HOW HE GOT HER.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3528, 28 October 1882, Page 4

HOW HE GOT HER.

Sir George Mackenzie, who flourished in the last half of the seventeenth century, was one of the most eminent jurists ever known in Scotland, besides being a brilliant man of letters. He inherited wealth, and during his busy life he added to it so much that he became one of the "wealthiest men of his time. As a politician he was self-willed and stubborn, and at thnee violent. Between himself and the young Earl of Bute a strong political difference existed, which neither showed a disposition to harmonise. Yet the Earl had fallen deeply in love with Sir George's daughter, and the love was by her returned. The lovers knew that the stern old advocate would not consent to their union. In fact, it is doubtful if Sir

George would have admitted "Bute to his house as a friend. His feelings were deep and bitter, and he had been heard to denounce the Earl as little better than a rent'gado. The lovers put their heads together and consulted. They were eager to be made man and wife. Of course, the young lady could elope, and be married cladestinely, and the father could not help himself 5 but, ah, he could disinherit his recreant daughter, and that must not be. The young Earl was not mercenary. The damsel's prospective wealth as heiress of her rich father had eivenhernota particle of extra attraction for liirn. Yet he did not like the idea of having his wife deprived of her just inheritance ; and, naturally, he did not care to lose such a broad and grand estate, for this daughter was an only child. At length the Earl hit upon a plan, and resolved to act upon it. He visited Sir George in his chambers while the latter held the office of King's Advocate, and appealed to him for assistance. Now, as man to man, in matter of business, or in any way not involving brotherly love, Sir George held the young Earl in high esteem, and there was no man of his acquaintance whom he would have more readily assisted legally. Furthermore, the advocate hud not the remotest idea that Bute either loved his daughter, or that he was familiar with her.

' Sir George,' said the Earl, wlien he was ready to open his business, ' there is a young lady in this city whom I dearly and devotedly love, and shp has confessed her lore for me. Her father is wealthy. Now, sir, I care not for the lady's money, yet it would not be pleasant to have her father disinherit her. From this you can judge that the father is opposed to our union. At all events, we fear that such is the case. Now, my dear Sir George, I know that you would not hesitate to vouch for my worthiness.' The old man nodded assent very pleasantly. ' And, sir, I think you would be willing to exert, your influence in my behalf if I should marry the lady clandestinely. Your influence would be effectual, I am sure.

And so the Earl went on until he had brought bir George not only to promise his assistance towards preventing a disinheritance, but so far had the keen old lawyer entered into the spirit of the thing that ho advised the Earl, by all means, to go ahead. ' Why,' he exclaimed forcibly, ' the man must be blind or a fool who would reject such an alliance for his daughter—one of the oldest names in the realm ; a fair share of wealth, and a coronet; go ahead, my lord, and I will sustain you if I enn,'

And the Earl went ahead. That very evening he arranged with the lady, and on the following day they were privately married.

In the evening Sir George missed his daughter. He had just inquired for her, when a door was opened, and she and the Earl of Bute entered, hand in hand, and advanced straight to his chair, and went down on their knees.

Not a word of explanation was needed. The old advocate caught his breath, changed from a death-like paleness to a furious flush half-a-dozen times, and finally gave ia. ' &ir George, henceforth I shall take pleasure in sustaining my wife's father," said the Earl. A hot response was upon the parent's lips, but he swallowed it; and gradually a sense of the absurdity of the situation possessed him, and soon lie burst into a hearty laugh, and the erring children were forgiven.—Scottish American Journal.