The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-12-13
Fapny's Filtration.

Our troth--1 speak of Fanny Blake
and me-hai been plighted years before,
and was most solemnly renewed when l
left my native village to come and prac-
tice law in the city.
But rumors at length reached me that
Fanny was receiving attentions, not quite
consistent with our relations, from a
dashing young stranger-one Mortimer
Fitz Flare, social star of the first mag
nitude, whose sudden appearance had
greatly dimmed, by comparison, the less
er lights of the village tirmanent.
l wrote to Fanny, expO>tulating with
some warmth. She replied with spirit.
l rejoined with temper. She retorted
with more, adding an offer to cancel our
engagement, which, in some angry lines,
l accepted. And so matters stood at the
time at which begin my story.
was sitting in my office one morning,
reading letter from home filled with vii
lage gossip, and recounting, with need
less PARTICULARLY, l thought, the details
of report that Fanny Blakes becoming
Mrs. Mortimer Fitz Flare was on y a
question of time.
The chagrin felt was quite dispropor-
toned to any right l had to take an in
terest in the subject. But l did take an
interest In it none the less.
The tain of my reflections was far
from agreeable, and was by no means
displeased at its interruption by the en-
trance of a messenger with note.
Come to meet me at once" it read !;
81 am in trouble, and need your assist
ance."
at was signed THOMAS BLAKE" and
came from one of the station houses.
Tom Blake, Fanny's brother, and |,
had been schoolmates and fast friends.
Though not over-b bright at his books, none
then once he had stood my champion,
and had loved him, like brother, as
well for his own, as Fanny's sake; for
there was no better or more whole ouled
fellow than Tom Blake.
lie had gone early to seek his fortune
In the West, and had never seen him
since. Could it be my old friend in dis
tress, who now hailed me for assistancel
The best way was to go and see.
1t sods Tom, sure enough. | found him
seated on the prisoners bench, amid a
squad OF sorry-looking companions, all
waiting their turn for a morning dose of
justice.
You see, said Tom, our greeting over,
Il knew you were in the city, and looked
you up In the directory, and sent for you,
not knowing what else to do
II am glad you did So" | answered :;
''but, first of all, tell me how you got
herel"
Hang me if know whether it's more
serious or funny said Tom. However,
I'll tell you the whole thing, and then
you can judge for yourself"
The officers suffered US to 60 aside to-
gether, end Tom thus recounted his
story:
"a man who has lived five years in the
silver diggings is apt to get little rusty
in city ways, | suppose, especially if he
was never very we'll up in 'em. At any
rate, when | landed here yesterday from
Nevada, have reason to believe there are
several points on which | might have
been better posted.
"As trudged up Broadway, looking
right and left at the sights, was accost-
ed by a genteel-looking person, whose
cour tenance betokened great distress.
al am a stranger here, be said "A
telegram summoned me from Boston to
the bedside OF dying mother. reached
this place by the last train, but my peck
ct was picked at the depot, and i am
without the means of proceeding further
81 have valuable gold watch, how
ever, a gift from my deceased father. 1t
grieves me deeply to part with it, but
have no other resource. / will sell it for
seventy five dollars. If you will step into
that jewelers. store, he added, you can
easily ascertain that the sum asked is not
half the real value