Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-11-14
The Marriage Broker.

a few years ago a young man OF hne
personal and mental advantages, but
without dollar in his pocket, arrived
in Paris from one of the provincial
towns. His parents and friends had
cast him off because of his distaste for
commerce and his obstinate preference
for literary pursuits. His father had
given him 2J francs and then closed the
paternal door upon him.
The day after his arrival he offered
one of his manuscripts to an editor, who
glanced over It and returned it to him
with smile He tried successively
four or five editors. with the same sue
cess, and returned to his humble lCdg-
ing with bis literary srdor somewhat
cooled. Still he was not totally dis
couraged. But after a week spent In
irultless effort, finding that his 70
francs had become reduced to four sous,
he determined to write penitent letter
to his father. He clapped his hat on
his head and went out to take walk.
Ii WAS bright. sunshmy afternoon, and,
arrived upon the Pont Neuf, he sat
down upon a bench. He had not not
sat there long when a gentlemaaly look
ing man sat down by his side. AMI re-
marking his melancholy, kindly asked
him the cause. The young man frankly
told him his position.
Come with me; will soon put you
in a way to escape from all your difficult
ties"
The young man accepted his new
e.. tal hrr,, T.,
one of the most elegant restaurants OF
the quai ter, where he was soon seated
before luxurious dinner. When the
dessGxt was placed upon the table, his
new friend asked:
''What do you take me to be?"
81 am sure don't know" replied the
young man, ga count, perhaps OF a
marquis. or, at least, a man of for
tune"
mot at ali, replied the other; L am
in business, and my BUSINESS Is TO
draw Just such young men as you out OF
such difficulties as You are IL"
"How?"
"By marry ing them to some rich
heiress."
The Young provincial listened most
attentively while the speculator ex-
planned the business to mm.
Now" said the latter, 'what is your
father fortune?"
"a fCr.une in landed property most
ly, but representing a value of at least
400. 900 flames.
My dear sIr," exclaimed the mar
e,. styprr low. r,nI,f - 4,
frst-class dowry. Let us see; who
have ] to give you? Do You like
blondes?'
'.PassIonateIy."
That's perfect; have your affair. y
well, present me to the young
lady,"
mo, no, young man, you are too
fast. We do not compromise families
I'm that way. You must first give me
500 francs 20 pay for the negotiations,
without which the whole affair will
fall"
'.five hundred francsl l could not
give you five sous If mo life depended
upon iti" exclaimed the young man.
But" reJoined the other, "you can
write to your father, tell him tnat you
are about marrying a young lady with a
dow1y of 100000 francs, and double
that when her father dies; that the
father is apoplectic, and the mother
dropsical. You see, the affair is
superb.
After little more discussion, the
young man sat down and wrote letter,
which was calculated to impose upon
the old gentleman; in fact, by the re-
turn of post the son received forgive
ness and bank note OF ], 900 francs.
The marriage maker conducted his
dupe the opera, where he promised he
should meet his future bride. The or
chestra had inst finished their overture,
when box, directly in front of our
ceedulous youth, was opened, and fair
haired young girl of great beauty en-
tered, accompanied by an elderly lady
and an officer in undress uniform.
''rhere she is with her father and
mother" said the matchmaker. Look
at her; what do you say?"
Beautiful! beautiful" returned the
other, already desperately smitten; "but
does she know that am here?"
"Of course, tor have made all the
necessary propositions and advances for
you; and if You suit the young lady as
well as she seems to please you, the af-
fair is arranged at once"
but she does not appear to notice
me at all, remarked the young man,
after time,
''She noticed You without your seeing
it, replied the other; ''but wait a mo-
ment, will 60 and find out the impress
sion you have produced"
And, between the acts, the match
maker went to the officers box, spoke q
few moments with the Old gentleman,
and immediately returned to his COM
panion.
We'll" said he. .'they are all very
well pleased with you. The parents say
you are a serious looking young man,
and the daughter asked me one or two
questions, which augurs well. But,
enough for this evening. Come to-mor-
row to my bureau, and we will have
some further progress"
The young man was exact at I'll e rem
utLNOuSs 1Hc molCuulaheI DeRdu Dy
asking for the price of the opera box
which the lady and her parents occu-
pied, pretending that he Lad presented
them the tickets in the young mans
name. But our provincial began to
have his suspicious excited, and aftel
putting some very close questions to
him, which embarrassed him greatly
the young man left him, and, convinced
that he had been duped, Went to COO
his agitation by walk in the gardens Of
the TuIlleries. There, one Of the frs
groups he saw was his promised bride
accompanied in the same way rs the
evening before,
Gong up to the old officer he begged
4 moments private conversation, and
when he had taken HIM aside, ht
said:
"Psrdon me. sir, but you were at tn.
opnstst Iight?'
Yes, sir,
"Are you particularly acquainted witt
the individual who entered your boz
and spoke to you between the SECOND
and third acts?"
81 don't know him at all, replied tn,
officer. He came to ask me If l wa
Al .r I.