Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1881-05-25

wholesale fur store Of Mink & Otter
first saw Janet Dudley at the country
house of cousin, where he was visit
ing one summer holiday. She had
graduated at the normal college a year
or so before, and being obliged to leave
the city directly after, on account OF
her mothers failing health, had sought
and obtained the position Of village
school mistress of Strawberry Centre.
They had fallen in love with each
other at first sight, he fascinated by her
pretty girlish face, her graceful ways,
and quaint, precise speech, and she by
his handsome brown eyes, his gayety,
his fine tenor voice, and gallant bear
ing; and before Johns holiday was
over she had promised 10 become at
some not very distant time his wife.
But few months after they had plight
ed troth, Johns uncle Roger who had
been the black sheep of his family
returned from abroad, like the famous
black sheep of Babyland, with three or
four bags full, not Of Of wool, however,
but of money. No one knew where or
how these bags had been filed, and no
one seemed to care. That they were
full appeared quite enough, for all
doors flew open to him at the first
"Baa."
Among others who renewed their &C
quaintance with Mr. Roger Wander
gaas, now bleached to admirable white
ness, was his nephew, whom he had not
seen since his childhood, and to whose
mother he had not sent one line for
fifteen years before her death. The
old man received his young relative
with great kindness, and being also i'm
mediately fascinated by his handsome
face (Which he secretly tlattered him
self resembled his own his cir dcbon-
nair, and fine tenor voice, declared his
intention of making him his heir, com
manded him to resign his position al
Mink d Ouer's--a command which the
commanded lost no time in obcylng-
and installed him in elegant rooms adj
joining his own in the St. Sky Hotel,
But when Uncle Roger came to hear
Of the pretty village school mistress, he
was exceeding wroth, and svore, with
many strange and terrible ouths, that
if John did not promise to remain a
bachelor for at least five years, and
when he did change his state, to marry
his-Uncle Roger's-choice, back TO
work he should go, and not a penny
from the three or more bags full should
he ever have.
Now this jolly, singing, ine-look-
ing youth fellow beneath a careless eX-
terror concealed an intense longing for
wealth and all the comforts and lux
urics wealth could bring; besides which
he was troubled with a constitutional
lassitude, rs a certain fox once called
it, though it is better known to the
world under another name, also com
mencing with an Il. And to descend
from his perch as it were, and mingIc
once more with the grubbing work-a-
day crowd, seemed to him worse than
death. But then he loved, as well Us
such a selfish nature could love, blue
eyed, golden-haired Janet Dudley and
hated to give her up almost as much
as he did the elegant rooms at st. Sky.
Here was a coil, and thinking how to
unwind it cost him a week of sleepless
nights. The proposition be at length
made to his lady-love, as has been seen,
she Indignantly repealed and swear
ing, Il will never give you up" he
gave her up the next day as will be
seen by the following letter.
Ny DARLING.-For notwithstand-
ing your cruelty, cher cruelty, poor
child) my darling, you are and ever
will be, the die is supposed to be cast.
l have acceded to Uncle Rogers wish
es, as you would say, you prim, old
fashioned little sweetheart, with a men
tai reservation. You are that mental
reservation. Be true to me, as | shall
be to you, and l may yet lay fortune
at your feet.
JOHN.
Only year had passed, and Mr..
Vandergaas, already weary Of his
nephew's fine tenor voice, handsome
face, and air debonair, suddenly babe
him farewell one cloudy morning (they
were stopping at hotel in Paris gave
him the smallest bag Of wool-money,
l mean-and again departed for parts
unknown. To do John Hallam Justice,
he also was tired of the companionship,
and at times had almost regretted en-
tering into compact with the wicked
old man. But on regaining his liberty
ne congratulated himself on the clever
ness he had displayed, for though the
larger portion Of the fortune might be
lost, he had seen the gayest part Of the
Old World in its dress, secured a snug
sum of money, and was free to return
to America and Janet. "I'm sure she
is waiting for me-" he said, though
she wouldn't answer one Of my letters,
the proud, inAexible, little thing"
And back home he went post haste
back to the village where he left the
pretty young school mistress.
1t was just such lovely evening as
Il L Al L