JILTED.

Evening Star, Issue 4760, 4 June 1878, Page 3

JILTED.

"Look before you leap" is an adage peculiarly applicable to matrimonial ventures. That at least will le the conclusion of a •ertain deferred payment selector. He was a bachelor, unfortunately still is in that lone state, but then it is not his fault. Having built a house and made things comfortable genera'ly on hh " location," he came to the rational conclusion that a wife to overlook and manage things properly was, if not a necessity, at all events a very great convenience. Luckily, as he thought, the very person to fill the onerous position was within an easy journey, not further than Invercargill, where she assisted in domestic matters at a certain hotel. It was true lie had not much acquaintance with the damsel personally, but J then she was the sister of his dearest' friend—his " chum "—and that seemed enough. Accordingly the well-to-do selector hied him to town, and as a matter of course put up at that particular hotel; after a brief wooing, proposed, and was accepted. The customary presents on the auspicious occasion were made, in fact a trifle more, because on a hint from the lady that her wardrobe was not so well stocked as she could wish, the remedy was applied to the tune of some Lls sterling. At least with a becoming delicacy he handed her that amount, not daring to pry into the mysteries of feminine requirements in that line. So far things went smoothly enough, but "a change came o'er the spirit of his dream," in short, the fickle lass altered her mind, would not t "buckle to," and, what was perhaps j worse, heroically stuck to the presents, | refusing to return either goods or I money. It was a hard case, and accord-

intfly the unfortunate wight sought the aid .tx the law to compel restitution, or fulfilment of the condition on which the gifts were mat'e. Unfortunately in such a case law cannot, it appears, interfere. Being " presents," restitution cannot be enforced, and the victiirt now wonders if an action for obtaining goods' nnder false pretences would not lie ? Feeling' that he has been simply "strung on," to u&e an expressive colonialism, he is naturally wroth, yet, for obvious reosons, hesitates to action in another form- -that of breach of promise of marriage. Probably his wisest course will be to let the jilt keep the " presents ;" r<ejoicethathe bas escaped what was likely to be an ill-fitting yoke ; and, by dint of keeping a good lookout, he may soon fall in with some one who will not treat him so scurvily.—'Southland News.'

Talmage calls the cylinder of a printing press " the front wheel of the Lord's chariot."