Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1874-11-19
A MARRIAGE ON SPECULATION.
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH.

soldiers stacked their arms on th
pavement, and waited anxiously
for their billets for quarters.
, Despite the severity of The
weather, the citizens turned out il
large numbers to welcome ane
admire the veterans in their rags
There Was a general rejoicing
throughout the city, which tor the
most part was illuminated. A
the extreme end of the town there
was single house, whose dark
forbodlng aspect was in strong
contrast to the brilliant appearance
oil the neighboring buildings. 1
was tie residence of the rich mer-
chant, Meister Woerden. He was
completely absorbed in his com
mercial operations, and neither
knew nor cared to know what was
going on in the political world
and, then, he was too familiar witt
the rules IF economy to think Of
squaniering candles on an ;Humi-
nation.
At this moment, when all was Joy
aud enthusiasm throughout Amster
dam Meis,er Woerden sat quietly in
his big arm chair beside the fire. On
the table there was little brass
lamp. mug of beer, and a big
clay pipe. On the other side OF
the fire sat an old maid-servant;
whose rotund1ty betrayed her
Flemish origin. She was occupied
in showing back the Goals that had
fallen out on the hearth, when
there came loud knock at the
street door.
"Who can that be? Go and sec,
said the old merchant to the maid
who had risen TO her feet.
A few moments later Il stalwalt
young man entered the room. He
threw off his mantle and approach
ed the fire.
Good evening, father said he.
"How? Is it you, William?
did not expect you back SO soon"
II left Brock this morning, but
the roads have been made SO bac
by the army=trains that @we have
been the whole day on the way
"Weil, did you see Van Ell
burg?"
YES" said the young man
seating himself before the fire
"Meister van Elburg consents t.
the marriage, but he adheres t.
his determination to give his
daughter dowry cf only fou
thousand ducats."
"Well, then be may keep hi
daughter and his dowly," replied
| Woorden, with Ii frown.
"But, father"
Mot, word, my son! At you
age we have mole sense than t.
sacrifice everything for love, aud te
despise riches:;'
"But Herr van Elburg is the
richest merchant in Holland, ane
what he does not give now will be
ours at his death.
Nonsense = replied Meiste
Woerden. '' Am /, too, not rich
Listen, my son. You will soo1
follow me III my business. Never
forget these two rules: never give
moro than you receive, and never
further another mau's interest to
the detrlment Of your own. Guided
by these principles, one will bette
his condition in marriage as vel
as In trade"
-'But, father
"Not another word, my son-no
E another wordi'
| William knew his father to-
we'll to say anything more, but be
could not avoid eyincing his dis
pleasure by his manner. To this
however, the old man paid NJ
attention; he calmly filed his pipe
| lighted it, and began to smoke.
| Again there was loud rap a
the street door, while OF the sam,
time the dogs began to bark.
AHA! said Meister Woerden
''ir must be a stranger, or the dog
wouldn baik SO. Go and see whe
it is, William"
The young man went to the
window.
"It is one of the militia horse
men, said William.
"A militia horsemen What cal
he want?
AT this moment the maid-ser.
want entered and handed Woerden
| IA letter. He carefully examined
the seal.
"From the provisional govern.
ment, said he.
His hand tr m lied as he hastily
opened the letter and read if, l,ul
suddenly the old trade sman's face
), lighted up with joyous expression
as he cried:
"Good-good / accepts.
/ The letter contained an o. del
for four hundred thousand behring's
for the army, to be delivered with.
in IL month.
.William, cried the old N IL
| / have a capital thought. You