Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-10-29
WATERBURY DEMOCRAT TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2s IS

--.'1 was gone, but returned,'' replied Roderick, respectfully.
 ssWell, what do you wanti"
 eYour daughters hand. See, here Is a paper conveying to your daughter all my property. I am now poor; l have nothing your son-in-law." s+ zrl sH/ ~ep
 "You have done thisi The papers are all drawn upi" 1
 ''Drawn up and signed. Here they are. am not worth a penny now"
 'So see," replied MT. Clingstone, after 8 nasty perusal of the papers, "Well, young man, he continued, in 8 sorrow full tone, ''I deeply regret to be compelled to inform you that slnce yesterday have changed my opinion regarding the choice of husband for my daughter. I think, after all, that it would be better for her to marry rich man.n
 ''Then we can destroy these papers, Mir. Clingstone, and shall be eligible even in. the new view you take of the matter"
 II am afraid not, ]" replied the old man, who was quite shrewd, musingly. ''These papers are all formally prepared and it would be wrong to destroy them. Besides, l think that man who will sign large fortune away so readily ought not to be in- trusted with 1t again. As Gladiola's guard ian 1 shall take good care of the property you have conveyed to her until she marries. shall take care that her husband is man with a better business head on his shoul- ders than you will ever have. Good-day, MT. Sweetwilliam; if ever you get hold of any more money, hang on to it, my boy'' Roderick's face had assumed the expres- sion of one who, having placed all his money on the favorite, sees 8 dark horse come in as winner.
 "Surely you are jesting," he stammered;
 'you joke with me.'
 'I never jest, and joke with no oue,n sternly replied the shrewd old inancier. ''By the way, in order that you may have something that will keep you from want until you get fresh start shall allow you an annuity of five hundred dollars until you can get along without it. Now, go away, please, and don't detain me any longer. My time is valuable"
 Speeches. with conflicting emotions, Roderick picked up his hat and stole away. At the door he met Gladiola. He started to tell her of her fathers doings. "Don't trouble yourself" said she, inter- rupting him. "I was in the adjoining room and heard 1t all. Dear papa is so eccentric; it's just like him to do this.'' "Miss Clingstone-Gladiola- cao not be that you approve of his action? You will be true to me, will you not7 have re- vealed to you the depth of my affection; have entrusted my all to you; surely you VIII nOG Q0ScrG me-"
 'I could not thlnk of marrying you with out dear papa's consent; that would be un- dutlful, you know" replied Gladiola, coldly. "Is this your final decision9" "Certainly."
 "Then listen to me, Miss Clingstone," be- gan Roderick, in stern, measured accents, at the same time drawing himself proudly erect until he seemed to be at least nine l feet high. "You and your precious father | thlnk you have the bulge on me, but you | are in grievous error. I am not nearly SO great fool as I may seem to be to the casual observer. Those papers which your father in triumph holds are written in patent evanescent ink. Long before you can get possession of my property the writ ing will have faded; the papers will be blank. You will perceive, Miss Cling | stone, that he that indu ges in the final hilarity derives the greater enjoyment l therefrom.''
 "I was but testing, Roderick; 1t was all a joke," murmured Gladiola, hberally lubri- eating her words with soft soap "I shall leave you and your father to en- joy your little jest, and I hope you will be able to laugh heartily over it,' replied Rod erick, as he bowed himself out and walked 1 away to the railroad station, whistling mer- rily.
 ''Gladiola, my pet, we have been euchred," grimly remarked Rufus Clingstone to his daughter moment later, after the two had compared notes.
 "Who would have thought that man could be so deceitful," remarked the maiden with sigh.-Arthur Lucas, in Epoch