The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-10-29
CICBLY'S MARRIAGE.
(From The Argosy.)

Shli WlCoSC LILO OA$ A 0S<SN
these three particles OF information to
any person over the age of five-and-
twenty, he or she Immediately made
answer, either by the opinion, H
ought to marry" or by the question,
why doesn't he marry" It is true
that n lady, on learning his chief
points Of social interest, had exclaimed,
Dear me! He is wiser than Solo
mon." but then she was eccentric, and
had had three husbands.
John Green was not good-looking. He
was loose knit and wore a heavy,
square brown beard; but there was a
kindly humor in his eye that told OF
charity within, and was vastly attrac-
tive to children and some others who
were shy in conversation.
He was a stockbroker in a very large
way of business, being sole partner
in the firm Of Green, Richards & Van
Schaacht. Richards had been dead for
ten years or more, and Van Schaacht,
an Americanized German Jew, had
settled permanently in New York as a
banker and broker, to look after the
American interests of the English firm.
Green, Richards & Tar Schaacht
were wha is known as arbitrageurs
which means that with the aid of the
cable, they did business between Lon
don and New YorA or Amsterdam.
buying on one market and selling on
another. It was responsible work, de-
manding great quickness and energy,
n necessitating, moreover, heavy
transactions at the end of the day
owing to the difference in the time be-
tween England and America.
John Green was a man who liked to
do things himself, and he had nc con-
fidential clerk to whom he cared to
cav important matters. Consequently
it was often 7 or 8 o'clock before he
got away from the city. Then he
would go to his club for dinner, n af-
terward play pool or billiards until it
was sufficiently late to go to bed. One
day was very much like another, ex-
cept that on Saturday he was able to
dine earlier, inc SO sometimes went to
a theatre. On Sunday, If the weather
was fine, he often walked out to see an
aunt who lived at Hendon. She had
educated him after his parents death,
and he was very fond of her. He did
not are for going much into society,
because, as he said, the men seemed to
hin he could talk Of nothing but
business, and the women seemed to
think he could talk of nothing but nom
sense. Il dare say they are right" he
like to be reminded of it,"
One Sunday his aunt told him she
was expecting "a visitor.
"Oh, really! Who's that?" he asked,
stirring his tea slowly.
"Well, she's a daughter of a very old
friend Of mine, who. poor soul. has
lately died. Mrs. Walters. John; I
daresay you have heard me speak of
her. She left me a little legacy by her
will, and asked me to look after Cicely
as far as I could. I don't think it's
right for a girl Of her age to live
alone, so I have asked her to come and
stay here until she has time to look
round and make a better arrange
ment. She is a nice little thing, and
shall be glad to have her."
Yes, Aunt Jane, 1 think that will be
a capital plan; but 1 suppose I sham
be wanted any more on Sundays?"
"Now. John, don't be foolish, but
pass your cup for some fresh tea: tina,
must be quite cold"
John smiled and gave her the cup.
The next Sunday was wet, and the
Sunday after that John was obliged tC
pay a call which he had been long ow-
ing, so it was three weeks before he
went to HendOn again.
1t was a very hot day, and he walked
with his WaiStcOat unbuttOned and his
straw hat far back on his head. As
the public-hOuse in the village was
closed, he thought he would approach
his aunt's house by the back way and
ask William, the butler, to find him &
bottle of beer. He lounged at the door
which opened or to the little red-tile6
yard, while William placed a tumble1
on the window sill, and drew the cork
John watched the beer a~pprovingly a:
it frothed into the glass with a velvety
hOn-fOn AGAINST the side
Good beer, William" he said, hold
ing it up to the light. IT suppose vol
drink it yourself?"
yes, sir; sometimes"
AS the glass emptied and he looked
through the bottom of it, he saw some
one in a pink dress watching him from
behind the hedge, where the chicken!
were kept. 1t seemed to him that sht
looked different from other women, and
he set down his tumbler sharply, say
ing: Who's that in the chicken
yard?"
Miss Cicely, I expect, SIR"
Miss Cicely! Who's Miss Cicely'
Oh, I remember"
He buttoned his waistcoat hastily
and walked round to the other side O.
the hedge. Cicely Walters looked w
as he came toward her. 'I beg you
PARDON" he began, but I think yOl
must be Miss Walters, and as you ar
likely to see a great deal more Of m
than you will care for, I think I ough
to introduce myself with as little della!
as possible.*"
Miss Walters laughed, and made
some conventional remark of greeting
Decidedly" John thought, "she il
different from other women. I wondeI
what it is?"
Have you been robbing the nests?'
he asked her.
Yes; I've found two eggs; yesterda.
there were -four. 1 believe the cat eat
some.'
DO you always feed the chickens il
the afternoon"
Nearly always, except when it.!
wet"
Curiously enough, John always re
membered this on his subsequent visits
although he forgot far more importan
matters, such as business appoint
ments and invitations to at homes.
IaLp aSlzol urblro his aunt MaS