The daily gazette., 1878-06-13
A Wife For a Lie.
BY j. Ill. p.

jackson wishes to marry young Walker
put that her father says that he is such an
ihVeterate fibber that she shan't have him
unless he abandons the habit; while she
says That lfIll help her overcome her
fathers scruples, she'll give me five hun
dreu dollars the day they are married.
"Well, letsgo for that fiver," replied
he, laughing. THAT amount, with what |
have laid aside for myself, would just set
us up. in housekeeping.
'Done!" replied she, blushinp a rosy
reu. "Walker will be here tonight, and
the Old man says he'll be in too; and if
Walker lets OIL one of his petards, up goes
his suit for good and bad. Now, there is
small room attachedto the parlors where
you can hide and hear everything that
passes and if Walker gets in a mix, Just
slip IN and set things to rights"
"Bravo.' was the exclamation. "Five
hundred dollars and a pretty girl are
worth running some risk for. I'll be there
at seven o'clock
AT the hour appointed the young man
was on hand, and shown by the pretty
maid into the room. Young Walker
soon after made his appearance, and was
admitted to the parlor. The old gentle
man was there with his daughter. After
the ordinary salutations had been ex-
changed, the parent said he had Just been
telling his daughter about the arrange
ments he had made to go to Saratoga for
a few weeks.
"Teo bad" said Walker, s.that YOU
have madethe arrangements already for |
would have invitedy you to visit my sum
mer residence"
The pretty maid, who overheard the re-
mark, trembled, for she knew very well
that Walker did not own foot of real es-
tate.
"1our summer residence?" exclaimed
the tather-in-law in prospective. 81
wasn't aware that you possessed one"
"Oh, yes" said Walker, readily, his in
veterate propensity getting the better of
him.
"lt's pretty place near Newport. You
would be more at home there than in a
hotel"
"Well, it's not too late yet," replied the
old gentleman. "We can cancel the ar
rangements at Saratoga and 90 there.n
"By the way" said Walker, finding him
self in fix 81 don't know but that it is sold
by this time. put it in the hands of an
agent a few days ago."
"lndeed!" replied the other, rather
doubtful as to Walker owning and any
property. "What did pay for it?"
didn't pay anything" said Walker.
"Eh?"
"Won it in lottery. Bought ticket
and it was drawn on the number"
"Ihen you must have got it very cheap
"Ye es; it cost me only ten dollars. What
do you think of that?"
'.Lucky; very lucky" said the old gen
tleman, as he look keenly at the young
man. "We'll go there, Fanny. We won't
60 to Saratoga"
"Well-no--I-I offered it for sale
put it in the hands of an agent-and-
and-I received dispatch from him this
morning stating that he had customer
willing to pay my price"
"Yes," said Walker; but he seemed tC
choke little in uttering the monosylla
BILE.
"Glad of it, my boy; let me congratulate
you. There's something selfish in my JOY
at your good fortune too; day after to-
morrow I'm to pay note ofthree thous
and dollars; haven't but thousand in the
bank. You will accommodate me, wont
you"
"Ye-ye-s-confound my luck ye-l
forgot to tell you-I-I@"
Walkers cheeks began to grow very
red, and Miss jackson began to feel veX.
ed for fear of the consequences, when q
ring of the bell at the door attracted the at.
tention Of the company.
The servant announced young gentle
man to see Mr.. Walker.
1t was now Walkers turn to be sur
prised. "SOme preserving, ineXorablt
dun," was the comment in his mind.
"Ill see him at the door," he said.
'No, sit STILL" said jackson. "Show
him in," was the direction he gave the
servant.
The young man who had been conceal
ed in the adjoining room, and who hac
hurried out by a back way and come rount
to the front door when the conversation
reached a critical point, made his appear.
ance.
Walker started, and Jackson looked in.
quiringly With gravity that was i'm.
perturable the newcomer said:
q" just received dispatch from your
agent at Newport, Mr.. Walker, stating
| that your property Is sold ana The money
awaiting your orders"
W alker was completely astoupded. He
had never owned piece of property,
even in his Imagination, before that
visit.
"Ye-s,' was the reply. He was OH
the point of saying, "Where The deuce
did you come from p when the old
gentleman arose and clasped him by the
hand and said
MY dear boy, forgive me ! l was
afraid you were-you were indulging
that confounded propensity of Yours for
telling white IL mean a-a-what
isn't so. Forgive me. say. l had resolve d
III caught you in single violation 1
Ifu you shouldn't marry my daughter.
My note due day after to-morraw was
all humbug a-a-"
The old gen. stopped, puzzled, as he
bethought that his acknowledgment of
there being no such note in existence
was an admission of an indulgence on
his part ofLhe propensity he condemned
so much in Walker.
"Take my daughter and be happy.
We'll lake our trip 10 Saratoga, and at
my expense and 1t shall be your we'd
ding trim. et Lhis VOunp mau-Whai's a