The Portland daily press., 1892-06-18

"Once more, Mr.. Elmore, ! repeat
cannot entertain your proposal for my
daughters hand"
"But consider, Mr.. Bulsale, Ethel and
love each other to, distraction"
'Pshawp contemptuously exclaimed
the unrelenting father of the dear girl
fondly adored.
1, Edward Elmore, had been for a
good half hour doing my very utmost to
convince the old gentleman that it would
be utterly impossible for him to discover
a better way of inaugurating the new
year than by receiving 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 l had the very greatest
cause for believing that my darling
Ethel fully reciprocated my consuming
passion?
That had signally failed to make the
old gentleman see the interesting sub
ject in the light I wished him seemed
only too plain.
was tolerably alive to the reason why
Mr.. Bulsale did not look with favor
upon my suit. My financial position
was certainly not Of the strongest, and
there was a certain Mr.. Sowerbutt,
much middle aged individual, short (not
of cssh) and fussy, and proprietor of
"Sowerbutt's Sauce for the Million"
AS the very particular crony of Mr..
Bulsale, the condiment concoctor was
naturally a frequent visitor at the for
mer's residence at Brixton. | half sus-
pected that Sowerbutt had a silent re-
gard for Ethel, having on more than
one occasion caught him furtively cast
ing ''sheep's eyes, at my darling when
he had doubtless imagined himself un-
observed.
How | had obtained footing in the
Bulsale mansion was in this wise: was
a clerk in the Office of a fine old crusted
firm of family and conveyancing sohc-
itors. Mr.. Bulsale was an eminent"
auc6oneer and reveled in the satisfac-
ton of possessing an extensive and lucra-
tive business and, as he had many trans
actions with our firm, he and were in
consequence thrown much together
After awhile Mr.. Bulsale seemed to take
fancy to me, and invited me to dine
with him at his house, and that visit
proved to be the forerunner of many
more.
The keen man of business, whoever
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. Ire
fer to the composition of those enticing-
1y flowery advertisements, setting forth
the varied attractions of charming coun-
try retreats and the delirious delights
appertaining to magnificent mansions,
which from time to time MIR. Bulsale
received instructions to offer for sale to
yearning public.
reflected that to keep a watchful eye
on Simon Sowerbutt ! must remain ON
good terms with Mr.. Bulsale; so with
this laudable object in view | said, with
an air Of apparent resignation:
II trust, Mr.. Bulsale, that although
you cannot bring yourself to look upon
LILO III tuo AlSnb VI d poSSlplo Sou-lH-ldW
you will not prohibit my occasionally
looking in upon you as before?"
''Come and see us whenever you like,
young man; but mind, don't let me catch
you making love to Ethel"
! thanked him, and then remarked:
81 think may with truth say, Mr.. Bull
sale, that you have always enjoyed the
little music that your daughter and
and myself have been in the habit of
of providing. Those little duets, for
instance-you will not ...
: = "Well, no." the unsuspecting Bulsale
said slowly. 81 see no reason why you
should not. as before, indulge in a little
music, especially as l like it so muchF'
Of course Bulsale was nothing if not q
little selfish.
Thought I to myself, if two fond
hearts, with the assistance Of piano
and sheet music, cannot make good
use of the opportunities presented, and
at the same time bamboozle the unbend'