He Gave Neither Away.

Otago Witness, Issue 1967, 5 November 1891, Page 45

He Gave Neither Away.

i A young man who had been paying devoted attention to a rich banker's daughter interviewed her father on the subject. After a few preliminary remarks he said : . " I love your daughter, sir, and want to marry her." " Ah, is that so ? " replied the father, looking at him sharply over his glasses. " I'm not surprised at it. She is a good girl." " Yes, sir ; and it was her goodness whioh won me from the first." " Ahem, yes. I've heard you had some very extravagant habits, and some of them as bad as they were extravagant." ! " I've not been a saint, sir ; but when I'm married and brought under the tender influence of a good and loving woman, I shall reform." " I'm glad to hear that. It would be unpleasant for your wife if you did not. Are you aware, sir, that when I give you my daughter I give you with her a little marriage portion of £50,000?" " I was not aware of that, sir, but it would make no difference to me. Pecuniary considerations no not enter into my calculations at all." "No?" "No, sir; love is of far' more importance. It is a wife, not a bank account, I am looking for. Money is trash, sir." "Don't give yourself away, young man; don't give yourself away. I eaid when I gave you my daughter, I'd give you the money ; but you see I'm not going to give you my daughter, and that alters the aspect of affairs very materially. Good day. Call round after you've been reformed."