Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1868-03-11

plicity, genius and ugliness, are often pairet
with each other. .pa..s t
Mr.. North had taken note Of his daugh
tcr's unworldly disposition, her uncalcula
ting nature, her preference Of youth, beauty
and rags (metaphorically speaking), to age
uglincss and wealth and it troubled hin, moi
a little. lie loved Katie and could no,
command. while wise counsel as to good
matches, with illusions to certain middle
aged and "sold men, was thrown away on
her. She could not understand, and was
obstinate. Knowing nothing of the intri
cate machinery by which greenbacks are
manufactured, nor of the trouble and appli'
cation necessary to success in business, she
imagined that money was one Of the most
plentiful things in the world, and Agreeable
qualities the most scarce. She continued
to throw her smiles away upon handsome
Young men, and to pout her pretty lips at
the heavy suitors introduced by her father.
In this dilemma pater jamilias determined
to resort to strategy.
The son of an old friend had lately return
cd from Eruope. lie was wealthy, intelli-
gent, distinguished-looking, and Of polished
manners, AMI Mr.. North, set his heart on
having him for son-in.law. He knew that
Katie could have but two objections 10 this
lover: he was over thirty and wealthy. To
remove one of these objections, Mr.. North
resolved that Arthur I.angdon should play
the part Of ''poor young man" while he
himself would enact the purse.proud, indig-
nant parent. 1t was almost certain, in such
case, that Katie would fall desperately in
love with her fathers choice, if she could
overlook his advanced age. Mr.. Langdon,
therefore, was invited to the house and pre-
vailed upon, as a joke, to appear before
Katie as one Of her father clerks.
At dinner time that day Mr.. North in
formed Katie that one of his clerks would
call on him in the evening in relation to
business, and that he preferred she would
absent herself from the parlor on that occa-
sion. HE is what you schoolgirls call a
fascinating man, and have no desire that
my daughter should be fascinated by poor,
beggarly clerk y
And Mr.. North rose very granlly, and
turned away in order that Katie might not
see the twinkle in his eye, which her rebel.
lious pout had brought there. Miss Katie
had intended to visit a dear friend that
evening, but now she determined to post.
pone the visit in order to catch glimpse Of
this dangerous clerk.
That evening Mr. Langdon came. Katie
saw him as he assembled the steps, and was
pleased with his appearance, and determin-
cd to see more of him. He was ushered
into the parlor, and was soon engaged with
bis host in a pleasant conversation, when
the door suddenly opened and the dutitul
daughter entered as if unconscious of the
presence of Il stranger. When she saw Mr..
I.anglon she started as though she would
retreat. but her father called her in and in
troduced he in stiff, ungracious manner to
his guest:
my daughter, Mr.. Langlon," and then
sat down, as if annoyed at the Interrupt
tion.
Katie bowed and took seat.
Langdon, startled at such vision of love-
illness, was dumb for moment, then rising
gracefully he made his most elaborate salam
and inspite of the old gentleman's frowns,
was soon engaged in sparkling interchange
Of thought with the fair daughter. Arthur
was as agreeable as he knew how to be, and
Katie was charmed with him, as she prede-
termined to be- All went merry as mar
riage bell, until Mr. North, thinking matters
had gone quite far enough for favorable
first impression, hemmed, hawed, consulted
his watch. aud finally remarked -
"Mi. Langdon and I have much to say to
each other. Katie heve you ordered break
fast ?"
Langdon looked sad. Katie pouted but
she took the hint and withdrew The fas-
cinating clerk held the door for her, and, as
he bado her goodevcning. he gave her q
look which haunted her dreams. a
Katie was smitten, and langdon was no
less so. The old gen,leman's talk about
business seemed very insipid, and Arthur
soon took his leave. His calls were fire.
quent after that, and while Katie wondered
why her father should tolerate his presence,
she became more and more cntangled in the
silken meshes of love. Langdon finally de-
clared the state Of his feelings to Mr.. North,
and requested him to become his father-in.
law. His suit was gladly accepted, but he
was told that his success depended upon his
maintaining the character of a remarkable
genius in romantic poverty. He accepted
the situation, and went many times to see
Katie when her father was out They soon
pligh,ed undying faith to each other
Laugdon painted the picture Of pretty
cottage, where love should be the household
deity, in colors as bright as Claude Melnotte
employed to decorate his castle by the lake
of Como, and Katie vowed to wed with him
and with no other, with or without parental
copsont mr. hlessinp .... . ...