The Portland daily press., 1892-06-18
ing parent, my name is not Edward Ell

Again thanked the old gentleman,
and then addressed him, "You have
been candid enough to indicate that you
have no personal objection to me, only
you consider my means inadequate to
maintain wife in a manner you would
deem satisfactory"
'That, young man, is precisely the
state of the poll"
"And very unsatisfactory condition
tits for me, answered ruefully. ''Now,
would you mind telling me under what
conditions or circumstances you would
be willing to besbow your daughters
hand"-
"And fortune" put in Mr.. Bulsale
quickly.
"That. SIR" answered quietly and,
| trust, with dignity, twas not my
thoughts; | should be willing to take
Ethel without penny. Try me-"
Mr.. Bulsale said nothing, but took a
silent pinch
Under what circumstances" l re-
peated, would you consent to Eth
your daughter, becoming my wifey'
81 should be willing to listen to you,"
he said, when you possess an income of
say seven hundred a year.
My heart sank to zero. Bulsale might
just as well have stipulated for mil
lion.
.'Or," added the old gentleman, curl
GUS smile diffusing itself over his some
what broad visage, as if he had just
thought of something which nightly
tickled him, "or Ethel shall be yours to
have and to hold, when knock her down
to you u-once-twice-for the third and
last time, going-going-gonep
nearly lost all patience with the old
foo--fellow for making SO absurd, not to
say vulgar, a joke upon subject so
sacred to myself. Then it flashed across
me that |. too. but few minutes pre-
viously had been guilty of similar flip
pancy, and thought had better bottle
up my wrath and take my leave; so,
wishing Mr.. Bulsale good morning, l
made for the door.
Good morning, my dear SIR" re-
sponded the eminent salesman blandly.
That evening. as the clocks were
striking 5, l was on Mr.. Bulsales front
doorstep, armed with new piece of
music, over which a few minutes later
Ethel and were bending our heads in
delightful proximity, while papa, in his
favorite chair, took alternate whiffs at
his churchwarden and sips at his glass
of mountain dew.
In soft whispers, through the music,
informed Ethel of all that had trans
pired during my interview with her re-
vered but unbending parent. The
darling girl quite agreed with me re-
garding the untimeliness of the pleas
antry her father had indulged in, though
at the same time she deyoutly wished
she could be knocked down" to myself,
of course.
During the evening Sowerbutt put in
an appearance, and the piano had to be
closed. Then followed discussion over
sale of small but valuable lot of an
tique furniture, which Mr.. Bulsale was
going to hold in few days at his ex-
tensive mart. There was also the proof
of the advertisement to look over, to
which, as usual, | added little en-
bellishment Mr.. Bulsale descantedul-
oquently upon the beauty and value of
several of the articles which would very
likely 20 into the brokers' hands for a
mere song, particularly" he observed
as he warmed up professionally, "a
large cabinet or wardrobe, beautifully
carved and very substantial, no gim-
crack work"
Just the very thing / should like"
exclaimed Sowerbutt. "It would come
in handy in case--if ever-I should get
married, you know" And the man Of
sauce cast a look at Ethel, which no
doubt he intended should convey a
world of significance.
At IL we broke up, Sowerbutt and
going part of the way together to our
respective homes. The purveyor again
intimated his fixed determination to se-
cure the large cabinet, provided the fig
ure was not run up too high. Sowerbutt
was a very careful, not to say stingy,
man, considering the pot of money he
had made with the "Sauce for the Mil
lion," which, by the way, candor COM
pels me to admit was a very relishing
condiment and deserved the enormous
sale it enjoyed.
AS was seated at my modest morn
ing meal on the day of the sale Of the
antique furniture, fell to musing on
the probable amount old Sowerbutt
would bid up to for the ancient cabinet.
"Tallygraff, sir" said Mary Jane,
bursting in upon me.
Ineyer could get that handmaiden to
say telegram. Opening the buff colored
dispatch read. Purchase at sale this
morning lot No. II at any COST Do
not fail your Ethel"
$50, Mr. Sowerbutt," ] murmured,
you are going to be done out of your
contemplated purchase. But what on
earth can Ethel want with the cabinet,
and at any cost too?' However, had
little time to use in vain speculations, so
set off to the scene of operations, look
ing in at the office on the way to make
excuses for my absence. arrived at the
mart just as the third lot was being