HE PAID UP.

Manawatu Herald, 24 March 1904, Page 4

HE PAID UP.

A Wedding That Stuart RoTboon "1 road in :ho ■■-■'.■.•..papers ono morning,” Bays I'.'.' C. (, iiii!v;in, “that Lawrence Bar.--.;! t’.-i <luxi*jhu*r- bad been married, and anion;.': (h« bridal gifts was a cheek for 000 f.vm Hin.art Hobson. “ “i’hatenu hardly lie Inn*,’ thought I. ‘Robson and Havret an- great friends, hut Robson would not Tie likely to give so much iuon-',v as a- wedding present. The newspaper,-; must bo wrong.’ “A. day or two bUer I mot Robson in Broadway.

“'Louie Imre, old. man,' said I. ‘How about the'; gift of $5,000 you are said to have mr-Io to Larry Barrett’s daughter? Have the newspapers been lying about you again?’ ‘Nat,’ said ho solemnly, ‘it’s true—true as gospel 1 Step out hero one side, and id! 101 l you how it happened.’ “We >,etired to a convonlout corner, and Robson toll I mo the whole story, and it amused me immensely.

“ ‘About, two years ago last summer, ’ Bald lie, ‘a young man called at my cottage in Cabas.-'et, bringing a letter of introduction from a friend in New York. I was as cordial as, I could bo,.and the fellow kept calling off and on all summer. Ho did not interest mu particularly, but ho was harmless, Ono day ho said to mo, “Mr. Hobson, that Missßarrett is a charming girl.” “ ‘ “Ah, and so you have mot the Barretts, have you?” says I.” “ ‘ “I have,’’rays bo, “ami I regard Miss Barrett as ono of the most charming young ladies I. over saw.”

‘ “She is, my boy, she is!” says I. “Pitch in and win her, ami the day you wed her I’ll give you $3,000. And here’s $1 to binder,ho bargaffl.” “ ‘Nat, I pledge you my word I had no Idea that anything further would over come of the matter. My idea was to encourage the follow to spend his time at Barrett’s cottage instead of mine. But he was in earnest, it scums. I used to hear of his being with Miss Barrett a good deal, and occasionally I would see them sauntering along (ho beach listening to the music of" the sad sea waves. But, as I said, 1 thought nothing serious of it all, and 1 forgot all about my stipulation involving tho $5,000. So you can imagine my astonishment, my horror, when, about two months ago, that young man turned up at my cottage again, wearing a particularly triumphant smile. “ ‘ “Mr. Hobson,” said ho, “I’vo done It.”

“ 1 “Done what?” says I. ii i “proposed to her,” says ho. “ 1 “Proposed to whom?” says I. “ ‘ “Why, to Miss Barrett,” says he, “and I’m going to marry hcrl” “ ‘ “Tho you are I” says I, for the nows fairly knocked tho wind out of mo. “ I am, indeed,” says ho, and then ho reminded mo of tho promise I had given him about the check. Yes, yon may not believe it; but, Nat, (hefellow had tho bad taste to recall I hat 1 had promised to give him a bridal present in case ho won Larry Barrett’s daughter.

“ ‘ “My lioy,” ways I as amiably as I could, “Stuart Robson never forgets and lie never violates a pledge or a promise!” “‘The morning of tiio wedding I was fooling too indisposed to leave my bod. I luwl been silling up too lute the night before with a sick friend. So I called my daughter to mo. “ 1 “Alicia,” said I, “aro you going to tho wedding?” “ ‘ “Yes, father.” “ ‘ “Then take this check with you,” said I. “lie ea.rofill not to lose it, and after the wedding band it to tho groom. Bub, 1 mind you, Alicia, do not give it to him until after the minister pronounces them man and wife, for ho might drop dead in the meant hue. ” “ ‘Whim my daughter returned that aftI said, “Alicia, is it all over?” “ ‘ " Yes, father.” “ * “And did you give him the check for 85,000?” “ ‘ “Yes, father.” “ ‘ “What did ho do when yon gave it to him?” “ 1 “Father, ho cried.” “ ‘I wa.s gratified, I will admit, that my trilling honefa'ction had touched Ids heart, yot. I was anxious to know tho full extent of his appreciation, “ ‘ “Ho eried, did he?” said I. “How long did ho cry?” “ 1 “Father, I am not sure, but I should say about a minute.” “ ‘“A minute! A minute!” said I. “ ,” I cried an hour before I signed that check I” ’ ” —Eugene Field in Chicago Record. Army Intelligence. An array officer, Captain Poker Chip, who has boon dismissed from tho army for duplicating his cash account, was seen Walking on tho street with a lady. Several United States officers of tho club saw tho couple, and Colonel Mountain Howitzer remarked to Major Blow: “I can’t comprehend how Poker Chip has tho cheek to bo seen on tho streets with a woman who would so for forget herself as to walk out with a man of his reputation,” —Texas Siftings. , Warned In Time. Mr. Hardnutt —I admit, sir, that my life has not boon what it should ho, but I truly and unselfishly lovo your daughter, and if over I give her a moment’s pain I hope I’ll bo made to suffer torture for It. Old Gentleman (warningly)—Oh, you will! You don’t know her. —New York Weekly. Impossible. Mrs. Bollefield—Mrs. Oakland has a groat secret. Mrs. Bloomfield—Oh, no! She can’t have. “Why not?” “If she had, she would have told it to mo. ’ ’ —Pittsburg Chronicle-Telegraph. Hint to Benedicts. “I don’t like to interfere in domestic affairs," says tho Mauayunk philosopher, “hut I would suggest to the married man that it would be well for him to let his wife bring up tho family while he brings up the coal.” —Philadelphia Record. i . A Peculiarity. “Money talks,” said tho confident man. ’ “Yes,” replied tho melancholy citizen, “but when it’s conversing with a poor relation it usually talks in a whisper.”— Washington Star. Defined. “What do wo mean by health?” asked tho teacher, ‘‘Health,” said a timid little voice, Ms when you’ro real fat and have lota of skin!”—Youth’s Companion. Answered. “How many bells aro in this ohlmof" asked the curious traveler. “Eight, all tolled,” said the eeston.— Indianapolis Journal