The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-03-06
Written for THE MONITOR.
A LUCKY MISTAKE.

you get tlfed, uon l wait II longer.
"Oh, say, Hal, can't you answer a fell
low %
"Why, yes, if should chance to meet
one, but | don't make a practice of associ-
ating With that sort of gentry. Do you
happen to know of one tina | could an
swer, and thus alleviate the painful ankle
ty you seem to be wrestling with ?"
"Will you do it?"
MAN alive. Do what? Are you talking
of my signing papers to confess having
had a hand in the assassination of Abraham
Lincoln? Because if you are, no is my
answer; for | hadn't was here, mixing
these chemicals"
"1ou know what | mean"
''Proye it, my lord"
"NIust | ask you in plain words?'
pure English only"
Il want YOU permission to win Hates
hand,''
"By the powers of Rome and Greece,
Why, man. l thought you were referring
to something sensible-like the confession
before mentioned
ooh, Hal, stop your fooling."
i i = \ = 4 Il
The above conversation occurred in the
little laboratory OF which Halwell Drey-
mond was the owner.
lie was a young man of about four and
twenty, and, after having received a thor
ough education in chemistry, he had fallen
heir to a fortune, which made work ln-
necessary. But, being Of an active tenn
permanent. he had erected and stocked this
laboratory, in which he might work for
amusement and keep posted
He considered himself, withal. clear-head-
ed and deliberate.
The other gentleman engaged i'll the pre-
ceding dialogue was Mr.. Fred. Bowen,
who, although possessing no fortune, was
well enough supplied with this worlds
goods, to live a quiet, sober life without
having to toll from one day to another.
But he, like his friend Hal, could not be
content unless occupied; and thus it hap
pened that he had written several books,
which had yielded him a fair enumeration
He and Hal were fast friends.
Kate was Hal Dreymond's sister, and
was a cherished pet with him. They were
inseparable, and apparently lived for each
other only.
But, to resume our narrative, Fred's last
startling proposition was answered as fol-
lows:
"Now, look here, Mr.. Man, if you have
come here on an Grand of cruelty, be de
cent about it, and set that little can on
yonder stove, then get out of here, and in .
few moments | will be past all need for
further action on your part.''
Say, Hal, I'll dedicate my next book to
you, if you'll be sensible for five minutes
Agreed
'"Well, then, can | have Kate?"
'How the mischief do l know? | inn
agine the young lady would not object to
being consulted herself on the NATTER
"You promised to be sensible, SIR
IF you can find any sounder logic than
my last utterance in Blackstone or Coke.
produce it,"
Once for all, then, have | your permits
sion, as a brother, to win the hand of your
sister?'
mo, sir"
"What ?"
81 have said it."
"You are joking again"
81 surely nm not"
'Then, goodnight, sir
Il am sorry to hurt your feelings, Fred,
but you ask an impossibility."
why do -"
Because I cannot part with Kate my
SELF
.'Then I'll have her without your con-
sent! Good-day.'
He who lives the longest sees the
most, muttered Dreymond, as the door
closed behind his friend.
That evening, as he was walking along a
rather lark street in the suburbs of the
city, he heard a voice, which he recog-
nized as Fred Bowen's, say:
''Ill give you five dollars if You'll get
her to me safely. You'll have no trouble
with her, for you'll find her more than viii
ling to come; but mind, | tell you there'Il
be trouble if that old reprobate finds that
you are going to take her from him.
'I'll undertake the job, SIR said the
man addressed.
The conversation of the afternoon was
still fresh in Halls mind, and it troubled
him more or less.
''Now, what under the vast canopy of
stars and clouds does that mean % he ask
ed himself, somewhat extendedly.
"He said he would have her without my
consent, and she is more than willing to
COME"
Erred never did anything mean since l
have known him; but this business trou-
bles me, for some reason. Can they be go
ing to elope? | guess | will go home
When he arrived there he asked the SER
want where her mistress was.
in her room, | think, sir, she replied.
He sat down in the library, and began
reading a daily; but every article appeared
to have some such caption as, ''SheIl be
more than willing to come" or .ThereU
be trouble if that old reprobate finds that