autobiography of a pocket-handkerchief-第31部分

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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