Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1886-01-28
SILAS SINGLETON.
CHAPTER THE vow

ooWn Win emphasis on the dlning-roon
table. 'I'm only fifty-eight, for mar
is comparatively young at that age, wher
his life has been Il strictly temperate and
regular one. She's good girl, and
luckily for me, perhaps, she's poor All
girls especially the poorer ones-place
a proper estimate on securing rich hus-
band, and why should she be an excep-
tion2 Jack viii be astonished, and a
little disappointed, I suppose; but ]
mean to provide generously for his fu-
ture, for he is a good boy and my only
living relative. He'll never dream in
what direction the land lies, though. ]
have guarded my secret so well that even
she don't dream what brilliant future is
before her." Silas chuckled gleefully,
and sinking back in his chair, closed his
eyes to contemplate the future his mag
nation pictured.
Our friend Silas was self-made man
the architect of his own fortune, as he
was wont to put it himself, who having
realized competency in the manufacture
OF soap, retired from trade to enjoy his
ease In an uptown brown-stone mansion.
That evening at dinner he approached
his nephew on the subject that filed his
thoughts.
Jack" he said, as he twisted his
napkin round one chubby hand, sat what
age do you think a wise man should
marry?"
"Cl;, say, uncle; yonll have to give
me an easier one. That is conundrum
as difficult to solve as the question once
asked by Louis the Fourteenth of France
OF a lady, who had passed her eightieth
birthday. Madame, inquired the king,
when does woman cease to love2'
Sire replied the venerable dame, with
the most bewitching smirk, you must
ask some lady older than T."
"Jack, do not try to be funny" was
the comment of Silas on his nephew's
story, who heard the criticism with a
good -humored laugh, as he asked:
"Are you seriously contemplating
matrimony, Uncle?"
Silas evaded query too direct to be
agreeable by remarking sententiously, 81
believe that no man should marry
until his character and habits are ire
vocably formed-until the ripe wisdom
Of experience should enable him to guide
with greater safety the domestic bark
through all the shoals and quicksands of
the matrimonial ocean. But every man,
Jack, should obey the instinct implanted
II his nature for an all-wise purpose, and
marry"
''Yet have often thought, uncle,
that the only reason for marriage as an
institution is, that it enables any fool to
make the life of at least one woman
miserable"
Don't try to be cynical, sir, Silas
said severely. ''Tis the vice of the
young men Of this generation, but the
habit sits awkwardly upon you. Have
you never thought of marryinga"
"Uncle Silas, the voice Of the young
woman of this generation is uncertainty
Of temper" Jack answered with i'm
perturable gravity.
"An opinion given with the dogmatic
puppyism Of youth. What the deuce do
you know about it. sir9 A woman's
temper mellows with age"
cor becomes more acid with accumu-
Iating years. But seriously, uncle, l
suppose there never yet was young fell
low Of eight-and twenty who had not met
some dainty morsel of feminine humanity
of whom he would say, There is the girl
should like to call my wife, but you
see, uncle, a fellow with the right sort of
heart will not marry the girl he loves
even, unless he feels confident he can Sc
cure her future beyond the reach of pow
erty"
You might not be apprehensive of
poverty, Jack. With your salary and
my allowance, you could continue to live
comfortably, guess"
Indeed, uncle, you have been more
than generous to me, and"
Don't interrupt me, boy. was about
to add that it has been always my inten-
ton to present you with check for ten
thousand dollars on the day of your mar
rage"
"Oh, you amt serious, sir. Upon my
word, if I thought you were, I would be
Benedict within week"
Without further remark Silas tore a
blank leaf from his note book, and wrote
the following: Il, Silas Singleton, prom
Use to pay my nephew, John Singleton,
ten thousand dollars on the day of his
marriage, should the lady be above re-
| proach."
He handed this document to his
nephew, who after a glance folded ii
carefully and placed it in his pocket.
my dear uncle, you may call me 8
Dutchman if / don't demand that check
before the week is out"
CHAPTER 1.-THE PROPOSAL.
''Tell my nephew he must dine alone
tonight" Silas said to his servant, al
he was about leaving the house the fol