The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-12-22

VOlCb.
"Tied for lifep was the answer.
"Hard and fast ?"
"Irrevocably.'
"To that little craft you scudded away
with ?"
Exactly. AS good and pure girl as
ever lived" said Harry, earnestly.
"W-h-e-w ~ whistled one and ALL
How did Old Neptune let you OFF,"
we all eagerly inquired--that being the
name the captain went by on board
He is hard on me, said Harry, serious
ly "What do you think he demands,
lads P'
Can't say, what is tP''
If don't resign he will send me home
in disgrace. That's his ultimatum."
"W-h-e-w p again from all hands.
Let's get up a petition for Harry"
suggested one.
It's of no use, lads, know he means
what he says. He has given me while to
think over it.
1t was all up with Harry.
Captain D. was severe but an ex-
cellent officer, and he had only given the
delinquent the alternative of resigning or
being sent home in disgrace. The fact
that he had got married, in the manner he
described, in place of palliating matters,
only aggravated the captain beyond meas
ure. He declared it was disgrace to the
service, and a breach of propriety not to be
overlooked.
Harry told us his story in a desultory
manner, interrupted by many questions
and CALCULATIONS but which we will put
into a simple form for the convenience of
the reader.
Julie Meurice was the orphan child of a
merchant, who had been of high-standing
during his life, and who left handsome
fortune to endow his daughter on her we'd
ding day, or if not married before, she was
to receive the property on coming to the
age of twenty years. Her mother had
died in her infancy, and the father, when
she was ten years of age, placed her in
convent to be educated, where she remain
ed until his death, which occurred sudden
ly, six months previous to the period of our
sketch
After his death Julie became the ward
Of her uncle, by the tenor Of her fathers
will, and the period of her educational
course having just closed at the convent.
Hubert Meurice, the uncle, brought her
home to his family circle Madame Meu-
rice, it appears, was scheming, calcula-
ting woman, and knowing that Julie would
be an heiress, she tried every way to pro-
mote her intimacy with her own son, who
was an uncouth, and ignorant youth of
eighteen years, without one attractive
point in his character.
Hubert Meurice, the uncle of Julie, was
sea captain, whose calling carried him
much away from his home. During his
absence his wife treated Julie with the ut
most tyranny, even keeping her locked up
in her room for days together, telling her
that when she would consent to marry her
son, Hubert, she would release her, and do
all she could to make her happy. But to
this Julie could not consent. Imprison-
ment even was preferable to accepting her
| awkward and repulsive cousin.
One day she overheard conversation
between her aunt and her hopeful son,
wherein the mystery of her treatment was
solved.
The boy asked his mother what was the
use Of bothering and importuning Julie
| SO.
If she doesn't want to marry me-
mother, drop the matter. like Julie, and
she would make me nice little wife, but
don't want her against her will"
"You are a fool" said the mother
You know nothing about the matter. Her
fathers will endows her with fortune at
her marriage, even if it be at seventeen,
just her present age. At twenty she re-
ceives the fortune at any rate. Now don't
you see that if you marry her we are all
fixed for lifeS"
"Does Julie know about the money!"
he asked.
"No, of course not.'
"It's little sharp ON her." said the
boy.
"pm looking out for you," said the
mother.
Just So" unused the hopeful
"I am resolved that she shall marry you,
and that is why keep her locked up, so
that she may not see some one she would
like better"
"Lots of money, eh? Well, mother,
let's go in and win. When shall 1t be ~
SIT must be at once"