Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-02-20

Dau fTencn). suppose III nave TO
marry him. the practical wretch"
Now, Arthur, you are not just +;
neither are you kind to speak so of girl
you do not know, and have never seen, ="
said Mrs. Delaney.
"By jove, motherp cried Arthur,
bringing his open hand down on the
table with force sufficient to make the
china and his mother jump simultan-
eously, " l have an idea."
What is it, my son?" asked the
lady.
II see by this letter." explained the
young physician, "that Miss Fairfax
lives in Metroville. Now, a train leaves
here at eleven and reaches there at two.
Jack Merton, my college chum, lives in
Metroville, and I'll go there, see him,
and try to see Miss Fidelia Fairfax with
out being seen by her. If | like her
looks I'll introduce myself, if not I'll
come home, bid farewell to the fortune
and settle down to bachelordom and
physic."
You forget that your cousin Uriah
comes to-day and may b offended if you
are not here, ;" urged the widow.
Mother" returned Arthur, mock
earnestly, eff anything could drive me
away from this comfortable home with
more speed than my curiosity to see
Miss Fairfax it would be the knowledge
that that dry old book-worn, Cousin
Uriah, was coming here to bore me with
his learning and his praises of that blue
stocking, his idol Araminta, for whose
hand he is too bashfulto propose. He's
nice young fellow, but, oh, such a
bore. That decides me, go at eleven" ."
And in the smoking train that lets
| Opoliston at eleven O'clock bound for
Metroville sat DIR. Arthur Delaney puff
ing cigar gravely.
Father" said Miss Fairfax, while
presiding over cunning little break
fast table in a cosy little dinning-room
in the most comfortable little house in
the little city of Metroville, my mind
is made up. | cannot take the money
| cannot marry man at the order of
another even if that other does offer me
one hundred thousand dollars to do so."
"Well, my dear Fidelia, returned Mr..
Fairfax, 81 do not feel competent to ad-
wise you further than bid you follow the
dictates of your own heart. Still, my
love, / would counsel you not to be
hasty, if your dear mother were alive
she could tell you in moment what to
dol must say, though, Fidelia, that
one hundred thousand dollars is"
Yes, pa, | know, one hundred thou
sand dollars is great deal of money,
but even that sum cannot tempt me to
seen in fact. Was girl ever placed in
the eccentric old Mr.. Tobias Queerby
| bod hoo,, 70 lyon,, u
to himself. The idea! As the friend
ship that existed between you and Mr.
Delaney and him gave him the right to
dispose of the hands and hearts of his
friends children"
"But you needn't marry him, you
know, my DEAR" said Mr.. Fairfax. If
I had not been so unfortunate the past
few years would say at once give up
this fortune; but l cannot leave you
much, my love, and know what com.
forting thing money is"
But l can't mary him, pa"
"Well, Mr. Greenland Kent, the at
torney, says the condition is not legal. "
But oh, pa, Mr.. Queerby relied on
my honor not to take the money with
out accepting the condition, and my
honor makes the condition binding if
tilC lIW uOOo hots SRlu MISS CuilHtA
decidedly.
"Time, my DEAR" replied the gentle
man; yet this | must say, Fidelia, |
have often heard your poor dear mother
speak of Mr.. Delaney, and always in
terms of the highest praise, and, you
know that as general rule sons are
like their fathers. l have no doubt he
is a most estimable young man."
IL, l,
say that he car interlard his conversa-
tion with yards of Latin that he don't
half understand, can write sonnets and
triolets in a lady's album, can tell the
best time of all the oarsmen and race
horses, can play polo, can tell what
kind of coat ought to be worn on each
day of the week. can say Very clevah,
bal jove,' as if he were thorough man
of the world, can tell what new play is
going to be success, can tlirt with
everybody. and vow all the girls are
breaking their poor hearts for him, can
tell college yarns all night and laugh
loudest at his own wit and, in short,
prove himself an honor to society and
Harvard college. I can see him now
talking to his pal (there are no more
classmates; pals and college Sang MUIR
dered them long ago) and saying: 'Oh,
bal Jupitah, old fellah, it's dooced
bore, ye know, but the poor little girl
will break her heart if | don't marry
her, and | suppose | will have to, bal
Jove, yaas,' while all the time he hates
me like poison"
Now, now, now, Dealie, my love p
cried Mr.. Fairfax, " this is not right y
yet he could not refrain from laughing
You are unjust, unkind-you should
not speak so of one you have never
seen." ooh, papaw exclaimed Fidelia
suddenly clasping her hands and shak,
ing her black curls, merrily.
what, my dearm asked the father
81 have an idea. The lawyers letter
says Mr.. Fairfax lives in Opoliston
Now, Rena Lester lives there. and She,
my schoolmate and she's been Begging
me to call on her. There's train leaves
at eleven and I'll go to- day. I'll con
trive to see Mr.. Arthur Delaney with
, out being seen. and I'll judge by hi
looks whether I'll ask to be introduced
II | don't like him I'll throw the for
, tune to the hospitals and become an OLE
J maid, and make tea forever for nv dear
J stupid, loving darling pa. So max
, haste. pa, | must prepare for m,
, journey"
r "But you are not going to-day, m,
DEAR" complained Mr.. Fairfax, 'yoI
forget that your cousin Aramint
is coming to-day to stop with us, an,
e she might be offended if you were no
here to receive her."
= Pa, if anything could drive me fror
the house it would be the thought tha
: l would have to listen to the disserta
| tions of the learned Araminta and hea
: her praises of that modest, unassurnin
Y Uriah, whoever he is. Araminta is
D good enough body, pa but she doe
a weary me so. That decides me. IL