The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1883-12-06
Mr.. Flintshlre'S Marriage.
BY HENRY LABoUCHERE.

/ BY HENRY LABOUCHERE.
Mr.. Fliatshire retired from the Indial
Civil Service at the age of fifty, re
turned to England with the fixed 'n.sen
ton of marrying for money. Being
bachelor his pension was more than suf
ticient for his wants, and his saving.
amounted to a considerable fortune. Blu
he was very careful man. to say a
least, and he had always cherished -
idea of marrying rich wife who would
Keep him. Hilbert, he had been un
successful, because he had to limited
Extent, allowed sentiment to interfere
with his choice. But now that his in
come had diminished in consequence o.
! his retirement. he resolved to be guided
entirely by expediency, and to permit
neither age or any other disqualification
to balk his design.
1t is hardly surprising that with such
broad views az this he had comparatively
little difficulty in discovering his oppor.
tunity. He was chatting one day with
his doctor in rather Respondent mood
in consequence of the unsatisfactory
state if his liver. when the medical gen.
tleman, to cheer him, remarked.
"My dear sir, you need not feel un-
easy. You will be we'll in month, an
you will live to he as brisk and lively at
eighty-four as old Mrs. humble wood"
'Who is Mrs. Mumblewood?" inquired
NJ Elintchiro
IA patient of mine-a wonde, ful lady.
as tell you she is eighty -four, and yet
comes to see me in an omnibus to save
cab fare" said the doctor, laughing.
You will hardly believe it when l tell
you she is enormously wealthy
sis she a widow" inquired Mr.. Flint
shire, pr .cking up his ears.
"Yes. Her husband was old Mum
blewood, the contractor, who died
worth, as they say, quarter of a mill
lion. The old fellow came from moth
ing, but he widow Is shrewd, clever
old lady, IS brisk as you or /"
'She can't last mnch longer, I sup
poser" remarked Mr.. Flintshire, alb
sently.
"Well, that is professional secret"
said the doctor laughing again. "Howev.
er, it is safe to predict that she has lived
the best part of her life"
II should like to see her." said Mr..
Flintshire, in quite hearty tone for him.
1.-The sight of her will do one more good
than course of medicine"
sit will be cheaper, at any rate" said
the doct4, with unconscious irony.
"Let me see-I should like to have a
look at you next week. Now, Tuesday
morning at twelve o'clock is old Mrs.
Mumplewood's hour, and you might ar
range your visit accordingly"
Probably the doctor had no other de-
sign in his mind than the wish to secure
another fee, and in this he succeede,,
for Mr.. Flintshire at once undertook to
call on the day and at the hour men
toned.
1t seems incredible that any man
should seriously think of paying court
to an old lady of elghty-four.. Yet Mr..
Flintshire was quite prepared to do SO
was anything like as rich as was sup
posed, and he made the appointment
with the most deliberate attentions
He had no difficulty in learning all
about tine old lady, who resided in
Sloane street and was well known in the
neighbOrhood. The result of his inqui-
RES was highly satisfactory, for though
re deceased contractor had not left
tnything like quarter of a million, the
widow had Inherited large fortune.
which must have considera-
by increased in consequence OF
her penurious habits. She lived in a
snail house. attended by two old serv
ants who had been, respectively, cook
and butler to her late husband. She
tould hardly be spending e500 year.
To judge from the stories that were told
lbout her, and the natural inference
vas that her savings must aloe amount
to fortune.
Under these circumstances Mr.. Flint
hire did not fail to keep his appoint
hent. He considered the widow an ex-
client chance, and though her misery
.ropensites rather interferad with hi.
original design of being supported free
of expense, this drawback was counter.
balanced by the probability OF her speedy
de mise. He therefore quite made up his
mind to marry her. nor did his purpose
waver when he found Mrs. humble
wood an illiterate old lady, with skin
parchment, face that might have been
Carved from a block OF wood, and a
tongue that was constantly saying bitter
things.
The meeting at the doctors house,
which was their first Introduction, soon
ripened into intimacy. Singular as it
may appear in an old lady ofeighty-four,
Mrs. Mumbewood was evidently fiat
tered by his attentions, and though she
soOE jntimltated to him that she susp.
ted he bad designs on her fortune, Ire
readily accepted his assurance that his
politenesS arose from pure friendship.
Before long, Mr.. Flintshire got into the
nabit of calling nearly every day. and
though the hospitality ne received was
of a very meagre kind, he could not help
admiring the strict economy which the
widow practiced in her domestic arrange
ments.
1t was only natural, however, that the
old proverb about the course of true love
never running smooth should have been
exemplified in Mr.. Flintshire's case. If
the widow received his attentions with
complacency: he was much less favora-
bly, regarded by another member Of tina
household. He perceived that he had
an enemy in the butler from the first
moment that ancient retail Ter opened the
door to him, This individual was sur
ly. not overclean individual of sixty, or
Whereabouts, whose chiefduties appeared
tube to keep of intrudsrs from his mis-
tres5, since he apparently discharged no
other functions. 1t was perfectly obvious
that old Numb was jealous Of every one
who entered the hou-e, and, probably,
had an eye on his nlistress's fortune.
He was never polite to Mr.. FIintshire,
who did not intend to be refused when
he made his proposal OF marriage, real
lied that he must not leave Mr.. Numb
out of his calculations. The consequences
was that. after mature deliberation, he
one day asked the butler to give him a
few words in private, and thus delivered
himself
"Mr. Numb.,' he said mysteriously,
"has the possibility of your mistress
marrying again ever occurred to YOUR
aNo. it hain'r ,saidt he man, shortly.
well, Mr.. Numb," perhaps not,
though you hardly have imaxined that
could see so much Of that excellent lady
rs lave done lately without cpnceivinr
very great regard for her. Now, sup-
posing" said Mr.. Flintshlre, quite jocose.
", ssupposing were to aspire to gain
your nlistress's hand, what would you
say7"
II should say, don't you wish you
may get it" returned Numb, CT n.
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