Year: 1874

water in reply to some confidential beWalllng
on my part, "you're neglecting to invest a
splendid capital. If I had presence like
yours, I'd take advantage of it to do away
with the want of money at once and forever.
I'd marry money, and enough Of it to make
the future plain sailing. Do you suppose ma
ture gave you these advantages to let them
rust in idleness I? Don't hide your gifts in
napkin, my boy; make use of them while you
may; strike while the irons hot-in other
words, marry money while you are young and
handsome and attractive!"


I blushed with some kind of a feeling, a
mixture of offended pride and abased con.
sciousness that sneaking idea Of that kind
had already entered my head, of desire to
take advantage oft, and an ignorance of how
to 60 about it.


But Van helped me out.


"There's my cousin Gertrude" he said,
''she isn't bad looking woman. She's high
bred, you know, and all that sort of thing
high-nosed too, for all that matter, but not a
bad looking woman. Nothing would do for
her but tip-top appearance, majesty of form,
grace of demeanor, plenty Of style, and all
that. I'm afraid she'll be taken in some time
with the outside gliding, and marry some OF
these chaps who are always prowling around
women with money"


l looked at Van and burst out laughing.


"Well, but you are gentleman, Flthlan.
Hang it if mans gentleman, he can af-
ford to do anything. I happen to know that
she looks upon you with decided favor, and I
don't mind confessing I'd like the arrange
ment myself You see, it's great deal for
me to feel that can trust Gertrude's happi-
ness in your hands"


I knew what Van meant. He was working
hard for perennial fountain, as resource
on desperate occasions. But the best advice
isn't always free from sel6shness; perhaps a
goodly quantity of this modicum lends flavor
and strength to the persuasion, as it certainly
involves earnestness and sincerity.


Long after he went away that night
thought of the project, and by dint of severe
necessity and weighty prejudices, persuaded
myself that the sweet outfavored the bitter; !;
and perhaps it was the best, if not the only
way, out Of my present difficulties.


Resolving on immediate action, went to
work on the following morning with an ardor
worthy of better cause.


NV first visit, of course, was to my tailor.
I was indebted to this worthy tradesman for
the biggest part of the grace and elegance so
pathetically referred to by Vandewater, and
was perfectly we'll aware that without his aid
and art the fine castles reared during the pre-
ceding night would tumble ingloriously about
my ears l already owed him large sum of
money, the very immensity of which gave me
courage to ask for more. If he had been in
duced, I argued, to advance so much capital
with scarcely chance of interest alone, how
much easier it would be to secure more when
I was fully determined upon improving the
lucky elements which nature and himself had
thrown in my way?


1 found him in rather gloomy humor, and
his remarks were very depressing.


"The fact u.s." he said, "I'm tired of it..
There's got to be stop somewhere, Mr.. Filth.
ian. Me and my family is coming to ruin if
this goes on much longer. It's riot at home
and it's riot abroad, and flesh and blood can't
stand it. We've got to take back seat, me
and my family, while folks that we dress from
the skin out look down on US, and shove us
further to the wall. Ifthey see us at the opera
or church they're binder than bats, and walk
right over us but, mercy! how clever they
are when they come to the store!"


I gathered from these remarks that my
worthy patron had ventured into society late
ly, and had naturally come to grief.


"When you get tired of beating about the
bush, Bigby," l said, "I'll be glad to know
what's amiss. If it's the old thing about the
money can't help you, though l have cap:
ital chance of getting out of trouble if you'll
hold on while; but if it's anything else, I'll
do my best to explain it"


"It's that there charity concert, then," he
said, Indignantly. "Me and my wife and
daughter we went there the other night, and
Hattieshe was monstrous taken with young
gentleman few seats ahead of US. l don't
deny he always does honor to the clothes he
wears, and never did see a finer fit than that
there purple-black of yours-but my!
couldn't catch his eye, though 1 told Hattie
I knew him well he looked every where,
from the stage to the moon, but 1 couldn't
catch his eye. It's small matter to be civil,
sir, when it's cheap and wholesome-it
wouldn't a done bit Of harm to have given
a friendly nod or so, and it'd a pleased Hat
tie most wonderful"


"Why, heavens and earth, Bigby! I de-
clare to you didn't see you, upon my honor
I never caught glimpse of you'd have
been glad to recognize you, of course"


"Fine words don't butter no parsnips," said
the sulky merchant. II don't care button
for it myself, but it'd a been feather in
Hattie's cap!"


"Well, come now, Bigby," l continued,
somewhat touched by this paterna! affection,
"the next time you 60 out, le: HE know, and
I'll be on the qui vive. declare I'll do the
fair thing by you and your family-but to the
business in hand"


Then plunged into an ambiguous account
of project had for helping both him and
myself; referred lightly to my exalted family
and the immense influence my position in So
ciety to lent to our scheme. I soon succeeded
in winning him over to an unlimited credit
for knightly armor in the coming contest.


"Idon't deny" said the large-hearted knight
of the shears, "I'm proud you. There amt
thing you put on but gains by it somehow
or other. I made up bit of that there French
gray for Moffat, and he just degrades it; that's
what he does! There amt no more style
about him than there is in an elephant; but
I'll wager anything you'll look like prince
in it. I'll make singlebreasted cut-away
of it, and we'll just try it; that's what we'll
dor


Bigby grew happy, almost exultant, while
he was measuring me.


"What an honor it is" he said, "to have