The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1867-06-27

| fore the door OF thedecl1nlng tiadesman.
Dust settled thickly in his window, and
the old sign turned grayer and graycr in
the bleaching air.
Going to the dogs, and no wonder
Baker would say to hin1self as he went
by. He appeared to take astrange In
terest in watching the gradual decay of
the mechanics fortunes. One day a
mercantile friend said 10 him:
DO you know anything about this
Leonardo .
'Why?' asked Baker. r
Because he wants TO make = pretty
large bill with me- -
tOn time.' r+t-1s5s g.ess !. ..s
Yes, on the usual credit of six MONTHS ,
Don't sell him. Why, theman is go
ing to the dogs at railroad speed.
'Indeedr
Yes. Pm looking every day to see
him close up. He might have done
well, for he understood his business. =
But he's SO accommodating and I
may say insulting to his customers, that
he drives his best ones away. I used to
make large bills with him but havn't
dealt at his shop now for some time.'
'Ah! 1 was not aware Of that. am
glad spoke to you, for shouldn't like
to lose six or seven hundred dollars
six or seven hundred! Is it possible
that he wants to buy 50 recklessIy? Take
my advice and don't think of trusting
him.
II certainly shall not
When Leonard ordered the goods the
merchant declined selling except for
cash.
AS you please, returned. the mechan-
ic, indifierently, and went elsewhere
and made his purchases.
1t happened that Mr. Leonard had
very pretty and fascinating daughter, on
whose education the mechanic had he-
slowed great pains; and it also happened
that Baker had n son who, in most
things was a chip of the old block Par
ticularly he was like his father in his
great love for money, and scarcely had
he reached his majority, ere he began
to look about him with careful eye, to
a good matrimonial arrangement, 10y
which plenty of money would besecur-
| ed.
Adelaide Leonard, on account of her
beauty and accomplishments, was much
caressed and mingled freely in society.
Young Baker had met her frequently,
and could not help being struck with her
beauty, intelligence and grace.
'There is a chance for you,' said n
friend to him one evening.
In Miss Leonardo
YES
"She is a charming girl replied the
young man, II wonder If her father is
worth anything?
"People say So"
"Indeed!'
"Yes. They say that the fellow has
laid up something quite handsome, and
as Adelaide is his only child, she will,
of course get it ALL"
II was not aware of that
"Itis all so I believe"
After this, young Baker WAS exceed
ingly attentive to Miss Leonard, and
made perceptible inroads npon her
heart. lie even went so far as to visit
pretty regularly at her house, and was
meditating an avowal of his attachment,
when his father said to him one day:
What young lady was that | saw you
with this aftcrnOOn?'
Her name is Leonard
'rhe daughter of old Leonard in -
street?'
Yes, SIR
Mr.. Baker looked grave and shook
his head.
DO you know anything about her ::
asked the son.
Nothing about her, but ! know that
her father is going to the dogs as fast as
man ever went
Indeed! thought he was well off.
% no, have been looking to sec hi.
shop shut up, or to hear of his being
sold out by the sheriff every day, fol
these two years past
Miss Leonard is very lovely girl
She is the daughter of a poor me-
chanic. If you see anything lovely in
that, Henry, you must have strange
taste.'
There is no gainsaying Adelaide'l
personal attractions replied the son
but if her father is poor, that settles the
matter as far as she and am concerned
1 am glad you introduced the subject
for l might have committed myself, and
when too late discovered my error
And sad error it would have been,
Henry. In any future matter of thi.
kind I hope you will be perfectly frank
with me. I have more accurate
knowledge of the condition and stand
ing Of people than you can possibly
have.'
The son promised to do as his father
wished. From that time his visits te
Miss Leonard were abated, and his at
tentions to her when they met in socie-
ty were coldly formal. The swee|
young girl, whose feelings were interest,