The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-02-20
Jess So.

In Reno, near Virginia City, New, a
wealthy ranch proprietor named Jess,
somewhat advanced in years, was brought
to peculiar sense of his domestic loneli-
ness by some unmentioned experience of
the last winter, and became suddenly alive
to the grievous disadvantage of living in
territory almost wholly destitute of ELI
gible female society. In his forlornness
he took a trusted acquaintance and poor
neighbor named Leonard into his conf
dence, bewailing the social situation that
should leave presentable old bachelor of
his pecuniary qualifications without
mistress to address, and was charmed to
hear that it was within the power of
friendship to import for him young lady
of virtue and prettiness worth any mans
fortune. Since their coming from one of
the Atlantic States two OF three years pre-
vious. Leonard and his wife had pros
pered too seantily to feel justified in send
ing for their daughter, Florence, whom
they had left in dependent position
with relatives; but upon ascertaining as
above the matrimonial inclinations of the
rich and easy-going Mr.. jess, the parents
conceived that here was rare chance to
at once bring their child to the Pacific
and establish her, and may hap themselves,
enviably for life. The girls photograph
was shown to the pleased ranchman, with
the assurance that its original was per-
fectly obedient daughter and could be
pledged absolutely; and the result was
that a letter, enclosing money, was
promptly sent to Miss Florence in the East,
bidding her to come without delay. The
epistle said nothing about the matrimoni~
al conspiracy, however, and somewhere
between San Francisco and Reno the I'M
suspicious maiden became acquainted
with fellow-traveler named Littletield,
young printer. also on the way
to the latter place, whose recip-
rocated love at first sight was destined
to work dramatic effects in the general
comedy. 1t was under the courteous es-
cort of this other new arrival that she
gained her fathers door, and the slight
grace of parental gratitude with which
he was dismissed gave decided chill to
her own sense of welcome. After that
the revelation of the purpose of her sum-
mons from 50 far away, and the introduce
tion of Mr.. Joss, found her in os littlo
mood for filial submission and maidenly
approval as they deserved. Possibly Miss
Leonard might have been more readily
controlled in the matter had not her heart
been already interested elsewhere, for she
was not naturally given much TO selt-will;
but now not all the ranchman's money
could make the owner tolerable to her;
and the more she revolted from the idea
of being sold like merchandise, the boldsr
she became to escape the paternal bar
gain by any possible means. Littlefield
did not venture to visit the house whittier
his first welcome had been so unpromis-
ing, but Florence soon cOntrived to meet
him elsewhere and confided to him her
predicament. His response was a hearty
offer of himself in marriage the event to
be attained by strategy. The girl con-
sented as heartily, and together they ma
tured a scheme to be carried out as fol-
lows: Miss Leonard was to seem to as
sent to TIE marriage with Mr.. Jess, but
insist that it should be solemniZed on a
certain day by Bishop Whitaker, in Vir-
ginia City. Arriving with the ezpectant
bridegroom in the latter town, she was to
send him out from the hotel to look for
the bishops house, and then slip away
herself to that house in company with the
duly awaiting Littletield. The plot, says
the Territorial Enterprise, was actually put
into execution some two weeks ago. The
rich ranchman left his briGe-elect at the
International Hotel, in Virginia City, to
inquire his way to the specified parsonage,
reaching the Bishops Just in time to be
greeted by the spectacle of his more ac-
tive and hitherto unknown rivals tri-
umphant wedding. "You're too late,
old man. said Littlefield. "Well, so it
appears" responded the outwitted man
much demoralized for time, but sensible
enough to return philosophiGal,y to Reno
thereafter without useless protestatlons.