Year: 1873

L


IA HURRIED coURTSHIP


was young man, possessed of suffi


cient means to enable me to live at my


ease, and refrain from labor of an


kind, when suddenly there came blow


which scattered my prosperity to til,


winds, and forced me to employ my la.


Dor and wits in the general struggle o.


gaining living. The blow came il


the shape of the failure of large firm


in which all my capital was invested.


After securing a clerkship in the house


of creditor of our late firm, my first


care was to look up less expensive


boarding house than the one in which


was living. Il inserted an advertisement


in several widely circulated city papers


asking for reasonable board in strict


ly private family and of course received


multitude of answers by next post.


Out of this motley installment of epis-


ties there was but one which blessed me
and l decided to answer that one in per-
son Immediately. t


Grace Kingsley was the name of the


favored landlady writing to me, and the
letter stated that her house was entirely
private, she having no boarders what
ever. was much pleased with the fair
delicate handwriting, and an idea took
possession of me that Grace was young
and fascinating widow. 1 was not dis
appointed when reached the house, and
my ringing at the door-bell was an
swered by the lady herself. She invi-
ted me into the parlor in a manner so
courteous, and yet so modest, that had
fallen desperately in love with her al
most before l could cross the threshold.


enjoyed very pleasant chat with
Mrs. Kingsley. During the conversa-
rion she informed me that her late hus-
band had been in a fair way of business
and at his death,which occurred about
year previous, and left her in pretty
circumstances. They had
but one child, and this item of morality
| was most graciously permitted to
look upon, as It lay peacefully slumber-
ing in its cradle. l also learned that
the lady was living in the house quite
alone, and desired a male boarder more
as means of protection than source
of revenue. In conclusion, the land
lady looked so pretty (she was quite
young, not more than twenty-five or
three, )and the price of board so moder-
ate, her companionship so inviting, and
seemed to trust in me, looking up on
me so favorably, that would have been
a heathen dead to all charms and in
lucements of the sex,if Ihad not engag-
ed board on the spot.


The next day had my trunk remov-
ed to my new boarding house and per-
established myself there.-I
Before leaving my former boarding
house letter was handed to me by the
postman, but l did not find time to ex-
anime it until I was comfortably en-
'conced in the parlor of Mrs. Kingsley's
cosy house. s-sr


Opening the letter I discovered it to
be from wealthy uncle of mine, resid-
ng in Vermont, who regularly sent me
l letter every year,but whom had new
,r seen. His epistles were always short
consisting of an account of
he weather in his locality, and some
good advice to me to take care of my
money, as l might be burdened with |
'ome of it before was much older. ii
was always very glad to get this advice
rom him, as l regarded it as an init
nation that was to inherit his wealth |
IN his decease.


One day, however, about a year pre-
Tious, received letter from him which |
contained another topic besides those l
My uncle made some pres
sing inquiries respecting my matrimo-
NAL prospects, and stated that if 1 was
not already married, should immedia-
ELY enter into the welded state, and let |
him know of it, or he would never more
be an uncle of mine.


Now, as my uncle lived in Vermont,
md in Philadelphia, never antieipa-
ted the old gentleman would pay me a
visit and discover the falsehood,I / wrote |
TO him and informed him that was not |
3nly married, but the father of bounc-
ing baby. This intelligence so pleased
ny uncle that he sent gold goblet and
l silver pap-spoon, to be presented to
my child. first sat down and wrote
very romantic letter to my uncle thank
ng him for the presents and then visit
I'd the nearest jewelry store and turned
both goblet and spoon into cash which
pocketed.


/ received no further letters from my
rncle till the one that 1 read i'm Mrs.
parlor. The postscript to
lEis one not only astonished, but abso-
utely frightened me. 1t read asfollows.


"P. 81 have never visited Philadel-
,hia, SO have decided to do so at once,
md geta look at you and your child.
OG may expect me about the 10th of
he month"


"Good gracious! my uncle is coming
o visit" / exclaimed, sand it is past
he 10th now! 1 don't know at what
ne may pop in. What am 1 to
10 for wife and child ?"


At that moment there came a terrible
pull at the door-bell as if the man who
pulled it imagined that he owned the
louse, and could make as much noise rs
lie pleased. A sick sensation took pos
session Of me, for had a misgiving
hat it was my uncle.


Now as good fortune would have it
Mrs. Kingsley had gone ont to neigh
boring store for few minutes, and had
me to have an eye out to her
child while she was gone,so it woul dn't
fall out of the cradle, and hurt itself
As glanced at the cradle, and thought
of NV uncle at the door. a bright iden