I was reading in a daily paper, recently, of a case where a man accidentally shot his son with the pistol he was in the habit of carrying about with him." "There is that disadvantage, to be sure," said Fairfax.

"So, he has no pistol.

He is quite in my power," he said to himself.

"It's a good thing to know." "By the way," he asked, merely to keep up the conversation, "are you a family man, Colonel Preston ?" "Yes, sir; I have a wife, and a son of fifteen." "You have the advantage of me in that respect.

I have always been devoted to business, and have had no time for matrimony." "Time enough yet, Mr.Fairfax." "Oh, yes, I suppose so." "If you are going to settle down in our neighborhood, I can introduce you to some of our marriageable young ladies," said Colonel Preston, pleasantly.
"Thank you," said Fairfax; in the same tone.