A Clever Advertiser

A gentleman advertised for a wife and one of the answers to hia advertise ment was from Preston. After a lot o: loving corresponderse a meeting was ar ranged at Preston station. The agree ment was that he should carry a light blue silk handkerchief in his left hand but being suspicious of a sell he went to Preston by an earlier train, and, as he suspected, he found that a few choice spirits had arranged a warm reception for his benefit. A short time before the train he was expeoted by was cine the lady, accompanied by several young fellows, arrivec ut the station, and the reilows made themselves scarce vvüen the train was signaled. The advertiser followed them to a hotel to watch the development o) the play. The young fellows v.ere awfnlly disappointed when the .young lady reported that their intended victim had not turned up, and they proceeded to appoiut a judge, jury and counsel to try hiin, although he was absent. The gentleman was asked to be one of the jurymen. All the letters were read, and counsel made their speeches. Alter the trial was over the company spent a jolly evening, and at its conclusión they accompanied the advertiser to the station. When liis train was just starting, he leaned out of the window and waved his blue handkerchief in the faces of his thunderstruck escort.