A HUNCHBACK LOVER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11201, 23 October 1899, Page 3

A HUNCHBACK LOVER.

A worthy man who, with his family, resides in Paris, received a letter from his nephew, who was at that time a trader in Hyderabad! The letter terminated thus;—

" I have received the portraits of my cousins, Mary and Margaret, whom I have never had the pleasure of seeing, having been since my infancy a resident in Hyderabad. I shall arrive at Havre in the brig Quos Ego, about the first of October, and with your consent shall marry my beautiful cousin MarThe remainder of the name having been written under the seal had been torn off and destroyed in opening the letter, so that it was impossible to ascertain whether tho nephew had chosen Mary or Margaret. A mutual coolness and jealousy now sprang up between tho sisters, who -had hitherto lived in the most affectionate harmony. Each believed that hers was the name mentioned in tho letter.

Vainly did the father employ all his eloquence to reconcile his daughters. At length a courier arrived from Havre, and announced that his master would bo in Paris next day. The servant was overwhelmed with questions, to which he replied that his master had been ruined, and that lie was afflicted with a protuberance on the left shoulder, similar to that which had caused all the misfortunes of iEsop the Phrygian. * ' Both sisters voted that they would remain maids for ever, rather than wed a hunchbacked and penniless cousin. The cousin arrived. The 'father embrace! 'inn cordially; the daughters curtseyed pretily, and turned away their eyes. The father Explained the accident that had befallen the letter, and inquired of his nephew the object of his choice. "My cousin Mary," answered the nephew "Never, never !" exclaimed Mary; "I.am satisfied with my condition, and shall not change it." "Mademoiselle," said tho nephew, "I havo adopted the habits of tho country, of which I am all but a native. Read the manners and customs of Hyderabad, and you will see that, in that country, when a young man's proposals of marriage are rejected, he withdraws himself from society as a useless member, and—"

" Kills himself," exclaimed the other sister, the good-natured Margaret. " Kills himself!" repeated the nephew, in the tone of a man about to commit suicide.

"My poor cousin !" murmurs Margaret, with tears in her eyes, "He has como so far to meet death in the bosom of his family !" "I know," continued the nephew, "that my deformity is offensive to the eye of woman, but time can accustom even the oyo of woman to ugliness: lam also aware that my position as a merchant is not the best. Engaged from my early youth in the diamond trade— only trade carried on in Hyderabad— have lost- all my father's property, but I have gained experience. I am young, active, industrious; those qualities are riches ill themselves." "Yes, yes— hunchbacked and penniless," murmured Mary, in a mocking voice aside. "Poor young man!" said Margaret; and then added, " I also have been refused, cousin, but you don't seem to mind that." "Refused! and by whom?" asked the Cousin. '* Why, by you yourself, in preferring my Bister to me." " Well," replied the cousin, " what will you say if I ask your father for you?" "I shall entreat my father to let my cousin live!" "What! you consent, my pretty Margaret?" exclaimed the hunchback. "To save a relation's life I cannot hesitate a moment!" "Very good, my daughter," said the father, touched bv this t-'cenc. "I percent that romances have not spoiled you. I have a very limited income, but 1 cannot forsake my brother's son in his distress. I will keep him here as my son-in-law. If there is enough for three there ib also enough for four." The cousin threw himself at Margaret's feet, exclaiming: "You have saved me from despair and death." Margaret extended her hand to raise her cousin both drew back a little, when Mary muttered these unfeeling words; "My sister has courage; as for me, I would leave all the poor hunchbacked cousins in the world to die." "Uncle," said the nephew, with your permission I will retire to arrange my toilet 1 little before luncheon." He kissed Margaret's hand, bowed to Mary, and withdrew to chancre his travelling dress. The uncle and hi: two daughters placed themsolvea at table, and awaited the guest, who was soon announced by the servant. Both sisters uttered a cry of surprise, but in different keys. They beheld a charming young gentleman, of slender and symmetrical form (no hunch!) enter the room. He advanced and embraced Margaret. Placing before her a beautiful basket, he said. "There is your dower!" The basket was filled with diamonds. "It is also the hunch which has deceived the Custom House officers, and arrived here free of duty. This," added the nephew, "is what I have carried on my shoulders from Bombay to Havre, for the purpose of offering it to the fair cousin who would be willing to accept me with my pretended poverty and deformity!" The ending occasioned general joy, which was even sharod by Mary! True, it is, that Mary loved her sister without hating the diamonds.