The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1893-04-06
Money VS.. Love.

|
And then I covcrtly looked in the
glass, SO as to better calculate my
chances matrimonial.
1t wasn't very satisfactory sur
vcy. | am not handsome man. But
there's one advantage / possess that
is worth all the beauty in creation.
Torquatus Thistlcdown, Esquire,
President of the Thittlcdown Petro-
leum Company, with the handsomest
watch in the bay, and money enough
to freight it with golden cargo!
Youth-beauty-what do they weigh
in the balance against Torquatus
Thistlcdown?
And I patted my pocket with a
chuckle that sounded like the chink
Of doubloons!
"1'll do it ~ exclaimed aloud.
Bruce Hardcnbrook glanced slecpi-
" up from his armchair in the bay
window and took cigar out of his
mouth.
"What's that You're going to do,
Thistlcdown?" asked Bruce.
"To be married." | added slowly
and distinctly, "to Miss Fanny Cor
don.
Bruce started. All the world was
quite aware that he was dangling
after pretty Fanny Gordon-as if a
clientlcss yong lawyer had any right
to aspire the hand Of the lovclicst girl
in New York!
care you engaged to her, Mr.. This
tledown?" he asked.
"No-not exactly engaged-that is,
not as yet; but | mean to be. shall
consult Mr.. Gordon this very after
noon-an old friend of mine, Job
Gordon. He'll refuse ME nothing"
Bruce Hardenbrook made no reply.
He resumed his newspaper and tried
to look Indifferent with remarkably
bad success.
SO | put on my hat and strolled
down to honest Job Gordon's count
ing-house:
:.Thistledown, how dye do?" lie
cordially said. "What can / do for
you to-day?'
"a great, deal Mr.. Gordon re-
sponded, | am contemplating mat
rimony; and-I would like the weight
Of your influence with your daughter
Fanny. | adore Fanny, sir-l wor-
ship her-and l don't mind telling
YOU that it is within her option at
this moment to become Mrs. Torqua-
tus Thistledown.' ~
Mr.. Gordon rung my hand heartily.
"Torquatus," he calculated, breath
lessly, "you're trump. My daugh
ter, Mrs. Petroleum Company-no,
| don't mean that cxactly-but-but
] only hope YOU aren't too late"
"roo lato," | gaspod, making a
clutch at my yellow silk pocket
handkerchief and wiping the drops
away from the bald spot on the crown
ofmy head.
"Thcrc was young fellow here
this very morning." went on MIR.
Gordon, rumpling his hair about with
one hand in distracted manner,
"upon the self-samo business, and
"Not Bruce Hardcnbrook?"
eyes, Bruce Hardenbrook-thc
very pcrson-and told him toll
gave him my sanction. and I've just
sent up note to Fanny, desiring her
to have no hesitation in promptly
accepting the gentlemen who would
propose to her this afternoon.
"But," added the old gentleman,
with sudden inspiration, 81 didn't
mention any names, thank goodness,
and | don't see, upon my word, why
the note shouldn't answer for you
lust as we'll as for Bruce Harden
brook, if you only get there little
ahead of him
AS hailed the nearest omnibus
and leaped in the iron tongue of old
Trinity tollel 6 in deep has monosyl-
ables. perhaps-perhaps I might
yet be in time.
Fanny was at home, for as | rang
the bell | saw the Autter of her blue
muslin dress from the French win.
dows that onened upon the balcony