though plainly dressed, his
clothes we're very good he had great num-
Der of rings on his fingers, and across his
waisteoat he wore thick gold chain which
he was careful to let me see was attached to
handsome watch, on the back of which was
crest in jewels.
There was no doubt he was rich man,
and that I, at all events, might have no doubt
of it. he informed me that his income exceed
ed fifty thousand francs year, and that ne
bid fair to double it before FIVE years were
gone, so prosperous was his business.
Il was partly amused and partly disgusted
by his loquacity. Why he should have made
aconfdanto OF me in particular 1 don't know,
unless it was that happened to sit next 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 AtF--," said he.
"But why do you 60 so far from Marsellles
for holiday ?" asked,
Monsieur" he answered, 81 am going to
get married" ,
"The deuce p exclaimed, laughing; "and
you call that taking holiday?
"Why," said he, "that would depend. If
were going to marry an ugly woman, now, l
should call this tour by another name. But,
my friend, the lady I am engaged to is an
angel, sir; she might have sat for one Of Ma
homet's houris. Her eyes"
Here he went off into long account of his
mistress perfections, decorating his fluent des-
cription with all manner Of shrugs, grimaces,
and gesticulations.
"You are very fortunate man, sill" said
I, "and I wish you joy.''
eyes," you may wish the lady joy, too, and
congratulate her as well; for give me leave
to say it is not every woman who has the luck
to meet with such husband, who unites to
the splendors of wealth the accomplishments
of genius and the grace of courage
i smothered laugh.
$50 you have genius and courage as we'll
as money"
He nodded vehemently.
"Without boasting," said he, 81 think l may
pride myself on being possessed OF all quail
ties 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 replied ;
"and in my own mind am persuaded that
they are sufficient but, though the young lady
is as beautiful as houri, I regret to say she
is rather perverse in her taste, so that for a
long time could hardly make any headway
in her affections. Indeed, she was weakmind-
ed enough to avow preference for cousin
of hers, young leutenant-a beggar, sir,
and mighty impudent dog to boot. What
she could see in him I 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 I drowsily, for the day
was warm, and the tendency to sleep was ag-
gravated by my droning companion.
naed ss spd Sat hat To do1 yeo think ns eGn hs
would ever have accepted me, had it not been
for her father, who is poor man, and Is very
eager to have me for son-in-law, thinking |
shall pay off his debts Iwish 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 another
long description, which he literally garnished,
as before, with shrugs and grimaces.
"Then you don't care about her love-" said
I, dreamily.
"Not fg," he answered-"not fig. I
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 a
paste stone in it. declare 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 I'll
own I would rather have the real, if I can't get
it should be just as we'll satisfied with the
sham"
He then branched off into some very Gym
ical remark on the nature of love, which
however, I am ashamed to say, do not re-
member, as I fell sound asleep very shortly
after he had commenced them.
was awakened by the diligence stopping
at the Golden Lion inn, in the eprincipal street
of F..
The fat, red-faced babbler, who it seems
had been awake during the whole journey
and had been boring mild looking gentle
man, who sat opposite him when he had founo
me asleep, got out, and 1 followed him.
He pulled out his watch, which sparkleo
most gorgeously as it took the suns rays, ane
exclaimed, turning to me
"a quarter to four, sir. Half an hour aftel
time"
"I'll bet you that it's not" said gentle
man, with very fierce moustache, who stooc
smoking cigar before the door Of the low
rooted apartment.
II should now," retorted the little red-facee
man, turning sharply upon him, "for this ii
one of Leroy's best watches. 1t cost two
thousand francs"
"I,ll bet you ten louis that it's not one o
Leroy's Watches" said the moustached smoke