Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-07-07

on CunQay, OUT ne invited IuoIu w LIZ
novel spectacles, and laid by all his
quarters for rainy day. It was not
difficult for him to gain liberation. or
even some degree of encouragement.
The demand for young men was greater
than the supply. The memorable CEN
sus showed that in Albany the lovelier
sex was largely in the majority, and
several thousands of girls were foreor-
dained to single blessedness, in addition
to those no might share that lot from
choice q accident.
Not Ahg after / made Mr.. Golngs'
acquaintance, he confded to me love
affair which troubled him. He was en-
gagged, he said, to an estimable young
lady. who regarded him with passionate
devotion. At first he had been SINH
larly smitten, but his affection had
cooled, or rather, it had been transfer
red, not much the worse for wear, to
another beloved object. advised him
to state the matter frankly to number
one, and said that she would doubtless
relinguish him to her fortunate rival.
But this, he explained. would not do.
Her affections were engaged-very
much SO indeed. Moreover, he had
once broken off the engagement, and
then renewed it again, and he really
had not the courage to break her heart
a second time. If / would only be
good enough to make the young lady's
acquaintance and make love to her my
self. he thought that perhaps share of
her affections might be transferred to
me, and then on my leaving the law
shool, they need give me no further
concern. I demurred somewhat to this
project for Letting down easy" the
victim of misplaced attachment. |
argued that it could not succeed, and
that even if practicable, it would be
cruel kindness. 1 urged also the
dangers to which my own susceptible
heart might be exposed. But Mr..
Goings thought only of himself. he
adjured me, in the sacred name of
friendship, to assist him in his little
difficulty. It would suffice, were I to
make love in formal and perfunctory
way, merely to afford him an opportun-
ity of being jealous, and so of enabling
him to bid the too faithful fair one an
eternal ad;eu.
/ humored his absurdity 80 far as to
assent to an introduction, and found
Miss Ito be native and sprightly
young lady, quite too good for selfish
and stupid fellow like Goings. I told
him, however, that it was evident her
heart was irrevocably engaged, and thai
he would do we'll to stand up like lit
tie man and be married. But like most
people who receive good advice he de-
ON NV 0d md OvryS1x
sorrowful. Subsequently he approach
ed in turn several of my fellow students
with the request which / had refused.
They stared at him with surprise, lis
tened amused to lis proposals, chaffed
him mildly, and begged him to send
them invitations to his wedding.
A week OF two later he announced to
me with great cheerfulness that he had
acted upon my first advice, and that his
troubles were now over. He had told
her the sad truth, and with many tears
and signs she had consented to give him
up, and returned her engagement ring.
He exhibited this ring TO me, and I did
not doubt but that he would thriftily
make it serve for any future engage,
ment. As it happened, my friends and
L ulu uOU nave Uu1lIulbCo COAAOCnCC LII
Mr.. Goings' veracity, and we presently
learned another version of his broken
engagement quite as dramatic as his
own, though not SO hattering to him.
One evening, as we were seated after
supper, a lawyers clerk appeared Cor at
least person who seemed TO be one),
and served upon Mr.. Goings legal doc
ument. The clerk then hastily returned,
and Goings perused the Inflated missive
with a pallid countenance and ill-dis-
sembled horror.
'sGoings, Goings," cried Thorne,
* what is the matter? You look almost
gone y He turned q sorrowful face to
the questioner, but made no reply. He
thrust the paper deep into his pocket
and stood speeches.. occasionally with
drawing the paper ap inch or two and
clutching it tightly, as though it was a
venomous reptile which might bite him.
Finally he said in hollow tones, like
these o. the ghost in Hamlet. g Mr..
Reynolds, will you go with me to my
room % He led the way thither, lock-
ed the door, and then exclaimed tragic
ally. g I am sued for breach of promise !"
g Can it be possible 2, said I. g Not
only possible but true said he. He
thereupon showed me summons, call
ing upon him to defend an action for
s15, 900 damages, by Sarah Il, the
suit being brought by no less a lawyer
than the Attorney-General.
I am not often taken by surprise,
and I certainly was not on this occasion,
for the summons had been concocted by
Stark, Thorne and myself, and was
served by a fellow student disguised for
the occasion. AS no man likes to be
victimized by practical joke, it would
have been too cruel to tell Goings of my
previous connection with the case. He
now desired legal advice from me, and
I gave il freely. AS a lawyer it was
not my province to decide the case in
advance. My duty consisted in taking
the facts as they were presented by my
client, and advising him thereon. To
this duty I addressed myself.
81 understood you to say I began,
'sthat you had been fully released by
the young lady herself?" "Well yes