HE PAID UP.

Manawatu Herald, 19 May 1904, Page 4

HE PAID UP.

A Wedding That Cost Stuart Kohsoa 85,000. “I read In tho newspapers one morning,” says Nat 0. Goodwin, “that Lawrence Barrett’s daughter bad been married, and that among tho bridal gifts was a check for $5,000 from Stuart Robson. “ ‘That can hardly bo true,’ thought I. 'Robson and Barret are great friends, but Robson would not be likely to give so much money ns a wedding present. The newspapers, must be wrong. ’ “A day or two later I mot Robson In Broadway. “ ‘Look here, old man,’ said L ‘How about that gift of $5,000 you are said to hare made to Larry Barrett’s daughter? Have the newspapers been lying about you again?’ “ ‘Nat,’ said he solemnly, ‘lt’s truetrue as gospel 1 Step out here one side, and I’ll tell you how it happened.’ “We retired to a convenient comer, and Robson told me the whole story, and it amused me immensely. “ ‘About two years ago last summer,’ said he, ‘a young man called at my cottage in Cohasset, bringing a letter of introduction from a friend In New York. I was as cordial as I could be, and the fellow kept calling off and on all summer. He did not interest me particularly, but he was harmless. One day lie said to me, “Mr. Robson, that Miss Barrett Is a charming girl.” “ * “Ah, and so you have met tho Barretts, have you?” says I.” “X have,” says he, “and I regard Miss Barrett as one of the most charming yonng ladles I ever saw.” “ ‘ "She Is, my boy, she is I” says I, "Pitch in and win her, and the day you wed her I’ll give you $5,000. And here’s $1 to bind tho bargain." “ ‘Nat, I pledge you my word I had no idea that anything further would ever como 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 seems. I used to hoar of his being with Miss Barrett a good deal, and occasionally I would see them sauntering along the beach listening to the muslo of tho sad sea waves. But, as I said. 1 thought nothing serious of it all, and X forgot all about my stipulation involving the $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. Robson,” said he, “I’ve done it.” “ • “Done what?” says L « i “proposed to her,” says he. “ * “Proposed to whom?” says L ii i “■vyhy, to Miss Barrett,” says ho, “and I’m going to marry her I” “ * “The you are I” says I, for the news fairly knocked the wind out of me. “ ‘ “I am, Indeed,” says ho, and then ho reminded me of tho promise I had given him about tho check. Yes, you may not believe it; but, Nat, the fellow had tho bad taste to recall that I had promised to give him a bridal present in case he won Larry Barrett's daughter. “ * “My boy,” says I as amiably as I could, "Stuart Robson never forgets and he never violates a pledge or a promise I” “ ‘The morning of tho wedding I was feeling too indisposed to leave my bed. I had been sitting up too late tho night before with a sick friend. So I called my daughter to me. “ ‘ “Alicia,” said I, “are you going to the wedding?” “ ‘ “Yes, father.” “ ‘ “Then take this check with you,” ■aid I. “Be careful not to lose it, and after the wedding hand it to tho groom. But, mind you, Alicia, do not give It to him until after the minister pronounces them man and wife, for be might drop dead in tho meantime.”

“ ‘When my daughter returned that afternoon) I said, “Alicia, is it all over?” ii i ny eS) father.” “ ' “And did you give him the check for 15,000?" " ‘ "Yes, father.” •i • <i W jj at aid he do when you gave it to him?” “ * “Father, he cried." “ *1 was gratified, I will admit, that my trifling benefaction had touched his heart, yet 1 was anxious to know the full extent of his appreciation. “ ‘ "He cried, did he?” said I. “How long did he cry?” # “ 1 "Father, I am not sure, hut I should Bay about a minute." " * "A minute I A minute 1" said I, •' I cried an hour before I signed that check!" * ” —Eugene Field in Chicago Record. Army Intelligence. An army officer, Captain Poker Chip, Who has been dlsmiiwcd Aom the army for dupllcat'ag hie cash account, was seen walking on the street with a lady. Several United States officers of the club saw the couple, and Colonel Mountain Howitaer remarked to Major Blow; “I can’t comprehend how Poker Chip has the cheek to be seen on the streets with a woman who would so far forget herself Mto walk out with a man of his reputation. "—Texas Siftings, I Warned In Time. Mr. Hardnutt—l admit, sir, 1 that my life has not been what it should be, but 1 trulyand unselfishly love your daughter, and U ever 1 give her a moment's pain 1 hop# I'U be made to suffer torture for It. Old Gentleman (warnlngly)—-Oh, you will! You don’t know her,—-New York Weekly. _____ Impossible. Mm Bellefield—Mrs. Oakland has a great secret Mrs. Bloomfield—Oh, not She can't have. ‘ “Why not?" | “If she had, she would have told It ta me. ’ ’—Pittsburg Chronicle-Telegraph. i 1 I Hint to Benedicts, 1 •*! don’t like to interfere In domestic affaire,” says the Manayunk philosopher, “but I Would suggest to the married man that It would be well for him to let his wife bring up the family while he brings up the coal.”—Philadelphia Recced. i A Peculiarity. i “Money talks," said the confident man. “Yes," replied the melancholy citizen, “but when it’s conversing with a poor relation It usually talks in a whisper,”— Washington Star. * Defined. "What do we mean by health?" asked the teacher. “Health," said a timid little voice, “Is when you’re real fat and have ;lots of akin I"—Youth’s Companion. Iff' s*' 5 *' Answered, ■ “Mow many bells ate in this chime?” a&ed the curious traveler. “Right, all tolled," said the sexton.-" Indianapolis Jo urnal,