The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-12-29
JosIE'S WEDDING GIFT.
IS A ND SO am to understand that you
IN. positively refuse to give up that


young fortune-hunter, Duke MarlyP"
"I do positively refuse"
"Even after the business failure which
has reduced him to beggary, you still wish
to fulfill your engagements"
"Most certainly"
"Then hear me''--and Capt, Wycherly
dashed his stout oaken cane upon the floor
with an emphasis that made the glasses
and decanters jingle--"and mark what
say If you persist in such obstinate dis
obedience to my wishes, by the Lord Har-
ry, I'll disinherit you. The day that you
become his wife will find you homeless and
penniless. And you may both sweep the
crossings for living, for all care, for I'll
never help you to penny"
Josie's cheeks burned scarlet.
" And say" she retorted, her blue eyes
all ahame with honest Indignation, "that
no consideration of broad acres, or bank
stock, or even the commands of father"
hero she choked down a rising sob
"can tempt Josie Wycherly to break her
word"
"ThinlS, " said the father, "of the homes
where grim want sits day after day beside
the hearthstone, where children with
pinched features and hollow eyes beg vain
ly tor the food which is denied them /; and
yet you deliberately choose such fate as
this"
Josie's heart quailed a little, for, like all
refined women, she loved the ease and
luxury which wealth could purchase, and
which she, all her life, had enjoyed But
she loved Duke and her own honor more.
eve plighted our troth with your full
consent and approval" she argued. "If
he has been unfortunate, it is plainly my
duty to cling to and comfort him. have
given my sacred promise, and / shall keep
it,"
And her father, recognizing the Wycher-
ly obstinacy, knew that further remon-
STRANGE was useless. But being by nature
despotic, and expecting to receive, at
home, the same implicit obedience he ex-
acted ON shipboard, he raved, and swore,
and scolded SO continually at being baked
in his plans, that poor Josie was glad to
yield to her lovers entreaties, to become
his wife, to escape persecution at home.
So one morning they quietly walked to
the nearest church, and in the presence of
a few friends, to whom they had confded
the circumstances, Josie Wycherly was, by
a few brief sentences, transformed into
Mrs Duke Marty. Scarcely were the con-
Guiding sentences pronounced, when a
sound was heard that caused the heart of
the bride to stand still with terror
Thump, thump, thump There was a
loud alteration outside--a moment after
the door was flung violently open, and in
walked Capt. Wycherly, his stout oaken
cane coming down emphatically at every
step, his eyes blazing with wrath.
$50 you have been Matching your cursed
mutiny under my very roof, and have out
witted the old man at last p he thundered,
confronting the trembling bride, who stood
surrounded byher horror-stricken friends.
Hope you'll find smooth sailing with your
pretty craft, young man, for, by the
heather gods, you'll never see the color of
old Mark Wycherly's money. I'll disin-
herit the ungrateful baggage this very
dayr' e.
And he meant to be as good as his word,
for he walked straight from the church 20
the law Office of Hunt & Ketchum, and as
tonished the senior Of that firm by request
ing them to draw up new will, leaving all
his effects, real and personal, to the Sea-
mems Charitable Fund, and striking out
the name of his daughter Josephine from
that important document altogether.
But my dear sir it is impossible to
execute the provisions of such docu-
ment, " replied the bland and smiling Mr.
Hunt. "Such.a will would be illegal, and,
consequently, worthless"
"Confound it p said the irate old sea-
dog "do you mean to tell me that man
cannot sail his own craft in any waters he
chooses2''
And, after several stormy Interruptions,
the lawyer at last made it clear to his
wrathful client that, in order to be legal,
the will must contain the name of Miss
Josephine as legatee, be the sum ever so
small.
"Yery well, since it must be SO" replied
Capt. Wycherly and he bent his shaggy
head to listen to the reading Of the docu-
ment that conveyed railroad shares, bank
stock, and farming lands amounting in all
to half a million Of dollars, TO the aforesaid