Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1882-12-09
"No, dear Harry. Believe me. it

"
that he loves money far better than hi.
child. He has declared over and ovel
egain that he will never give his con
sent to my marriage with man poorer
than himself; and 1 know he viii
never retract his word"
And you advise me to go off t.
China, with the probability Of never
seeing you again, Dora? Nothing
can be worse than that, surelyr"
"Oh, Harry. / must have time tc
think. heard of it only this morn
ing" cried Dora, on the verge of tears
"There comes papa now, and / have
so much still to say to you. l must see
You again. Could you manage to come
down on Thursday at this time for
half an hour? My father is going to
a dinner in the city ON that evening"
"Of course can," responded Harry,
just as the door opened to admit the
master of the establishment.
"Oh, Wynn. you arrived first |
Prompt as ever-a most excellent
qualityin young man. l hope my
daughter has made you comfortable
eh, Dora?"
Il tried to do so, papa," responded
the young lady, demurely. al sup
pose my company can be dispensed
with now?"
" Yes, my dear, you may 60"
" Well, Wynn" began the merchant,
when the two men were left alone, as
he walked up and down the room, evil
IDENTIFY satisfied with himself and all
the world, Il have to tell you that
there is excellent news from America;
we have closed the contract with that
firm in New York of which you have
heard me speak, and the transaction
will bring us in something very like
twenty thousand pounds. Not at all a
bad lob-eh, Wynn
will interest you more nearly, my boy.
We have just heard of the death of
Jones, our secretary at Hong Kong,
and ! am called upon to send some one
to fill his place. It's rather good po-
sition, and we need some one we Can
trust. I've been rather pleased with
the way you've done your duties late
", and I've been thinking-hem!-in
short, I've made up my mind to give
you the place.
but, sir" began Wynn, in despera-
tion
"Oh, no thanksl l know you appre-
ciate it and all that. of course, and I'm
sure we shall be satisfied with you.
Could you be ready to go next
month";"
al will think it over, sir. I suppose
it is not necessary to give you my an
swer for day or two?"
"No, certainly not" replied the mer-
chant. a little surprised at Wynn's
way of receiving such piece of good
fortune.
Then followed an announcement
which, for an instant, caused the
bookkeeper to turn hot and cold with
rapidity.
Perhaps you will be interested in a
piece of family news which has given
me the greatest satisfaction. Wynn.
My daughter is to be married?"
Impossible I mean, sir. had
heard nothing of it." stammered poor
Wynn. r-t.t
"Eh?'' exclaimed the merchant,
staring at his companion in astonish-
ment. "No, suppose not. The fact
of the matter is Miss Blair doesn't
know of it herself yet; but she will,
of course, be as pleased as l am. The
letter only came to-day from an old
friend of mine who has made millions
millions, my boy-in sugar, and
writes proposing a marriage between
his only son and my. daughter. The
young man has seen my Dora some
where, it seems, and was quite smitten
with the sly little puss. He is coming
to us on visit next week. Now,
haven't l cause for rejoicing to-day,
Wynn"
"Pray accept my congratulations,
SIR" replied the bookkeeper, lugubri-
ousIy.
by the way. Wynn the merchant
went on, after moments pause de-
voted to golden anticipations, "it has
struck me that you have been rather
down in the mouth lately. Are you
out Of health"
"Oh, no, sir, thank you mot at all y
responded the young man, hurriedly,
rather disconnected by this unusual So
licitude in his behalf.
The delight with which the merchant
had that day heard Of the success of
business schemes likely to make an i'm
portant addition to the banking ac-
count Of the firm. and especially an
ticipations Of the brilliant marriage to
be made by his daughter, had filed