The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-07-12

tOttoi oua nOA
over -scrupulons tradesman laughed
in his sleeve and kept his customer,
Having withdrawn his support
from Leonard il was tie candid opin-
ion Of Mr.. Baker be was going to
the dogs,n ashe expressed it, about
as fast as . man could go. He often
passed the shop. but rarely saw a
customer.
"No wonder" be would say to him
sell. "a man ike him can't expect
and don't deserve custom"
In the eyes OF Mr.. Baker the very
grass seemed to grow upon the pave
ment before the door of the declining
tradesman Dust settled thickly in
his window, and the old sign turned
grayer and grayer in the bleaching
air
Going to the dogs. and no won
DER" Baker would say to himself as
he went by. He appeared to take a
strange interest in watching the
gradual decay Of the mechanics for
tunes. One day mercantile friend
said to him:
'Do you know anything about
this Leonardy'
"Why?" asked Baker.
because be wants to make a pret-
ty large bill with me-"
"On timer
ayes, on the usual credit Of six
months"
'Don't sell 10 him. Why the man
is going to the dogs at railroad
speed"
"Indeed!',
"Yes, ] am looking every day to
see him close up. He might have
done well, for be understood his bus
mess. But hes so accommodating,
and, | might, say, insulting to his
customers, that he drives the best of
them away. / used to make large
bills with him, but haven't dealt at
his shop for scme time"
"Ab! | was not aware of that;
am glad spoke to you, for | shouldn't
like to lose six or seven hundred dol
lars"
"Six or seven hundred dollars, Is it
possible that be wants to buy so
recklessly. Take my advice, and
dom, think of trusting him"
81 certainly shall not'
When Leonard ordered the goods,
the merchant declined selling except
for cash.
"As you please" returned the
mechanic, indiferently, and went
elsewhere and made his purchase.
1t happened that Mr.. Leonard had
a very pretty and a very interesting
daughter, on whose education the
mechanic had bestowed great pains;
and it also happened tnat Baker had
son, who 10 most things was a
"chip of the o.d block Particularly
was he like his father in his great
love for money; and scarcely bad be
reached his majority ere he began to
look about him with careful eve to
good matrimonial arrangement, by
which plehty Of money would be Sc
cured
Adelaide Leonard, on account of
her beauty and accomplishments,
was much caressed, and mingled
freely in society Young Baker had
met ker frequently, and could not
help being struck with her beauty
and grace.
There's chance for you," said
friend to him one evening.
"In Miss Leonardo
"Yes."
"She's charming girl" replied
the young man. III wonder if her
father is worth anything"
People say so.''
Indeed"
"Yes they say the old fellow has
laid up something quite handsome,
and, as Adelaide is his only child.
she will, of course ge. it all.D
81 was not aware of that"
After this, young Baker was ex-
cedingly attentive to Miss Leonard.
and made perceptible inroaGs upon
her heart He even went so far as
to visit pretty regular a. 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 on the street Yesterday af-
ternoon?"
"Her name is Leonard"
"The daughter of old Leonard in
street,"
Mr.. Baker looked grave and shook
his head.
ado You know anything about
her?" asked the son.
Nothing about her, but I know
that her father is going to the dogs
as fast as ever man went"
Indeed | thought he was very
well off,"
"0h, no. I've been looking to see
his shop shu, up, or to hear of bis be-
ing sold out by the Sheriff, every
day for these two years past"
Indeed"
"Miss Leonard is very lovely
girl"
There's 10 gainsayiDg Adelaide's
personal Attractions" replied the son,
"but if her fsther is in the condition
you allege, that settles the matter as
far as she is concerned. | am glad
you introduced that subject. for ]
might have committed myself, and
when too late. have discovered my
error"
"And sad error it would have
been, Henry. In any future matter
of this kind, / hope you will be per-
fec.ly frank with me- | have much |
more accurate knowledge of the condi-
and standing of the people than you
car possibly have"
The son promised to do what the |
father wished. From that time the |
visits to Miss Leonard were ahated,
and his attentions to her, when they |
mes in society, became coldly formal. |
The sweet young girl whose feelings
had really been interested, felt the |
chsnge, and was for time, unhap- |
py, but in few months she recover
ed herself and WAS again bright and