The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-08-11

not forgotten you. Now. under such
circumstances. you ought not to throw
yourself away upon any commonplace
girl i'm the village. You should look
ahead, and not give way to the passing
fancy of inexperienced boyhood. Think
of allying yourself with one Of our first
families"
IL understand you perfectly WELL"
returned Arthur; ''but you speak as if l
was the only young man who had the
prospect of receiving legacy, and
that, therefore, ! could with confidence
pay my addresses to Miss Augusta F..
There are plenty Of young men who
move in the same circles with Miss F.,
and il is probable that she would prefer
one who had always belonged to the
higher class Of society TO parvenu like
myself. who has not. yet received the
promised legacy from his uncle.
THAT is good reasoning for ordinary
cases." answered the schoolmaster; "but
happen to know that Miss Augusta is
capable of making "a choice, and that
she has set her cap for you in particu-
lar. Think Of it, MY good fellow, or
you may repent when regrets will be
TOO late for remedy. Unequal mar
riages are very seldom happy ones. No
doubt that the first Napoleon loved
Josephine and admired her as grace
personitied.' but after he became en-
peror the daughter Of a plasterer was
exchanged for the daughter Of a mon
arch"
"You forget that Napoleon wanted
an heir"
"No. not quite" said the tutor, with
o smile; "but you see that, although he
wanted an heir, he did not take another
low.born woman for his second wife,"
The schoolmaster took his departure,
and as our youth watched him from the
window he said to himself: whats up
nowp How did this man know that I
had fancy for Lucinda, and why does
he want that I should leave her and pay
my court to Augusta F--p But forget
that have no parents to advise me;
and, as I was once q pupil of this
schoolmaster, he would offer himself as
substitute for my poor father and
mother. who sleep in yonder graveyard"
Already had the promptings Of ambi-
ton brought flush to the cheek of
Arthur. He had been told that the
proud and somewhat supercilious Au-
gusts had spoken well of him, and now
that he was no longer poor, what could
prevent him from succeeding with Au-
GUSTAV
The lad did not feel altogether happy
at the idea of exchanging Lucinda for
Augusta; but, if anything can conquer
love, it is ambitions; and, to aspire to
the hand of young lady whom he had
formerly scarcely dared to look at,
seemed to him almost like entering a
new world. and commencing a career
in higher order of beings than ever
inhabited this dusty globe.
Now, Arthur did not actually want
his uncle to die; but he did want to re-
ceive that legacy, US he imagined that
having once made sure of that, it would
heal the perturbations of his heart and
set his mind ut rest.
But, Augusta F-did not wait for
the arrival of the legacy. Meeting him
on the street one day she looked at him
and smiled very sweetiy. Arthur bowed
in return. and, from that moment no
felt the binding of tie silken chain
Yes, it was not IN his power to forget
that look of hers which tailed so well
with what the schoOlmaster had told
him. No doubt Augusta was pleased
with him, or she never would have thus
honored him with a smile even before
he had spoken to her.
A few days afterward there was
party at the great house, and Arthur re-
ceived note containing polite invita-
ton, signed by the fair hand of Augusta
herself.
Who could remember the humble Luz
cinda after that? But Lucinda remem-
bered Arthur, and was somewhat sad
dened by his long absence; yet it was
without pang of jealousy that she
heard her young friends talk OF the par
ty at the great house, of the songs that
were sung. the games that were played,
and that Arthur had danced with Au-
gusta, who seemed to be highly delight
ell by his intentions.
Indeed, such words had passed be-
tween Augusta and Arthur that the lat
ter had felt himself at perfect liberty to
cali upon the young lady at any con-
venient time. Why not? There was no
engagement between him and Lucinda
He had not even told her that he loved
her. 1t is true that Lucinda had im-
agined that she felt that he loved her.
She now began to fear that she had been
mistaken. She was very unhappy. Can
any of our readers tell why?
Arthur became frequent visitor at
the great house, and was always well
received, until Augusta gave him a
hint, which scarcely amounted to u hint,
however, that if he declared himself, the
declaration would be well received
Arthur blushed up to his eyes with de-
light and trepidation.
He made up his mind to pop the ques-
ton Mt the next visit. The eventful
evening came. Arthur had dressed
himself and arranged his hair and whisk-
ers in the best style. when he heard 9
loud rap on the front door. He hasten
ed to open the door. and there he saw
horse and light wagon.
.Does Mr.. Arthur Pease live herep"
demanded the driver of the wagon.
Eyes, that is my name," answered
the youth.
"Well. Ihave something here from
Mr.. Joshua Pease-your uncle, / sup
pose"
Having said these words the man
went back to his wagon, and taking
long mahogany box from it, brought
the box to Arthur and laid it at his feet.
He then babe the youth adieu. sprang
upon the seat of his wagon and drove
off without another word. Arthur
thought this was rather a cavalier man
ner Of dealing with box containing
large amount Of money. He took the
box into the house. and having opened
it with hammer and chisel. he found
that it contained an old wooden leg
with card nailed to it, on which were
the following words:
THIS LEGACY
| :fs for nv dutifuI and beloved nephew,
Arthur Peasc. JOSHUA PEAsE.