The Osceola times., 1881-04-16
A wELL-MATCHED COUPLE.

60. 50 charitable people said it would be
a well-proportioned match. The proper
ton was made up on his side by 'cuteness
somewhat beyond his years, on hers by
an immense deal of money. Granted
that Lady Curlews's fortune took twenty
years off her age, and that Mr.. Cashey-
Barters 'cuteness added ten to his, then
they might be said to be 40 years old
each, and suitably matched in conse-
quence.
Mr.. Cashey.B Barter was a very nice
young maxwell dressed, particular
about his boots, and reserved in his dis
course. He had sweet-talking voice
and seldom said foolish things because,
in venturing on subjects he did not un-
derstand he went cautiously, like cat
upon ice. He did not waste his time in
idle flirtations with young ladies, but was
earnest in his attentions to elderly ones.
He was quick to observe whether they
sat in draughts, and closed doors or win
dows for them, discreetly unbidden. He
could fondle lap-dogs and talk to them
as prettily as nurses do TO babies-"dog-
gie-woggie," "puggie-wuggie," and all
that. He was an intrepid tea drinker
and took both sugar and cream with his,
please" Thus had he won Lady Curlew's
heart.
Androgyna, Lady Curlew, could not
have contested for the apple Of beauty
with Mrs. Iangtry; but she had beauti-
full soul. and that is surely the essential
in marriage. She had a large heart, too,
great intellectual gifts, and kind mother
ly manners, which had really quite over
come Mr.. Cashey-Barter. Her rent-roll
had completed the facination, and our
friend, after urging his offer Of marriage,
eleven times on as many consecutive
Sundays after morning service, when
there were no visitors present, had, at
last, somewhat unexpectedly, seen it ac-
cepted.
Cashey was not Mr.. Barter's baptismal
name, but sobriquet which had been
on him at his club, owing to
his common deficiency of small coin.
He could never aflored to contribute
guinea, like other men, for any purpose,
charitable or festive. He lived up to
every sixpence of his meager income, so
that at the years end, when he had bal
anced all his accounts, he could not
afford so much as a Christmas to the
postman. Such dire poverty either brings
a mans character into splendid training.
so that he gets Injured to selfdenial and
loves it as a soldier does discipline, or
else il twinges his soul with petty
agonies. Cashey- Barter had secret pro-
clivities toward life of luxury. He
would have liked as much as any man to
have his four-in.kand, his share in
London theater, and his huntingdon at
Melton. Paris had great attractions for
him; so had Monaco; SO had the opera on
nights when Patti sang. There We're
times when he had played at ,ingt-et-un
with ladies for hali-pence, secretly wish
ing that they had been tive-pound notes,
and once under the mistletoe dancing
with merry, lovely girl, who was not too
COW he had kis-. But enough of this,
Cashey was now engaged to be married,
and he looked forward to his marriage
as destined to give him many of those
pleasures in life from which his miser-
able impecuniousness had debarred him.
Unfortunately, Androgyna and Mr.
Barter committed from the outset of
their betrothal grave mistake. If they
had got quickly and privately married,
and had then announced their nuptials to
the world, society would have exper-
ltHttu u cllpth vi Nbi lilot,
but little would have been said, for the
affairs of married people concern nobody.
Lady Curlew, however, made her engage
ment known long before the time she
had fixed upon for the wedding, where
upon a cackle was raised in every Lon
don drawing-room. WAS it possible?
ather age and with
such a young man, too? Why, she must
be out of her mindv That is what the
world said; and Androgyna's relatives
taking an afiectionate, and, of course,
disinterested view of her position con-
ferred as to whether they could not get
her put into an asylum. Finding this
impossible, one of their number, Gen.
Gobbleby, a terrible old Tartar, resolved
to call upon Mr.. Barter and put that
young man Through his facings," as he
called them.
Look here, sir cried this veteran,
stalking into Cashey's chambers at 8
o'clock one morning, Just as the youth
was sitting down TO his breakfast with
dazzling linen and satin quilted dress
ing-jacke,, for he had become greater
beau than ever now that his tradesmen
gave him unlimited credit. Look here,
sir, pack up your traps and leave the
country"
"What the devil do you mean?" asked
Cashey, speaking with a warmth which
his Androgyna might have condoned in
this case, but would have strongly re-
probated on ordinary occasions.
"Why, / mean that you have turned
the head of this poor old lady, my rela-
tive, and you know well that you are
not acting out of natural affection"
"Do you insinuate that Lady Curlew
to be very fond Of her yourself?"
Fond Of her as reverend kinswom-
an, certainly, sir; but not in the way of
marriage"
"Well, you're married already, you
see; besides opinions about marriage
differ. i, for instance, General, should
think it very hard lines to be married to
Mrs. Gobbleby."
"You-young whipper-snapper youl
if you insult me, III pull your nosep'
brawled the indignant general.
"You-old hunks, you, if hear any
more of your impudence, III cut of your
ears and give them to my dog"
This is how Cashey closed the inter-
view.
He had got the best of that encounter.
There was no dog 10 whom he could
have given the Generals ears, but the
threat sounded well, and the warrior re-
tired discomfited. Other conjectures
arose, however, in which Cashey- Barter
could not show off so much to his salts
faction. He had to submit to the ironic.
al congratulations of male friends, and
to the perfidiously turned compliments
of ladies'. At his club the walters eyed
him demurely, and sometimes when he
went into a shop he heard girls gigglinp