Nevada County picayune., 1891-12-24
THE UNEXPECTED GUEST.
An Old Christmas Story of Twin
 Houses.


 Rudolph Boulonger was very ec- centric, very peculiar. He was learn- ed and rich but conspicuously lack ed common sense. Nevertheless he was lucky to an extent passing be- lief. Other men toiled faithfully for years and used the best judgment, but their ventures failed. Fate was their relentless enemy. Boulonger would do something which in the eyes of the wise stamped him as a fool. and yet his seemingly brainless act would bring him a small fortune.
 His boyhood was one of ease, his father being in good circumstances and requiring nothing more of his son than he should go school and col lege and learn from books all that he could. Rudolph had a splendid memory, and absorbed printed knowledge as readily as a sponge sucks up water. He gave no atten- ton 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, know ing what q lamentably impracticable person he was, advised him to put his money in savings banks, not to marry, and to live economically. He rejected their advice with scorn. He wished To travel abroad and en- joy luXuries. He invested nearly all of his fortune in gold mine. His friends were horror-stricken They said his money would surely be lost in the widest scheme, and that, as he was utterly incapable of making a living, he would be ob-  liged to go to the poorhouse, and eventually, perhaps, to the retreat for imbeciles. But to the surprise of the foreboders, the mine soon prov ed to be one of the richest on this continent and in few years Ru- dolph possessed q half million dol lars. Henceiorth his career was marked by a succession of lucky blunders. He would buy real estate l in wilderness where only the re- mains of Indian tribes could be per suaded to dwell, and in year S i time a railroad would be run through his land and he would sell building lots at handsome profit for the es- tabhshment of a village. He dld other things equally absurd, but made money every time.
 In spite of his many eccentricities he secured for a wife beautiful and accomplished glrl. How she ever allowed herself to marry him was a marvel to those who knew them. But they appeared to live happily together, Their children, twins, named James and Edith, were sen sible like their mother.
 The family resided in fine coun- try mansion about mile from the outskirts of Boston. Their nearest neighbor was well-to-dO farmer whose son John Hendrickson, a stur- dy and practical young man, fell in love with Edith Boulonger when she was eighteen years old. But Mr. Bouonger wished his daughter to marry a college-bred man who was the decendant of an old and cultur' ed family. Another requirement was that the suitor should either be
 
 rich enough to lead life of elegant leisure or else should be profes' sional man; doctor or lawyer admis- sible, but minister preferred. Thai Edith should marry mere farmer was preposterous. Moreover, Mir Boulonger did not like Hendrickson for q reason that will later appear.
 Ut will be useless to speak to fa- ther." said Edith to John one Christ mas eve. He will never give his consent to my marrying you.
 Nevertheless l will speak tC him, |" replied the bold lover, "H' shall know that l dare to force him.
 Mir. Boulonger sat ip his library when the young man was ushere' into hls presence. The eccentric gentleman assumed an air of dignity and clothed his countenance with al ominous frown. He believed thai t;, lonaopor olnnp voilld dishpnrtp,