National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-03-07
FALSE PRETENCES.
9What shall I do !"

Kalpn WHICH loOkeu tuc IiCie'e ~
rs he walked into the office of his fTiend' 70
Ayers, and launched the aforesaid question y
him. ~
GWhy..what's the trouble nowf" 81 goa
natured Bob. a Young lawyer who had ~
hung on. his single, shut up the tnusty volurns
of LEGAL lore over which he had ben porting
and gave his attention to Ralph's gri nee.
ats Just this" and Ralph opened hi
clenched hand, disclosing . letter crushed
into thousand despairing wrinkles. "Here'
my answer from the trustees Of Monroe acad
envy. They are satisfied with .my recommenda
tions, and my references appear uhexception
able; but on one poirt they are strenuous-the,
will employ none but married man." zHT
''Pshaw!" blurted out Bob.
Shear wha. they say"
90 Only one question remains to BE- affrms
lively answered by YOU before We close IN witt
your terms: Are ) Ja q married man! iou
may think the question Q strange one, nut We
have had so much trouble I'm the past win pre-,
ceptors who, sitter the first few weeks, devoted
themselves mainly 10 flirting, that We have
passed q resolution, as nnalterable ~ the law
of the Modes and Persians, that We will EN-
Dloy none but married men. If you can suit NJ
In that respect, our contract may be considered
closed. Let US hear from you at once In re
gard 10 that particular: and we hope you an
prepared to meet our requirements, as we con
Tess ourselves predispnsesl in your favor.
"syours truly, WILLIAM PETKRs,
S. See. OF the Board Of Trustees"
p eLss ,em CO." said Bob, ~ Ralph iinishct
reading and glanced up at him. "Thers are
other academies in the world, aud not al
blessed with such an old maid board Of
trustees" ..f r--'r----r.--rr.s -
ssBut its getting late in the season, and twill
soon be impossible TO engage . place for the
coming year. The opening seems to be fine
one; but it's hard case II must be married
mosens votens, In order to teach" :.
= ssI don't suppose" unused Bob, "that Il
would be of any use for me TO write them Q
, voucher for your unexceptionable morals and
anti-firting principles" &C.,. s..
Ralph shook his head, with smile. There
was . moments silence.
az tell YOU what, !" burst forth Bob, 'shere'e
nv advice to you as q friend and . lawyer, and
no fees wanted either: make 'em think you arr
Q married mau; you can convey the impression
without saying 1t In SO many words, II that will
ease your conscience" ... =
Sob Ayers, you're crazy."
tsNo-just look here" and Bob ran over q
hasty plan Of arrangements. Upon my word,
IT'S sasily done, and the idea grows better and
7OSttff. E. 70 $50
Ralph was in good mood to clutch at any
thing Just then, for teaching was his chosen
vocation, and he felt in honor bound to support
his widowed mother In easy comfort. Before
half an hour he had so fallen In with Bob's
absurd proposition as to write, with his assist
ance, q response to the board Of trustees.
Hero Is the clause which most interests us:
fortunately for me, your one important re
qulrement is not at all an impossible one in my
case. shall not, however, bring Mrs. Willet
to Monroe with me at present, as she does not
Ike boarding, and It is hardly worth while to
set up housekeeping there when am only en-
. Raged for Q year, and we have . good home
hero. 1t seems best, on the whole, that she
sAould remain here among her friends for the
present, so you will please engage board for
me alone in some quiet family near the acad-
envy"
Mrs Opie might be satisfied with that, for
there is Q Mrs. Ralph Willet of whom all you
say is true, but she is your mother and not
your wife," :.
ssIt's dangerous game, I fear" said Ralph,
closing and sealing the letter, s.but believe
my intentions are good. II they find me out
shall probably suffer-"
ssThey will not be apt to find out the facts ct
this distance, but if they do they won't hang
you, my boy. 1 should put in . plea Of self
defense if had to defend the case"
81 shall saddle all the blame that occurs on
to you, for never should have thought of such
. thing myself"
ssMy shoulders are broad" laughed Bob,
"and lawyers ore generally supposed to be In
corrigible sinners, you know. But never fear !;
the crime Is not Q great one. Going into
strange place and palming ones self of -
Q single man, when one is married, has Q sus-
picious look, but passing for married man
when one is single is quite another thing"
Dolv f1.o fa1
term of Monroe academy.
The close of the first day of school. Down
the shady sidewalk went . trio of school girls
Rose Peters, handsome, dressy belle; Kate
Martin, the wise and witty, and Effe Broom
field, sweet, gentle girl and universal favorite,
spite of her humble home and plain attire.
'Isnt he perfectly splendid p exclaimed
cepsor, our whilom acquaintance, Ralph WI
let
"what an intelligent, expressive eye he has, !"
eyes" assented Fife, "and such finely
shaped head. One needn't be phrenologist
to notice that" r--
al do think, said Rose candidly, "that he
IL really the most attractive preceptor that We
ever had In our academy" 20
70 stake care, Rose, !" laughed Kate, t'no firt-
ing now, you know" for Rose was Q first-class
hirt, and her capabilities in that line had done
more than all else to turn the heads Of the two
last preceptors and abate their usefulness in
the school. No wonder her father had intro
duced that remarkable resolution among the
boarl of trustees. -
Rose turned in at the gate of her fathers
handsome residence, but paused for few more
words. "Just as II" she said, q married
man couldn't possibly fiirt For my part
think they're just the best men of all to firt
with"
"Rose Peters p' said Enie reprovingly, at
Is well for your credit that only your friends
hear that speech"
safe, you know, not being on the lookout for .
wife, and one can go to any lengths without
the least fear they will spoil IT all by popping
II suppose" remarked Kate, "that very
question was just what you aimed at in your
6irtations."
"It's no such thing. I always avoid It as
long as possible, for 1t spells the fun. When
can stand that no longer, and they will speak,
I am always as lenient as possible with the
poor fellows, and tell them hope we shall be
friends all the same, but We never are. Some
how there is always q GOODNESS after that"
"Rose," said Effie, seriously, 81 must either
change my definition of fiirt, or give up that
you are not one"
"What is your defnitionr'
who led on young men to declare themselves
for the sake of refusing them"
Then Pm not one, according to your own
definition"
al must confess" said Kate, outspokcn, Is
usual, % / don't see what better you are, save
from selfish motives. The effect on them ID
the same"
81 can't help 1t If young men will be 90
foolish as to fall in love with me-" persisted
Rose. Gan / want is q good time" and no
vexatious questions about marriage. That's
why like married men the best, you see"
"Allow me to prophesy, Miss Rose," said
Kate, ''that you've found one married man
who wont fiirt with you. and that's Mr.: VIII
let" And with this parting shot she and Efiie
waikei on.
A week later, and the Monroe Ladies' Sew
ing Circle convened, with its usual assortment
OF thimbles, talking and tattling. -
"Wal, . new broom sweeps clean, remarked
Miss Grum, . us-looking female with false
teeth and dyed hair, $50 s'spose this Mr..
,Willet III be perfect mehkle for spell" =
"He's as pretty Us a pink, now, say" put
in Annabei Simpson, rather soft-hcarted Old
maid. {. .-.'.'' -.l1t
s.He is a pretty man." echoed old Mrs.
Watkins, sand just the best boarier I ever had
at my table. He's dreadful quiet and orderly,
too; you'd hardly know there was soul IN
the house." -. .a7.
sWhat room does he have. Mrs. Watkipa y,