Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-12-21
MIR. FLINTsIIIRE,s MARRIAGE.
ono OF Henry LabOuchcre's Cynical
Stories.

MIR. Flintshire retired from the Indian
Civil Service at the age of fifty, and re-
turned to England with the fixed inten-
tion of marrying for money. Being a
bachelor, his pension was more than sutli-
cient for his wants, and his savings
amounted to n considerable fortune. But
he was n very careful man, to say the
least and he had always cherished the
idea of finding IL rich wife who would
keep him. Hitherto he had been unsuc-
cessful, because he had, to limited ex-
tent, allowed sentiment to interfere with
his choice. But now that his income had
diminished i'll consequence of his retire
ment, he resolved to be guided entirely
by cxpediency, and to permit neither age
nor any other disqualification to balk his
design.
1t is hardly surprising that with such
broad views as this he had comparatively
little difficulty i'll discovering his oppor-
tunity. He was chatting one day with
his doctor in rather despondent mood,
in consequence of the unsatisfactory state
of his liver, when the medical gentleman,
to cheer him, remarked:
"My dear sir, you need not feel uneasy.
You will be well in a month, and you will
live to be as brisk and lively at eighty-foul
as old Mrs. Mumblewood
"Who is Mrs. Mumblewood ?" inquired
Mr. Flintshire.
"a patient of mine-a wonderful old
lady. AS tell you, she is eighty-four,
and yet comes to see me in an omnibus tc
save n cab fare" said the doctor, laugh
ing. "You will hardly believe it when
tell you she enormously wealthy"
''1s she widow ?" inquired Mr.. Flint
shire, pricking up his ears.
"Yes. Her husband was old humble.
wood, the contractor, who died worth, as
they say, quarter of million. The old
fellow came from nothing, but the widow
is shrewd, clever old lady, as brisk n,
You or /. p"
"She cant last much longer, 1 sup
pose ?" remarked Mr.. Flintshire, absent.
ly.
"Well, that is a professional secret,
said the doctor, laughing again. Glow
ever, it is safe to predict that she has
lived the best part of her life"
81 should like to see her." said Mr.
Flintshire, in quite a hearty tone for him.
''The sight of her will do one more good
than course of medicine"
at will be cheaper, at any rate said
the doctor, with unconscious irony. "Let
me see-I should like to have a look al
you next week. Now, Tuesday morning
at twelve O'Clock is old Mrs. humble
woods hour, and you might arrange your
visit accordingly"
Probably the doctor bad no other de
signs in his mind than the wish TO secur,
another fee, and in this he succeeded, fol
Mr.. Flintshire at once undertook to cal
on the day and at the hour mentioned.
1t seems incredible that any man shoult
seriously think of paying court to an ole
lady of eighiy.four. Yet Mr.. Flintshir,
was quite prepared to do so If it turned
ou. that Mrs Mumblewood was anything
like as rich as was supposed, and he mad,
the appointment with the most deliberat,
intentions.
He had no difficulty in learning al
about the old lady, who resided in Sloan,
street, and was well known in the neigh
borhood. The result of his inquiries wa,
highly satisfactory, for though the de,
ceased contractor had not left anything
like quarter of a million, the widow liaC
Inherited a large fortune, which mus
have considerably Increased in conse
queDce of her penurious habits. Sht
lived in small honse, attended only by
two old servants who had been, respect
lively, cook and butler to her late hus
bond. She could hardly be spending
E5O0 yenr. to judge from the stories
that We're told about her, and the na.nra
Inference was that her savings must alon,
amount to Il fortune.
Under these circumstances Mr.. Flint
shire did not fail to keep his appoint
iccnt. lie considered the widow IN ex
cellent chance, and though hel Iiiscr /,
propcnsities rather interfered with his
original design of being supported free o
expense, this drawback was counterbal
anced by the probability Of her speedy
demise. He therefore quite made up hi
mind 10 marty her, ncr did his purpose
waver when he found Mrs. MumbleWoo1
an illiterate old lady, with skin lik,
parchment, face that might have beer
carved from n block of wood, and tongu,
that was constantly saying bitter things
Ihn rectirG ~ tho doctors house
which was their first introduction, oool
ripened into intimacy. Singular as
may appear in I'm old ladyof e;ghty-four
Mrs. Mumblewooi WAS evidently ilatter
ed by his attentions, and though she sool
intirlatcd to- him that she suspected h
Had designs on her ioil'ne, shc fendil
accepted his ASSURANCE that his politenes
arose from pure friendship. Before long
Mr.. Fliutshire got into the habit of call
ing nearly every day, aud though til
hospitality ho received was of yer.
, ircnftc kind; lie could no, hclr ndmirini
the strict economy which the widow prdc
tised in her domestic arrangements.
1t was ouly natural, however, that tn
old prOteth elurt the course Of true Low
, never running smooth should E.-c "e"
) exempliiied in Mr.. Fintshire's case.
the widow received his attentions wit
= complacent satisfaction, he was much les
favorably regarded by another member G
= the hopsshnrld. He perceived that h
: had an eucniy in the ltutlet from .he i'rs
. moment that ancient retainer opened III
door to him. This individual was surly
not over-clean old man of sixty, or there
I abouts, whose chief duties appeared
: be to keep off intruders from his misties'
/ since he apparently discharged no otht
A functions. 1t was perfectly obvious thu
s old Numb was Jealous of every one vii
entered the house, and, probably, had a
e eye to his mistress's fortune. He WI
t never polite to Mr.. Flintshire, though til
Y latter, from motives of policy, took gre!
e pains to make himself agreeable, even g
= ing to the length of an occasional gratu
i ty Unfortunately the man appeared
q have considerable influence with the ol
/, lady, who WAS evidently a little afraid
y him. Mr.. Flintshire, who did not inten
y to be refused when he made his propos
s Of marriage, realized that he must II
), leave Mr. Numb out Of his calculation
t The consequence WAS that, after matl
+ deliberation, he one day asked the butt
e to give him few words in private, NJ
,s thus delivered himself =
h "Mr. Numb" he said, ihysteriousl
I; "has the possibility of your mistress mf
d rying again ever occurred to you ?"
?, "No, it hain't," said the man, sho
g. ly.
4. "Well, Mr.. Numb, perhaps not, thou
y you could hardly have imagined tina
IL l..