The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-04-26
FRED AND THE HElRESS.

guardian, whose invitation includes am
friend you like to take with you for few
days shooting. Why, my dear Fred
you have bound me to you forever b,
your selection of myself. l feel quit,
new man already; for l must confes.
that when YOU came / was suffering
from an unusually desperate fit of The
blues"
Consequent, in a remote degree, or
last nights supper" suggested Fred Clay
ton, and good deal also on the way
quarters"
Fred glanced contemp.uously around
my dingy Temple chambers as he spoke
"a survey scarcely necessary, consider
ing their intimate resemblance to his
own adjoining rooms. However, I fore.
bore any remark; indeed, the delightful
prospect just presented to me absorbed all
my attention, and | grasped my friends
hand in fever of gratitude.
Tell me all abont it," l said, "and
how you came to think of me-"
g" There is nothing to tell" replied
Fred, seating himself ON the corner OF
the table, and swinging his legs backward
and forward lazily. "This morning ]
got letter from an old fellow in the
country, reminding meas if could re.
member it-tl.at he and my father had
been friends thirty years ago, and asking
me down to his place for a few days'
shooting, with permission to bring friend
if liked"
And his niece that you told me of-the
heiress said l.
20. of course, he did not mention her, ~
said Fred; " and I merely tell you be.
cause, if you choose to put yourself under
my guidance, may be the means OF
helping you to a good thing. You
know" he added, more deliberately,
"how disinterested my assistance can be,
after the little conf icnces we exchanged
last right
:" True" said I, charmed with the rec
ollection-"y your pretty cousin-thc secret
engagement"
Yes" interrupted Fred; you know
all about il; and We know more about
each other than most fellows; so it was
natural l should think of you as o com.
panion for my holiday, and I'm right glad
you're inclined for the trip"
so saying, and silencing my renewed
protestatiOns of pleasure, Fred left me, ap-
pointing a rendezvous at the first train
leaving for our destination, some two or
three hours later
L
fellows in our early Gays, and many of his
vacations were spent in my fathers house.
VI late years, however, he had lived ex-
clusively in London; like me, a young
aspirant to the uncertain hOnOrs of the
bar, but, unlike me, possessing a large
circle of friends and acquaintance, and
never without superabundance of invi-
tatiOns to dinners, balls and concerts, for
Fred was said to be very popular,
especially in ladies' society.
Except in the mere fact that we were
both younger sons, without any expecta-
lions, there was but little resemblance be.
tween Fred Clayton and Jack Harris.
My residence in London only dated back
few months, and already the great city
possessed no charm for me; pinned for
the country, for freedom, and for the act
i've life at home. l might, indeed, with
the assistance of Clayton, or through let.
tiers of introduction from members of nv
own family, have procured fashionable
invitations, and received partial federation
in society; but the prospect of crush,
heated rooms and strange faces was q
thought of terror to my timid nature.
especially with the underlying chance of
presentation to young lady, and the un-
happy knowledge that my deficiency in
the art of small talk would make such a
chance q prospective martyrdom. No; /
confessed in my own heart that society
was not my forte other talents certainly
had-deeper, more intrinsic merits than
those that passed for genuine in ball.
roOm-but they were merits to develop in
an atmosphere of peacefulness and re-
pose; qualities to expand in the quiet of
domestic hearth and q thrill of Joy shot
through me, as, examining every availa.
bic article Of clothing into a small port.
manteau, | took leave of my c0mfortlcss
chambers. and allowed my fancy to dwell
on brilliant possibility that Clayton's
words had evoked. An heiress, and q
teauty-s country beauty, of course;
bushes and simplicity, and rich-how
rich: Rich enough to live on q grand
estate; to keep large number or horses;
10 dispense princely hospitality! l must
ask FRED. This. however, was second
aIy. I would not, Of course, acknowl-
euse myself to be mercenary. Love
tune. -->- - ~.
Like dams kiss, unaaked. unsouuht.
Love gives itself. but is not bought"
so l assured myself; but then. in MI,
candor, did not anticipate any yerv crcat
difficulty on that score, for I had ever heen
painfully susceptible If the tender ma.
sion. Finally, for success, I may trust
somewhat to my own individual attrac.
tons land here q nervous tremor seized
mel, and not little to the cooperation of
my friend, for whose pre- engagement /
was more gratilied than liked to nc.
knowledge to myself.
Fifty thousand pounds, /" said CLAYTON.
In answer to my inquiries, when we had
secured a coupe to ourselves, and were
preparing 1t for the comfort of all future
travellers by lighting our cigars; fifty
thousand, my boy, and the estate, If you
consent to take her nsme.s'
Her name? What ID her namey'
asked.
:. a. FL Efing," he replied.