Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-04-23

pltu Dy tne muse. we allude TO the
spring poet. Bring forth the winged
steed. Whoa, January
The FinancIer's Daughter.
Several months ago rich fnancier.
a speculator on the Bourse, learned that
his only daughter was quite fond OF a
wealthy young man who was himself not
averse to occasional operations. She
made the confession herself-French
girls do not carry on love affairs
clandestinely-but seid, at the same
time, that she was not particularly
enamored of him.
She added: "You know, papa, that
you have given me worldly education,
and | have pro6ted by it. I'm not a
bit silly about Monsieur -. But he is
amlsble, cultured, agreeable, domestic,
and most OF all, he has handsome
property. He would make a good
husband, Think. He likes me- | am
sure | shrewdly surmise he intends to
propose to you for my hand. Ifhe does,
| shall accept him for the reasons
stated, unless you seriously object"
Papa. for some reason or other, did
not relish the prospect OF having
Monsieur - for a son-in-law So he
said to his daughter, you would not,
Claudine, entertain the idea Of becom-
ing the wife of this gentleman if he were
poor, would youf"
Not for a moment, my dear papa. l
hold that marriage with poverty is in
supportable. / regard Monsieur IS
fortune fully as favorably as do him.
Indeed, | do not separate them.
You're a sensible girl; you do credit
to my training. I'm proud of you.
There's no cause for haste in this matter.
love you devotedly; / would not thwart
your desires Wait few weeks, and see
how Monsieur - develops"
THE FATHERS PLOT.
Three days later the young gentleman
proposed for her hand and she asked a
little time to consider, to which he read.
lily consented. Her father, remembering
her opinion, that money was indispens-
able to matromony, determined to ruin
the suitor. To this end he pretended to
take him into his confidence, urging him
to buy largely OF certain stock, because
it was sure to advance. The father be.
ing high monetary authority, the young
man gladly and gratefully received and
acted upon the advice.
The result was that he was ruined, the
stock having steadily and rapidly de-
clined from the momenthe had purchased
it, He then withdrew his proposal OF
marriage, unwilling that the woman he
loved should be the wife of beggar.
Claudine's father rejoiced at the
lovers adversely, remarked to his dsugh.
ter
You see, my child, how wise it is for
you to wait. The young fellow could
! not raise FIVE thousand francs to-day on
all he has left. Such affection as you
had for him must be completely cured
by his great reverses."
TIE GIRLS HEART.
So far from it, papa, find | never
loved him till now. His misfortunes
have touched my heart. The noble man
ner in which he has acted reveals him to
me in a new light. / feel that now, more
than ever, he needs my sympathy, my
comfort, my affection" "
But you would not marry a bankrupt,
q man who can give you no position, no
material comfort-nothingY
HOW IT ENDED.
But should have something, papa,
through your kindness. l should be too
happy to share it with him"
Then the father, flaming up, declared
he should not give Claudine a sou, if she
should marry the miserable beggar. He
told her how he had ruined her suitor,
and the purpose be had in doing so.
They had high words. She rebuked him
for his treachery; he charged her with
filial ingratitude.
In less than week she had eloped
with her lover, and they were married
and living happily, though humbly, to.
gether in Havre, trying to begin q new
life, when the father sought them asked
their pardon for the past, and begged
them to return to Paris, to make his
home theirs.
Anelopement is a rare thing in France,
particularly among what the English
would call respectable people. In
Claudines circle it caused commotion,
but when she returned hither with her
husband and father her friends we're de-
lighted, and pronounced the affair a
capital comedy.
understand, by-the-by, that The elope-
ments are not nearly so unusual as they
were wont to be in this country, and
that the French ascribe their increased
frequency to the influence OF American
manners and customs,
Claudine's disobedienee to paternal
authority will be freely forgiven by the
romantic, in consideration of her loyalty
to her lover. If she hsd been from the
other side of the sea her devotion, gen
Grated by the troubles that had befallen
him, would not have been remarkable
But over here devotion from such cause
is very rare--if you believe the satirist'
and cynics-and awakens general as
tonishment. w 81
A colored congregation in Dayton