The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1914-11-12

ooeo6.
was thinking so busily that hare
ly heard the conversation that was u
king place until suddenly Mary spraas
out Of her chair and came over to me,
her eyes beaI7ing.
Anne" she cried. why didn't you
tell met"
Tell you-f" muttered absently.
THAT you were engaged" !" said Mary,
looking hurt and reproachful. 20, I'm
/ so glad and proud Of you, Annel And
will you both promise faithfully to
come to Canada when the next school
year ends?"
Then, like worm that turns, Mr..
Spratt turned himself about in his
chair.
Speaking Of the school year." be
said, ARE you aware, Miss Anne, that
under law you forfeit your contribu-
tions to the teachers pension fund.-"
Dear me, how dreadful" answered
sarcastically. ut is such a serious
matter"
1T is serious" answered Mr. Spratt,
hugging himself, not by reason of the
amount involved, but because 1t strikes
at a principle deeply rooted in the
laws and customs of the Angio-Saxon
race-it penalties marriage. Now IN
France they manage things differC mt
ly. The admirable Code Napoleon, rs
you have doubtless read in the copy Of
my work which presented to you---"
Dear me, Mr.. Spratt, will you be
very offended If mention that didnt
quite finish it?" inquired.
THAT admirable compilation. the
Code Napoleon" he resumed, distinct
| ly lays down the principle that the be-
trothal of minor annuls all pecuniary
contracts that have not been actually
put into execution. Consequently un-
der the code your pension fund would
be returnable."
But am not a minor" interrupt
ed.
THE age of majority, under the
Code Napoleon, is not necessarily
twenty-one, Miss Anne" said Mr..
Spratt in grave rebuke. For certain
purposes, as this, it is twenty-five. In
other cases"
saw the banker drop his titfe deeds
and grasp at the seat of his chair. His
face was drawn and tense. Next mo-
ment amazed Mr.. Spratt by springing
to his side and clasping both his hands
in mine.
Say that again; didn't catch it."
painted. Under the Code Napoleon
am a minor for financial purposes and
the-the betrothal-"
THE betrothal of a minor annuls
all contracts of a pecuniary nature,
that have not actually been carried
into effect" reiterated Mr.. Spratt.
Therefore"
"My dearest Anne, what are you
driving at?" asked Charles.
I walked over to Mr. Magniff
"My bonds" said, and flung down
his receipt before him.
He rose up, tottering, and grasped
the edge of the table.
ut has been carried into effect" he
almost screamed. you can have the
money at once--before six o'clock.
don't mind renewing the MORTGAGE
was-meant to all along. I-I-I-"
"My bonds, please" repeated quiet
ly.
"I'll give you a hundred thousand for
them, then" he cried. "You wouldn't
rob me, bankrupt me, by legal trick
like that? You're people of honor
That's all very well for tricky trades
men, but not for the DIVES. You can't
afford to play trick like that on me-
my bonds, Mr.. Magniff." reiterated
implacably.
Charles came up and placed his arm
round me. He understood.
mo, let him keep the bonds, Anne,
he said. He's right. We don't dc
things like that"
"Then," l said decisively, you must
keep Clichy That is the price of them
Do you agree?" continued turning tc
Magniff.
He groaned as though my words haG
been a thrust of sword. | pushed
some paper toward him and, dipping q
quill into the ink, placed it in his
hands.
Write" said, debating. For value
received, namely bonds q enumerated
them) now in my possession, hereby
agree to relinquish to Anne Ives al
rights that possess to the castle ant
estate of Clichy, together with thu
mortgage upon the same, which nov
hold, and all the accumulated interest
Is that legal?" l asked, turning to thu
astounded Mr. Spratt.
!, Irregular, but unassailable undel
the Code," answered the little man
, rising heroically TO the occasion.
, Magniff signed his name and Estell'
and Charles affixed their signatures a.
witnesses.
"Now go, Mr.. Magniff," said
pointing to the door. And, If you cal
profit by it, take with you that for
giveness which you yourself denied.
Mary and Mr.. Spratt have promised
, to spend their honeymoon with Charles
and me at Clichy next July. "And al
, that regret" wrote Mary in her las
7 letter, "is that you have had nearly
YEARS start of US in matrimony. BU
7 you haven't had any start Of Us Il
: sheer and undiluted happiness"
"WeIl take them riding in our pev
aeroplane," said Charles, when he Ia
read Mary's letter. Then we wen
out to look at her in the new hanga'
, Charles says that when aviation b.
comes safer he'll let me ride agaif
r / But after my fight to Corsica I'm nc
: .sure that shall ever want to.
=: Charles pointed to the name upol
. Cher frame, and smiled. THAT vii
puzzle your friends" he said. "The