The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-10-12
" MAN PROPOSES"

Old Norton and old Berton had made
the name of Morton, Bcrton & Co.,
Bankers" synonym for security.
They had also built up the two magnifi-
cent fortunes which their profigate
sons occupied themselves most assidu-
Ously in spending. The old men were
both dead now, but "Co.n was alive,
and on poor "Co." devolved the run
ming of the business, for the present
"senior' partners were almost I'M
known to the office. These latter were
rather inclined to be of the fast sort,
and although their knowledge of the
banking business was limited, let it be
said to their credit that in the scientific
game of billiards they were most prof.
cient. The fair sex spoke of them in
awe-stricken tones as every Wild" and
yet, Judging from the number of mat
rimOnial traps set for them, this was
not considered as a particularly deroga-
tory characteristic. They (Which word,
| beg leave to state, is a personal pro-
noun referring to Jesse Norton and
Charley Berton) had been classmates
at college, where, to use the classic YER
had run together" and being of thor
ough congenial tastes and habits, friend
ship had outlived their graduation days.
Jesse Norton was the elder, and prob
ably had little more of that cOmmod-
ity entitled common sense.n Com
pared to the other he was quiet. He
was not, however, one of those model
young men who implicitly follow the
old maxim to think twice before YOU
act" He generally thought once.
Charley Berton never thought at all.
He was OF the genus "good fellow
and was universally liked, impulsive,
light-hearted, generous to fault. But
there were deeper elements in his char
acter than showed themselves on the
surface. He was true friend, but
could hate as well as love. In spite of
his dandyism and wild ways, his old
grey-headed father had often said,
There's some good in Charley Ber-
TOM
The reader, gentle or otherwise, will
pardon my introducing him or her into
such scene of confusion as was pre-
sented by the rooms of our friends one
pleasant morning in early summer.
Norton, who was reclining on a sofa,
with cigar i'll each hand, manufacture
ing rings of smoke with a zeal which
was commendable, suspended his occu-
patton a moment to ask:
Charley, do you really intend to
marry that Montague girl?'
''S'pose I'll have to- he answered
with a confessional air.
well, it has always been kind of
understood thing, you know, ever since
Nelly and | made mud pies together,
that we'd be married some day, but
never regularly engaged myself till
last spring"
'What did you do that for?"
Had todd woman inquired after
my intentions-wanted to know if |
was tritling with an innocent girls af-
fections, and all that sort of thing. |
got scared, and proposed" exclaimed
Charley, punctuating his remarks with
puffs of smoke. Il dom mind it much,
though" he volunteered, in continual
ton, except the old woman. I'd as
soon marry a pretty little girl like
Nelly but don't like to marry the
whole family"
''What will become of me?" asked
Norton, rather gloomily.
sect married yourself
Thank you; do not care for any OF
that pie"
well" and Charley lit a fresh cigar
very complacently, "do as you please,
then; Pm not your keeper"
1.-The idea of marrying at twenty.
two" said Norton. Break it off
Charley, you're not old enough"
"The deucer exclaimed Charley
This was the unkindest cut of all. He
had been called young. Further thar
this, his first exclamation, however, he
said nothing, but reiapsed into tact
turnity, thinking, "What a COMPOUNDED
insolent ass Norton was this morning. >
Neither of the pair felt in sufficient,
good humor to carry on an animate,
quarrel, consequently nothing was sale
for some time, until Charley, who ha,
been gazing abstractedly out of tn
window, became suddenly interested il
something outside.
"Look here, Jess. Who is that girl?'
he said.
"Don't you know her? though
every one knew her"
"Why?'
"She's talked about a good DEAL
You haven't told me who she
yet"
"Jessie Corson-artist's daughter.
Know herP'
Only by sight"