Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-06-25

1885,
"a /, Edward Elmore,
had been for a cool half hour doing my
utmost to induce the old gentleman to
receive me as his son in law elect, and
by doing so cause two fond young
hearts to beat with ecstatic joy; for why
should | desire to conceal the fact that
] had the very greatest cause for be-
lieving that my darling Ethel fully re-
ciprocated my consuming passion}
That | had signally failed to make the
old gentleman see the interesting subject
in the light l wished him seemed only
too plain.
l was tolerably alive to the reason
why Mr.. Bulsale did not look with favor
upon my suit. Ny financial position was
not of the strongest, and there was a
certain Mr.. Sowerbutt, a much middle
aged individual, short mot of CASH and
fussy, and proprietor of ''Sowerbutt's
Sauce for the Million"
As the very particular crony of Mr..
Bulsale, the condiment c~oncocter was
naturally a frequent visitor at the for.
mer's residence at Brixton. l MALT sus.
pected that Sowerbutt had a silent regard
for Ethel, having, on more than one oc-
c%asion, caught him furitively casting
''sheep's eyes at my darling, when he
had doubtless imagined himself unob
served.
How | bad obtained a footing in the
Bulsale mansion was in this wise. | was
a clerk in the office of a fine old crusted
firm of family and c~onveyanclng So
licitors. Mr.. Bulsale was an Comment"
%auctioneer, and revelled in the s~atisfac-
ton of possessing an extensive aud
lucrative business, and, as he had many
transactions with our firm, he and [ were
in consequence thrown much together.
After a while Mr.. Bulsale seemed to take
a fancy to me, aud invited me to dine
with him at his house, and that visit
proved to be the f%orcruuner of many
more.
The keen man of business, who ever
had his eye on what is termed the main
chance, found me useful to him in many
ways, especially in what may be called
the Literary" part of his calling. | re-
fer to the composition of those entic-
lngly t1owery advertisements, setting
forth the varied attractions of charming
country retreats, and the delirious de
lights appertaining to magnificent man
sions, which from time to time Mr.. Bull
sale received instructions to offer for sale
to a yearning public.
/ reflected that TO keep a watchful eve
on Simon Sowerbutt [ must remain on
good terms with Mr.. Bulsale; so, with
this laudable object in view, l said, with
IN air of apparent resignation
81 trust, Mr.. Bulsale, that, although
sou cannot bring yourself to look upon
ne in the light of a possible son-in-law,
you will net prohibit my occasionally
cooking in upon you, as betore?'
"COme and see us whenever you like,
Foung man; but mind, don't let me
latch you making love to Ethel"
| thanked him, and then remarked /:
Il think may with truth say, Mr.. Bul-
'ale, that you have always e%njoye! the
little music that your daughter and
and myself have been in the habit Of
Of providing. Those little duets, for in
itance-you will not
"Well, no" the unsusptcting Bulsale
laid, slowly al see no reason why you
,hould rot, as before, indulge in a little
music, especially as l like it so muchl'
Of course, Bulsale was nothing if o a
little selfish.
Thought [ to myself. if two fond
%cearts, with the assistance of a piano
and sheet OF music, cannot make good
Use of the opportunities presented, and
1t the same time bamboOzle the unbend-
ng parent, my name is not Edward Ell
more.
Again l thanked the old gentleman
md then addressed him: "You have
been candid enough to indicate that you
lave no personal objection to me, only
Tou consider my means Inadequate to
maintain a wife in Il manner you would
ieem satisfactory
"That young man is precisely the state
If the poll
"And a very unsatisfactory con lition
+ L Is lUl INK L ~duSNttEhs IIEAIliA .
Now, would you mind telling me under
what condition of circumstances you
would be willing to bestow your daugh
er's hand
"And fortune" put in Mr.. BulsaIe
quickly,
"That, SIR l answered quietly, and,
trust, with dignity, ''was not my
boughts; l should be willing to. take
Gthoi without a penny. Try me-
Mr.. Bulsale said nothing, but took a
ilcnt pinch.
Under what circumstances, l re-
eeated, "would you consent to Eth.
iour daughter, becoming my wife,
al should be willing to listen to you
he said, when you possessed an income
,f-say seven hundred a rear
My heart sank to zero. Bulsale might
Just as well have stipulated for a mil,
IoD.
"Or," added the old gentleman, a
curious smile dilfusing itself over hi.
omewhat broad visage, as if he had just
hought Of something which nightly
icklcd him, ''or Ethel shall be yours to
ave and to hold, when | knock hel
Town to you; -twice-for the
bird and last time, going-going-
yonel'
1 nearly lost all patience with the old
GLOW for making no absurd, not to say
ulgar, a joke upon a subject SO sacreI
0 myself. Then it flashed across me
hat /, too, but Il few minutes previously
lad been guilty of similar tiippancy, and
thought l had better bottle up my
gEath and take my leave; so, wishing