Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1886-02-23
A Lucky ACCIDENT.

ton to her adorcr. Charlie Rinsvooi OF
Chalk.hire regiment. a. they wcfe sitting
together aher dinner In the conservatory
attached 10 the pleasant riverside villa
belonging 20 Doris's father. Mr. Thomas
Thornton Of the stock exchange.
"why how. Doris" asked the
young man.
"By speaking As you did a, dinner
aboa, steam launches. asd nying iha,
the men ,hs, owned them and used them
were ead.." replied Doris. Papa. JUS,
bough, one. and, next TO hi, fishing. Las
made !, bis great hobby"
"By Joye, that, unlGeky." said
Charlie. Snow what. 10 ts done III.
no use my going and ,elling him !
WAS oaly ehAiIing, because spoke %
straight"
III don, know. | am sure" said Doris,
seriously. "YOu could hardly have
made a more unfortunate mistake. for
papa considers the real cad. 10 be those
who growl because Others Ike 10 move
fas, wi,hou, Any ,roable TO themselves"
"0a a crowded river. washiag away
bAnk, and kicking up no end Of dirt And
noise" continued the young ofheer.
"well. I'm awful sorry. D1ri,. ior the
Old boy. ri,hsr ,ouehy. and Il nigh, in.
assnee hi. IDEAS with regard TO you aud
me. eh ,"
Wien the young people had returned
10 the drawing room u was very evident
that the "old boy" was dbiirbed. In
vain Charlie sang bis bss, song, in vain
be tried TO inveisls the old gentleman
into plea,Ah, eonverAiion; ih vain be
s,ericd every effort TO show himself of
TO the be,, possible advantage. The blow
had been dealt. and 1, ranked the eapac.
lou, wsi,,eoa, Of the wealthy old stock
broker. lie answered bis glt'i Ia cur,
monosyllAbles; be made much ru,,ling
with the Newspaper. and eoughed inor.
dins,sly during the performance Of
Charles songs. aud finally WHEN !, va.
time for Charlie TO return ,ownward.
instead Of Offering him one Of his famous
Antonio CAruneho.. shaking his hand
heartily. and expressing hops TO see
him again soon. the old gentleman as.
.umed q severe air and said:
"Ahem-Mr. RingwOod, of course
ahem-a gentleman Of your rtfaed taste
could ne,er-ahem-,hink Of marrying
q daughter OF a cad who keep. steam
launch Ahsm-goOd night. ,ir'
Charlie was staggered and looked
plsadingly at Doris. who. however. only
shook her head slowly and significantly.
There were probably few more unhsP.
py men ,hA, nigh, within the meiropoli-
tan radius than Charlie RingWood as be
turned slowly homewArd and poniered
that. in the ier.e language Of Doris. be
had done for himself.
The mex, morning brought, him. in
stead Of hope. letter from hi, sweet
heart, which made him absolutely mis-.
srable. /, Was as follows:
Ny dearest Charlie I have snAiehed q
moment % write these few lines. Papa
was ln IN awful rage last night Afier yoa
had gone; called you an insolent puppy,
and all sorts OF talngs. which should not
have minded had hs not wouui pp by for
bidding me 10 have further communication
with you. aud saying that nan who
would be ashsmei OF his fsther.in'liw be
cause he kept q steam launch was not nt
husband for his daughter. What sre We
10 dor
Ever your Aree,lona,e
DoRIs TiioRSroS.
"Aye mu,tered Charlie. when he had
read the letter for the twentieth time.
"wha, are we to do, It's no Use argu-
ing with this sort Of old fellow; once he
gets a notion into bis head no power on
earth can drive !, out. wish TO good
ness Id never said word about steam
launches"
In the evening be went 10 his club
where be me, an old sehoOlfellow. Jack
Raggles. Now Jack Ragsles, although
continually In difficulty himself, was ia
nous for his ingenuity In getting other
men ou, Of their troubles. More than
once Charlie had been obliged to have
recource to him for advice. and be had
never regretted H. This was far more
serious case than any preceding one. but
Charlie was simply desperate. and would
have elung to the maddest device sug.
ges,ed, as a drowning man clutches a
straw. So he got Jack Rsgglss into .
quie, corner. and there, over . sherry
and bi,iers. be laid the facts Of the case
before him.
"well." said Jack. when Charlie had
concluded, ri, certainly is an awkward
case. and II would be deueed hard lines
for you to have to chuck up al thoughts
Of marrying nice and pretty girl like
Miss Thornton. for such q irias. Bot
I've got fellows out Of far worse holes
before now. and dare say I shan't fail
this time"
"You are q good fellow, Jack, upon
my word you are" said Charlie. en.hu'
sis,,ic.lly; "but BY JOve, II you get me
out Of this you'll be . genius"
Jack was silent for few moments. and
puifed vigorously at his cigar. Al length
be added, 81 say Charlie. isnt the old
man . regular maniac for fshingi'
"Rsther," replied Charlis. "He take'
. holiday about three times week on
purpose to fsh. He starts OF after
breakfast with big hamper aud jsl
Of beer. ard be si,s in punt until even.
ing. Still, now he's got this wretehet
steam launch. I expect he will Oft with
the old love. and on with the new. Ba
whs, has fishing to do with the subjec1
In hand !"
"Nsver you mind just now" answeret
his friend, "but you find out from Mia
Thornton when her father next intend