As Ellison was social in his feelings and possessed of many qualities that made him an agreeable companion, he had a wide circle of acquaintance and was liked wherever he went. Among those into whose society he was occasionally thrown was a young lady named Clara Deville, who was understood to possess, in her own right, a property valued at twenty thousand dollars. She had two brothers, each of whom had received, in the settlement of their father’s estate, a like amount. For Clara, Ellison had entertained little beyond an ordinary feeling of friendship. She was an agreeable companion at any time, though she did not possess a lively imagination nor was her temperament poetic. The sterling points in her character were, strong good sense and a quick appreciation of the rights of others. Though plain in her person, few after becoming acquainted with her thought of this, and if it were said to one of her intimate acquaintances that she was rather homely than otherwise, the remark would not meet with a ready assent, for none who knew her well thought her homely. Ellison, though he mingled a good deal in society and was a favorite with young ladies, had not thought of marriage, at least not of a present marriage. While he had not the means of supporting a wife he deemed it prudent to keep his heart free from all love entanglements. [Illustration] One day a friend who understood his position in society said to him— “Why don’t you marry?” “Marry!” exclaimed Ellison. “I would as soon think of jumping into the river.” “Why not?” “I’m hardly able to support myself.” “Get a wife with money. Your talents are a fair set off to a fortune.” “A very poor fortune they have yielded so far.” “It will be different a few years hence. Get a wife with money enough to make you easy and comfortable, and then give yourself up heart and soul to your profession without a thought or care about dollars and cents. Your wife will make a good investment of her money, and you will be as happy as a king.” “Upon my word!” said Ellison, laughing, “you have made out the case finely.” “Wont it do?” “It looks all very pretty.” “Can you make out a better case yourself?” “Perhaps not. But the next thing is the lady.” “No difficulty about that.” “Indeed! Well, who is the fair creature?” “I could mention half a dozen. But I choose for you a good sensible woman as a wife.” “Her name?” “Clara Deville.” The young man shook his head. “What’s your objection?” “Clara is an excellent girl. I have always liked her as a friend, but to make her my wife is another thing. I don’t think I could love her well enough for that.” “Nonsense! She is a girl possessing most excellent qualities of head and heart. The very qualities that wear longest. If she give you her affections you have something worth having, to say nothing of the money.” But Ellison shook his head in a very positive way.