Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1891-12-24
THE UNEXPECTED GUEST.
An Odd Christmas Story of Twin
Houses.


rich but conspicuously lacked common
sense. Nevertheless he was lucky to an
extent passing belief. Other men toiled
faithfully for years and used the best
Judgment, but their ventures failed.
Fate was their relentless enemy. Bou-
longer would do something which in
the eyes of the wise stamped him as a
fool, and yet his seemingly brainless act
would bring him small fortune.
His boyhood was one of ease, his
father being in good circumstances and
requiring nothing more of his son than
that he should go to school and college
and learn from books all that he could.
Rudolph had splendid memory, and
absorbed printed knowledge as readily
as a sponge sucks up water. He gave
no attention to anything except books
until the death of his father compelled
him to think how he should live and
pay his bills. The fortune left him was
modest, and his friends, knowing what
lamentably impractical person he was,
advised him to put his money in savings
bank, not to marry, and to live econom-
ically. He rejected their advice with
scorn. He wished to travel abroad and
enjoy luxuries. He invested nearly all
of his fortune in a gold mine. His
friends were horror stricken. They said
his money would surely be lost in the
wildcat scheme, and that, as he was ut
terly incapable of making living, he
would be obliged to go to the poorhouse,
and eventually, perhaps, to the retreat
for imbeciles. But to the surprise of the
foreboders the mine soon proved to be
one of the richest on this continent, and
in few years Rudolph possessed half
million dollars. Henceforth his career
was marked by a succession of lucky
blunders. He would buy real estate in
a wilderness where only the remains of
Indian tribes could be persuaded to
dwell, and in years time a railroad
would be run through his land and he
would sell building lots at a handsome
profit for the establishment of a village
He did other things equally absurd, but
made money every time.
In spite of his many eccentricities he
secured for wife beautiful and accom-
plished girl. How she ever allowed her
self to marry him was marvel to those
who knew them. But they appeared to
live happily together. Their children,
twins, named James and Edith, were
sensible like their mother.
The family resided in fine country
mansion about mile from the out
skirts of Boston. Their nearest neigh
Dor was well-to do farmer whose son,
John Hendrickson, sturdy and practi-
cal young man fell in love with Edith
Boulonger when she was eighteen years
old. But Mr.. Boulonger wished his
daughter to marry college-bred man
who was the descendant of an old and
cultured family. Another requirement
was that the suitor should either be rich
enough to lead life of elegant leisure
or else should be a professional man
doctor or lawyer admissible, but minis
ter preferred. That Edith should marry
a mere farmer was preposterous. More
over, Mr.. BoulOnger did not like Hend-
rickson for a reason that will later ap-
pear.
at will be useless to speak to father"
said Edith to John one Christmas eve.
"He will never consent to my marrying
you"
Nevertheless will speak to him" re-
piled the bold lover. He shall know
that l dare to face him."
Mr.. Boulonger sat in his library when
the young man was ushered into his
presence. The eccentric gentleman as
sumed an air Of dignity and clothed his
countenance with an 0minous frown.
He believed that his demeanor alone
would dishearten his intended victim.
But Hendrickson was not awed at all
Aristocratic pretentions had no effect
upon the independent American except
to make him despise them.
"You can never marry my daughter"
said Mr.. Boulonger, in weighty tones.
"Why?"
"For various reasons. The most i'm
portant one is that you do not belong to
cultured family and are not college
bred. You are neither an ATtium BGcc0-
Ldure1ts nor an ATtiun1 Ndgister. More
over, you deceived me when l bought
that Jersey COW of you. As soon as she
was in my stable l ordered my hired
man to milk her. He reported that he
could not obtain any milk. Thinking
the pail might leak, l ordered him to
go to tin shop and buy new, tight
pail. He at once obeyed He placed
the new mail under the COW and again
manipulated the udders. There was no
flow whatever. The cows bag was small
and shrunken. 1t was clear case of
desiccation. For lacteal purposes the
animal was useless. l sold her that very
day"
Hendrickson could scarcely restrain a
shout of laughter.
"There was nothing the matter with
the cow" he exclaimed. 81 had MIXED
her just before sending her to your place
and of course her bag was empty"
Rudolph was not astonished. Evi-
dences of his cupidity were too frequent
ly brought to his attention to cause him
any uneasiness. Moreover he was too
pigheaded to acknowledge an unwel-
come truth while he could think of anv
pretext with which to combat it.
"An ingenious excuse on your part.
he replied stifiiy, "but it will net answer.
You must recollect that | have studied
the genus bovine scientifically 1 have
10 Al.
ing and nurture of cattle and TO the dis
eases to which they are liable. L have
read every one Of these books through
and can speak with an authority un-
known to the empirical farmers in |
this neighborhood. know when COW
is in a normal condition; and l say that
the Jersey that you sold me was far
row COW that had long ceased to yield
any lacteal fluid"
Hendrickson soon left in disgust. Had