The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-07-21
ETPTY- -HEADED FOP.

"Nell, what is Walter Grantley
coming here for every evening? /
hope you are not encouraging him
in any attentions be may pay you"
"Why should I not encourage him
Uncle Charies2 I respect and Ike
him"
Respect him walking taiIor's
advertisement! An empty-headed
fop.7
"You are severe, Uncle Charles.
Mr. Grantly dresses well, but with
no more attempt to display than any
young man Of his age and appear
ance is justified in doing And he is
by no means empty-headed. lie
has read much, has seen the world
at home and abroad, aud converses
well; far better than any other gem
tieman who visits here.
~Humpnl All of which means that
be has succeeded in fascinating
you. l expect you to marry, Nell,
YOU cannot waste all your younG
life with an old fellow ike me. But
| would like to see you the wife Of q
solid man-a good business man, one
able to carry on my business when
[ am dead-a man Ike James Mel
son"
Ellen Baldwin kept q profound
silence, her eyes fastened upon her
sewing.
Il know be is not handsome, and
is nearly forty His clothes are not
made in the latest fashion, and be is
sometimes rough in speech. But he
is thorough business man, able to
take care of your fortune and even
to increase it. He would make the
best Of husbands, and, Nell, be loves
you
"Not at all, Uncle Charles. Mr..
Nelson has done me the honor of
proposing TO marry ME, but love has
nothing to do with the matter.
And / neither Ike him nor trust
him.
Not trust him Why Nell, ne has
almost the entire control of the ware
house : l have gradually left every
thing to him. Not trust James Nell
soni You must be insanel"
Mr. Baldwin looked at his niece
with glstening eyes. As she was
entirely Independent of his control,
rich by right of an Inheritance from
her father, though his own compan-
ion for nine years, this marked defer
ence to his wishes touched him
deeply. He was a self-made man
lacking refinement, not well educated,
but with money-making capacity,
and he had the too common contempt
for young men who, ike Walter
were college graduates, and
paid attention to dress, to looks, to
the niceties Of etiquette and conver-
sation.
You know, Nell, he said, after a |
of silence, that | have only |
your interest at heart.7
Il do rot need to be told that, his |
niece said, wsrmly. Have you not
been father and mother to me since
my own parents diedl Ny hope is
that knowing l love Walter, you will |
also learn to respect and like him |
lie labors under the disadvantage of
having independent means, |
but be was in business for q long 4
time before a legacy from his grand
father gave him sufficient employ I
ment in managing the real estate
and stocks in which it was invested. [
Try to like him, Uncle Charles for
my sake"
"Wen, l will try. Bul | wish it |
was James. l could ike him with /
out trying"
Not long after this conversation,
while her own heart vas happy in +
her love and her uncle's kindness, |
Nellie saw that change had come
over Mr.. Baldwin. He had always !
been a genial man, with kindly i'm
pulses, friends with the world, proud
Of the prosperity that was the work
Of his own hands, but he became
very grave and quiet, even sad,
absorbed in papers and evidently
deeply troubled. Nell worried over
the change, but waited to know the
cause.
The knowledge came one evening
when Walter Grantley was making
a call True to his promise, Uncle
Charles was trying to be friends
with the young man, and that be
was succeeding was proved by his
in his presence.
"Bad news, Nell, he said heavily. /
Il am 8 ruined man"
"You, Uncle Charles2"
"NelI's arms were around his neck, (
while his hand was taken in cor
dial grasp by Walter
My dear sir" Walter said il a
tone Of warm concern, Il hope it IS
not so bad as that"
But it is was the broken reply:
'if do not see my way out of the