meats。 This is your girl。 Only court the old fellow； and you are sure of
half a million in the long run。〃
Tom was off on the instant。 He did court the old fellow； got introduced
to the family； was a favorite from the first； offered in a fortnight； was
accepted； and got married within the month。 Ten days afterward； the
supplies were stopped for want of funds； and the butcher failed。 It
seems HE； too； was only taking a hand in the great game of brag that
most of the country had sat down to。
Tom was in a dilemma。 He had married a butcher's daughter。 After this；
every door in Broadway and Bond street was shut upon him。 Instead of
stepping into society on his wife's shoulders； he was dragged out of it by
the skirts； through her agency。 Then there was not a dollar。 His empty
pockets were balanced by her empty pockets。 The future offered a sad
perspective。 Tom consulted a lawyer about a divorce； on the ground of
〃false pretences。〃 He was even ready to make an affidavit that he had
been slaughtered。 But it would not do。 The marriage was found to stand
all the usual tests； and Tom went to Texas。
End