The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-08-22

marveling what this unusual politeness
could portend, old Jones threw open
the folding doors, and in marched
Lawyer Andrey, followed by Stitchem
the tailor, in his Sundays best, Mrs.
RiOrdan, the washerwoman, in a sur
prising mobcap. Lastly, the con-
sumption little boOtmaker, Higgins, the
jeweler, Pricken, the cigar-merchant,
and Spill, the wine-dealer. While last,
but not least, followed Mrs. Nutting-
dale, the boarding g-housekeeper, and
her pretty, blushing daughter, Ruth.
Mrs. Castlethorpe stood in stately
dignity at her end of the table, while
Jones marshaled the miscellaneous
crowd OF guests to their seats, Jer-
ONE sprang from his chair with a low,
muttered exclamation at first, but seat
ed himself again. Evidently he was
I'm for 1T, to use popular and most
expressive phrase, and the only way
was to make the best of bad bargain.
The dinner progressed. Fish sue
ceeded soup-game and entrees fol-
lowed tish-elegant side dishes came
and went, and with tie grapes, pine
apples, and ices, came rare wines and
champaign. Mrs. Castlethorpe rose
with the dignity Of hostess of the old
school.
"a health, ladies and gentlemen, y
said she. ''Fill your glasses all. Are
you ready? Then l propose the health
of the man who pays his debtsl"
1t was drunk with acclamatiOn. Only
Jerome Mordaunt colored. and hesi-
tated.
Jones'" said the old lady, please
hand these five hundred dollars-in
small bills, Jones, take particular no.
tice-to Mr.. Mordaunt. Gentlemen
and ladies' to the guests, pray pre-
sent your little accounts; my nephew
is ready to audit them!"
Mr.. Mordaunt opened and shut his
mouth two or three times, in n feeble,
gasping way, like an exhausted fish;
but he uttered no audible remon-
STRANGE, He knew it would be of no
use.
"Of course" he said, shall do as
my aunt advises"
One by one the hungry-eyed guests
advanced, presented their little ac-
counts, and retired, with satisfied
countenanceS, until not parsonage
was left except Lawyer Andrey, Mrs.
Nuttingdale and her daughter, and the
hostess.
Nov for the last settlement of ALL"
said Mrs. Cast ethorpe, with All inexor-
able countenance. jerome, Leiieve
you are under an engagement to marry
this young LADY,"
jerome Mordaunt, face to face with
poor, pale, trembling little Ruth Mutt
ingdaie, could not deny it.
Jones'" pursued Mrs. Castlethorpe,
TASK the Reverend Mr.. Tyson to walk
in. Here is q wedding ring, my own
forty good years ago, and l hope none
the less lucky for that. Stand up like
a man, Jerome-and you close to him,
my dear, Now we are quite ready, MI.
Tyson, if you please"
And almost before Jerome Mordaunt
realized what was going on, he was
married, safe and sound, to Mrs. Mutt
ingdaIe's blue-eyed daughter, Ruth.
II congratulate you, my dear" said
Aunu CitstlethCrpe, with = sounding
kiss. Il wish you all JOY as Mrs. Jer-
ONE Mordaunt-and here's check for
one thousand dollars to begin life
with"
Thanks, dearest aunt" smiled the
blushing bride.
And now your are square with the
world, so far as know, Jerome" said
the old lady, austerely, to her nephew.
"See that you remain so for the future,
for you'll get no more help from me.
And now I'll bid you all good night,
for it's getting late, and l need my
after dinner nap"
And SO closed Mrs. Castlethorpe's
dinner party, with an impromptu we'd
ding.