HOW THEY WERE TAKEN IN.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 298, 7 April 1877, Page 4

HOW THEY WERE TAKEN IN.

This is the story as totd by the fio*tnn JJtraMt —" Not many weeks ago a gentleman engaged apartments at one of onr fashionable note's. In l appearance he wa« not prepossessing;. he had an unpleasant manner and an ungainly figure, ami possessed none of those *|ttabties calculated to recommend one to the gentler sex. After several days' sojourn he had sicceed in making himself disagreeable to alt those he came in contact with. On the eleventh day after his arrival, a ntiddleaged and a yomig lady entered the hotel office, an<l registering their names as mother and daughter, engaged art apartment. Tlieic appearance in the diningroom on the morning after thetr arrival caused (unite a sensation among the eligible young bachelors, the young lady proving exceedingly attractive, and before many days considerable rivalry sprang up among the young men and niarriagrahte ©ld ones, each endeavouring to ingratiate himself in the young lady's alfevtions. She received their attention.* with a haughty dignity and eoldnis* which proved very discouraging to the less determined and faint-hearted malms. Our awkward friend, the first arrival, was among the candidate* foe the damsel's favour. His repeated advancements and obtrusive .remark* to* her very n;t 1 rally brought down on him the justly-merited ridicule of all, •specially those interested, and m*>r«r particularly of one young man who. was possessed of considerable wealth and a limited supply of brains. He declared that the ngly fellow's attentions were rnSttJiifig: to the fair lady, white the homely member of the race thought tliat he was mere acceptable' to the young tatty's eyes than any other man in the hotel, and with ft taunting boast, offered to. bet the rich young man s€odof». that before 2-t hottrs he would fee on familiar terms with the lady, and wottld accompany tier t»» the theatre-. Foolish as it would seem, the yottttg; man look the bet, and leo&tots. were placed in the hands of the hotelcterk. Tvxw to* hi* boast, the- ujly man took the handsome lady to the Globe Theatre. On returnuig to the hotel the

c! *rk band, dhin 10 XUols. Going tip tire at tirs the young lady was overheard asking. ' How mutch was the bet J* ' Five hnarfad dolbrs/ he replied. '.Stupid little hnsbtml/ she sail, * why didn't you dxtble it J* N-xt iui>rmng thr. e persons bad an e i.rty breakfast at that hotel, then folded their tent* and stole away.