Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-03-31
but Qct us whisper in your ear, reader
Mr.. Graham was Mays father.

r Mr.. Graham was Mays father.
e That young Chester regarded him with
esteem as his late fathers friend, Mr.. Gra
ham well knew that there was a yet more
potent reason for such fesling he did not
suspect. The good old gentleman suffered
under the proverbial blindness of parents,
else the strong affection that united his only
child and the penniless young man could not
have escaped his observation. u.s.
/ He gave Hal Chester cordial greeting
as be entered his office, and the latter at
once laid before him the state of bis affairs,
| Il wish could give you clerkshlp,
1 myself" said Mr. Graham, as the young
man concluded II certainly would if
had the shadow of an excuse for dismisslng
any one of those l already have. But 1
have not" a~.,.s a. ssg4e
/ II would not have you do such thing
Mr.. Graham All ask is that you will
use your influence among your friends L
must get employment of some kind very
/ soon. 3,.s5s -,;s g6 s.,- -ss... al.
'.Well, I'll help you to the full extent OF
my ability But if you want any advice,
it is this, Hal Chester-you are nice
young man, handsome and have brains, if
you have no money. What's to prevent
your marrying fortune Run off with
some heiress, man, make bold push and
you are bound to win"
Mr.. Graham threw himself back in his
chair and laughed, while the young man
watched him eagerly, with curious express
sion OF his face.
"What, sir p he exclaimed ''would you
advise me to do such thing Rum off
with young lady without her fathers
consent ?"
''Ha ! ha why of course would. If
only you get the chance, that's all Do you
find the lady, my boy, and III find means
to help you carry her off to the minister"
"'Well, but said. Chester, the curious
expression deepening On his face, while be
affected to laugh, st'let us suppose the young
lady is found, and that she is ready to run
off with me-what would be the after cons,-
quence what would her father say TO us
Think you sir, would any man forgive
pennless young man for marrying bis herr
ess clandestiuely ?"
"Why, Of course, he would People al
ways get resigned to what they cannot help
| know that by experience 1t would be
the bert stroke Of fortune that ever happen
ed you, my boy, just such an opportunity
as this Z s." fst'ta' 7sS&
The young man looked down in profounii
| thought, and after moments hesitation,
said "a ~ 4-g - 81
"Well, sir since you think such chance
to better my fortune should not be neglect
ed, l will try what I can do. In truth, sir,
have lady in view, and if once assured Of
her fathers forgiveness, believe | should
have little difficulty in persuading her to
take drive to the minister's with me. If
I can get her consent, sir, will you use
your influence with him, for he will be dis
appointed, fear. He intends his daugh-
ter to marry rich man you know him
personally, sir"
cha ! do 1? Who is he p
| "He is merebant-tha is all can tell
you at present !; remember that I have no
right to betray the lady"
YOU'RE right" exclaimed Mr.. Graham,
'and I can tell you this muoh whoever he
is, he ought to be pround Of having you for
a sou-in-law Just 60 ahead and win. I'll
help you you shall 60 in my carriage, and
after it's all done I'll soothe the old father,
and I promise he will take you into bust
ness before many months are over-else
more fool he Ho no ! what a glorious
joke it will be. Faith my boy, I'll help
you, if only fer the sake of the fun, let alone
your own good"
Had not Mr.. Graham been SO much tick
led at the idea of the joke he hoped would
DO played on some one, he surely must have
started at the strange look that flashed from
Hal Chsster's eyes. The young man was
no dissembler, and had his old friend been
at sll suspicious of the true state of his af-
fairs, he must have betrayed himself.
Dreading lest he should do 80, Chester
now bid the merchant adleu, the latter call
ing to him Don't forget to come to nae
after you succeed And bark ye, my boy,
if you do the deed in week, I'll pay your
tsilor's BILL"
The young man did not at once return to
bis boarding house his thoughts were in
too great state of excitement to permit him
to settle down anyN here. And no won
der
Here was an opportunity given him of
making the girl he loved his own-and that,
too, with her fathers kno Wedge and assis-
lance. 1901
True, Mr.. Graham did not know that it
was his own daughter Of whom Chester
spoke, else, doubtless, his advice would have
been been different. 5f'a aae .s" eR
1t was on this point upon which all Ches-
ter's doubts were now centred. He was
sorely troubled as to whether it would be
honorable to take advantage Of the counsel
SO unwittingly given ..l.s,a..-.a '' a.
lie resolved to leave it all to Mary Ora
hrm, and he was soon seated at her side
AS nearly as possible, he related the in
terview between her father and himself, Civ
ing their conversation ,werd for word. ,.,,
Hal. I think we ought to act upon faith
ers advice. It may seem an unmaidenly
thing for nae to say it, but | can see our
way clear if we use the opportunity he has
unconsciously offered us. He will be angry
at first, but know him well After hi.
first burst Of astonishment is over, if you
manage well, he will enjoy the joke, you
know he will do or stand anything for the
sake of a good joke even though it is al
his own expense"
"Then your advice is 2" and Hal Cues
ter bent loving gaze upon the fair girl be-
side him the color mounted to her cheek at
she said laughingly, Eyes, it isl
Never mind what the young man did
then, gentle readsr--it is neither your con.
Germ, nor mine. eoFs af..