Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1874-11-19

/ 1es, father, E wonld but"
i "Well, leave the matter to me. y
Interrupted the old man. .Bn,
see that there are two horses ready
Tor us tomorrow morning, earlv."
| The next morning, at sunrise,
father and son were on the high
road from Amsterdam TO Brock,
which they reached ABOUT midday.
They repaired immediately to the
residence of Van Eibnrg, who,
when he saw them enter cried out:
"Ah, good marn Meister
WoerdelI Have you lied from the
Pa,1esuousP In any case, you are
Welcome
"No, | flee from nobody. You
know | have nothing to do with
politics. | come TO propose a good
speculation to you"
Eyes? What is it?'
81 have an order from the GOV
ernment for four hundred thousand
herring, to be delivered within a
month. Can you furnish me with
that number in, say three yeeks?''
Sat what price?'
"Ten horiDs thousandd."
Glen horins! Yes, | will furnish
them"
Every we'll, and now to dinner ;
[ am half tamished. At the table
we will talk Of another matter
Woerden introduced the subject
of the marriage, but Van Elburg
could not be persuaded to increase
the dowry he had offered to give
his daughter to the amount of q
single silver. They nevertheless
decided that the Wedding should
take place that day next week.
The following day, Woerden and
his son returned home. Hardly
had they left Brock when the young
man ssked:
Then, father, you have changed
your mind!"
How sop
"Have You not decided to accept
the dowry offered by Meister Van
Elburg?"
"Let me manage the matter in
my own way, my son, and ask no
questions
When the wedding day came,
Woerden and aisr spn reaurnede to
Brock. Van Elburg received them
kindly, but he was SO hurried and
nervous that William feared he
had some bad news for them. His
father, however, had no such mis-
givlngs; the old fox knew too we'll
he cause of his colleagues dis
turbed manner.
"What is the matter, Meister
Van Elburg?' he asked, with a
sardonlc SMILE .s1ou seem to be
worried about something"
"Ah, my friend, [ am greatly
embarrassed. [ must speak with
you"
"What is it? Have you changed
your mind with regard to the mar
flage. Speak frankly; it is not toe
late "
mo, no; it is another matte,
entirely"
Nv ell, then. let as first proceed
with the wedding ceremony. AT
terward [ shall be quite at your
service"
The company, therefore, repair
ed to neighborlng church, and in
II few minutes the young folks were
husband aud wife. When they
returned to the house, Van EIburg
asked Woerden to go with him into
his private room.
"My fliend." began Van Elburg,
when he had carefully closed the
door, Sin accordance with ouI
agreement, | should within two
weeks from now deliver to you
four hundred Thousand herring.-
thus far, however, / have not been
able to procure a single one. There
arc none in the market; they have
been all bought up."
Certainly they have, [ bought
them mp myself" replied Woerden
smiling
"But-but-how about my con
tract? siammered Van Elburg.
4ou will fulfill it. Listen,
friend Van Elbnrg: you will some
day leave your daughter a hand
some fortune; [ shall leave my son
at least as much it is therefore
unnecessary to discuss their future.
Ihls, however, is not true of the
present. | shall soon give my en-
tire business to my son, while yon
give your daughter only four
thousand ducats. [ could NOT op-
pose the wishes of the young
people; but when / consented to
their union, determined to compel
you to do your duty toward them.
With this object in view, I con
sracted with you for four hundred
Thousand herring. at ten horins
thousand, although I then had all
the herrings in the market. Now
in order to comply with the terms
Of your agreement, you must buy
from me, and my price is fifty
horins a thousand you have,
therefore, only. IT, pay ever 10 ne
thersum of sixteen thousar d Fl ,rins,
aud We shall be square"