The St. Johns herald., 1899-05-13
> R. ROBERT BUCHANAN call

H R. ROBERT BUCHANAN call
 ed on his old bachelor uncle one N afternoon in answer to a note. He was not in particularly pleasant frame of mind. AS he rang the bell he was thinking what very weary world this is for a young medical gentleman who has not enough of this world goods to fell Justified in asking the loveliest girl in the world, Enid Hum phrey, to become his wife.
 When ushered into the library, how ever, he answered his uncle's greeting with as cheery a nod as he could man. age, the two being really fond of each other.
 "Well, Robert" said the old gentle man, getting down to business at once. "I want to talk to you about your med ical practice; how is it progressing"
 "I am glad to be able to say that progressing is the right word, Uncle Tom. but 1t is slow"
 "Of course it is slow; what else did you expect? Let's see, you have been back from the university three yearsY'
 ''Yes, sir"
 'Now, I will tell you what the trouble is: you need wife. You must marry and settle down."
 q have known that for some time, '' Dr. Buchanan gloomily assented.
 Have you? That is a good sign. When a man knows what he wants he is halfway on the road to its posses sion. Why don't you get you wife?'
 "MoneyP' said Dr. Buchanan, brief ly.
 "You mean lack of money, suppose? Now, how much would you consider necessaryT
 with $1O,OOO and my practice-for that Is sure to increase-I would feel safe in making the venture"
 "Yes. that ought to start you. sup pose you haven't picked out the girl yet? Now, am going to make you an offer. The day you tell me some nice, sensible girl has promised to marry you l will give you my check for S10,000 along with my blessing. What do you sayF"
 ''I say it is q go." and Robert grasped his uncles hand.
 "Very good, but that Is not all. Of course, my boy, do not want to inter- fere in your affairs, but-you know Enid Humphrey, of cOurseY
 "Yes."
 "Well, her mother and l were great friends: it amounted to a deal more on my part, and that is your old uncle's romance. Now, my boy, l could not get the mother. but if you, my nephew, should happen to get the daughter should be very glad-and Robert, not meaning to use any undue influence, you understand, I would make that check. say $25,000."
 Robert seized his uncles hand and worked it up and down 800 to the min ute, his face beaming with delight and gratitude.
 Uncle Tom," he gasped, 'you arc a brick of purest ray serene. You sit right down and fill out that check, and I will be back for 1t in twenty minutes" i" and he was gone.
 "Lord bless my soulw said the aston ished old gentleman. "I was evidently mistaken about his not having yet pick ed out a girl"
 Twenty minutes after leaving his uncle's house he was sitting by her side, an engaged man and one of the happieSt in the universe. He told her the exact day and minute when he first knew he loved her, she reciprocated, all was bliss.
 Finally Robert declared that he must go. "YOu see," he said, ''I have a very Important engagement with Uncle Tom. In fact, my dear," with q grin. it is a matter of bread and butter for two '" ''I don't understand"
 of course not; women never do un- derstand that part of it. But l am going to clinch that very necessary ad- junct to matrimonial happiness this very afternoon.
 What on earth are you talking about, R-Robert?"
 "It is very simple. About an hour ago Uncle Tom made me an offer; promised to give m" check for $25, 1000 the instant that could tell him that you had promised to be my wife"
 "Oh, indeedr'
 "Yes, real clever in the old boy, wasn't it"' said Robert. with a dim perception that somebody had blum dered.
 "Very clever. indeed. And very clever In you to take such quick advantage of so generous an offer."
 "Why, great goodness"
 "But you are not so shrewd," she hur- ried on, fin telling me so soon of the great inducement that brought you here this afternoon"
 Enid, dear"
 "NIiss Humphrey, if you please, Dr. Buchanan"
 Don't be sarcastic and angry. You know that I love you; that for two years I have not had a thought but for you and of you. This offer of my uncle's was made in the kindest spirit He knew that my practice was not suf- 6cient to justify me in speaking to any girl of marriage, and like the dear old fellow that he is, he came to my rescue He had previously offered me $10,OO0