Year: 1874

was young man possessed OF suffi-
cient means to enable me to live at my
ease and refrain from labor Of any kind
when suddenly there came blow that
scattered my prosperity to the winds and
forced me to employ my labor aud wits N
the general struggle Of gaining a living.
The blow came in the shape of the failure
Of large firm where my capital was in
vested.


After securing cltakship in the house
Of one Of the late creditors Of the frm, INV
first care was to look up less expensive
boarding house than the fashionable one
in which | was living.


inserted an advertisement in several
widely circulated city papers. asking for
reasonable board in n strictly private fam
ily. and Of course I received . multitude
Of answers by the next post.


Out Of this motley installment Of epis-
ties there was but one that pleased me,
and that one decided to answer in per.
son Immediately.


Grace Kingsly was the name of the ia
vored landiady writing to me. and the let.
ter stated that her house was entirely pri-
vate. having no boarders whatever.
was much pleased with tho fair. delicate
hand dwri,ing. and the idea took posses
sion Of me that Grace was . young and
fascinating widow.


! was not disappointed when reached
the house. and on ringing at the door bell
was answered by the lady herself. She
invited me into the parlor in q manner so
courteous yet SO modest. that had fallen
desperately in love with her before could
cross the threshold.


l enjoyed a very pleasant chat with
Mrs. Kingsly. During the conversation
she Informed me that her late husband
had been in fair way of business. and
at his death. which had occurred q year
previous. had left her in pretty comforta-
bic circumstances. They had but one
child. and this item Of morality was most
graciously permitted to look upon as it
lay peacefully slumbering in its cradle
l also learned that the lady was living in
the house quite alone. and desired male
boatder more as means Of protection than
rs . source Of revenue.


To be brief. the landlady looked so
pretty (she Was quite young. not more
than two or three ard twenty) aud the
board so moderate. her companionship so
inviting. and she seemed to trust in me
and look upon me so favorably. I would
have been heather. dead to all charms
and Inducements Of the sex. il 4 had not
engaged board on the spot.


The next day l had my trunk moved
to my new boarding place. aud perma-
nen,ly established myself there.


Before leaving my former boarding
house letter was handed me BY the post
man. but didu't find time to examine it
until was comfortably ensconced in the
parlor of Mrs Kingsly's cozy house.


Opening the letter. I discovered il to be
from a wealthy uncle of mine residing in
Vermont. who regularly sent me a letter
once year. but whom had never seen.
His epis,les were always short aud to the
point. generally consisting Of an account
OF the weather in his locality aud good ad-
vice to me to take care Of nay money. NJ
might be burdcned With some Of il before
l vas much older.


l vas always glad to get this advice
from him. as regarded il ss m insima-
ton that Was to inherit bis wealth on his
decease.


One day. however. about . year pre-
vious. | received letter from him which
contained another topic besides those I
have mentioned. My uucle had made
some pressing inquiries respecting nv
matrimonial prospects, and stated that II
! sas not already married should iume.