Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-12-17
CHAPTER III.


Portable dining room Of Mannersley, the
Pearmans, father and son, are sitting.
The old man has turned seventy, and
can hardly be said to look as if his
money-grubbing career had agreed with
him. He is shrunk and worn, with
stoop in his shoulders. Altogether, he
wears the aspect of a man whose con-
stitution is beginning to break up. Wealth
is not amassed without much wear and
tear of mind and constitution, and your
great turf spectators seldom attain a
patriarchal age. He draws his chair
closer to the blazing CRATE.
Il think I've got bit of cold, Sam"
he remarked. Better me than Coriander,
though, isn't it,"
well. father, am sorry for you but
don't suppose it will be much harm in
your case"
How did he go this morning."
well, l wasn't there; but Stephen
he keeps right, he'll about win the Two
Thousand.
Yes chuckled the old man. I've
been racing now getting on fifty years,
and | don't think | ever saw my way
into a much better thing than this looks
like. We've got on, too, at very pretty
price, take it all around. 1t will be a
hottish Monday for some of them"
Il hope 50; but there's one or two
things | want to talk to you about.
There's young Sheffington; he's a crack
Drained young fool, and I've got him
down in my book to the tune of loser of
twelve hundred if Coriander wins. Now,
you have done business with him-is he
good for that amount?"
Eyes, Sam-yes Wen get that from
him in time; but | doubt there'll be a bit
of waiting for it. Don't take long odds
from him again. What else?"
well, Washington stands to lose a
thousand to US. He doesn't bear the
character of a very good pay"
He's the biggest thief in England;
| but he'll pay me, though he don't every
body" ,
And why you, in particularly inquired
his son.
| Because he made a mistake about his
name in early life, Sam; and he is quite
aware that | know it, and could rake up
evidence enough against him, if he irri-
tated me, 70 make things, to say the
least of it. very unpleasant, as far as he
| is concerned"
Good Then. with little pressure,
| that'Il be good money, if it's won, eh?"
Just So" nodded the fathe
Now, We'll come to something else.
Just listen to this. I've pretty well come
to the conclusion that l had better get
married"
| Il don't see any reason you should
not on the contrary, ! should like to
see it. Not going to make fool of your
self, l suppose" '-and the old man look
ed keenly at his son.
Tell you more about it when it comes
off but certainly not, | think. in the de-
| sign. We've made good bit of money
between us. I'm not going to say it ism
| most of it yours; still, since | have been
having share in the concern, I've put
some together myself. Now, what l want
in marriage is connection more than
money"
"Yes-yes. | think You are right; but
there will be ifficulties-dificulties,
fear"
"Of course there will. to a certain ex-
tent; there always is about getting any
thing worth having in this world; but
| money is a key to most things nowadays.
| Tottering coronets must be propped by
wealthy alliances. The parson or doctor
marries the rich tallow chandler's widow
! Marriage is a social contract in these
| times A hundred thousand pounds from
! Manchester stands out for strawberry
leaves in the coronet, while a fifth of the
money from birmingham is quite content
with HanCra hla Wall IN
return to what | was saying, you agree
with me that l must look out more for
connection than money, don't you?"
Yes, | think that's best but it would
do no harm if you could see your way
into a trife of property besides"
Exactly. | was at the minister ball
| last night, and the prettiest girl in the
room was the daughter of old Denison of
GIinn. | got introduced to her; danced
with her, and did quite as well as anyone
could expect to do in a first dance-just
made her acquaintance, in fact. Now
| that's the lady I've marked down as my
| intended"
Yes" said the old man muslngly,
that might do if we could bring it about :;
but he's proud man. the father-very.
We'll come to that presently. Just
| listen while | reckon up all the advan-
tages. First of ali, have taken a fancy
! to the girl. She's a real beauty, every
inch of her. In the next place, she's
an only child. Consequently, it's only
| fair to suppose that Glinn and what's
| left with it will eventually fall to her.
| We have got most of the old property
now and that would insure the whole
thing being in our hands at last
Yours. Sam, yours. 1t is not likely
! I'd last to see it. Harold Denison is full
twenty years younger than | am and his
wife is younger again; they'll see me
out boy"
Well, father, its no use denying it
may be so. STILL in days to come, |
should be Pearman of Glinn; and with
a wife of their own class, it would be
hard if | didn't take my place in the
county"
Yes, you should manage it, though l
have failed; but you've had advantages
| | hadn't Sam. You've pull you see,
| in education; | hadn't much. The art
of making money taught myself. and it
| didn't leave time for learning deal of
anything else. You start with a tidy lot
made: and l think have shown you
enough to insure your not making ducks
| and brakes of it."
No, don't think I shall hurt. l can
take care of myself pretty we'll at most
| games on the board. l never dabble in
anything | don't understand. Don't yc
make yourself uneasy about me. go
ernor. Now. Denisou is poor man. is
he not?"
Yes; he has we'll on to three thou
sand a year nominal rental left still !;
but there's more than one mortgage on
the property, let alone other charges"
Haven't you some money on the prop
erty yourself?''
Ten thousand. Sam. and I'm first
mortgage; but | know there's a second
mortgage of the same amount. and there
may be more for all | know"
! Well. these, you see. are all points in
| my favor. We could make this first mort
gage quite EASY for him. at all events"
- ,E