The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-06-09
Love In PAS flat.

Mr.. M. was a retired manufactured
and possessed of considerable fortune.
He also had daughter, nineteen years
of age, of great personal attractions:
What wonder, then, that she should
have made many young fellows heart
beat quicker who tried to gain her
virgin affections? But "papa" M. took
care of his treasure as if she were the
pupil OF his eye, and many were the un-
happy mortals who left his hospitable:
table never to return. "Plenty OF
time," said be. "when the right one
comes. and I approve" etc.
But the right one had come long ago,
only papa didn't know it, and he had
come in the person ot young engineer,
who had formerly had business trans
actions with papa NJ. The young peo'
pie had seen each other, spoken to each
other, looked at each other, and a kind
of understanding had been come to.
Yes, and the affection was deep enough
to last, even when Mr.. NJ. retired from
trade and the young gallant had NO
further excuse for coming on business.
Then there was succession OF dark days.
But love is inventive, and in this in
stance also proved to be SO:
Mr.. NJ. was in the habit of visiting
twice a week at his hairdresser's to
have his beard and wig looked after
and on this fact love built his structure.
One of the younger assistants was taken
into confidence, and, consequently, con-
siderable attention was paid by the
young man to Mr.. NJ. s hat, receiving
it on his entering, giving it a careful
brush, and handing it back on depar.
ture; and in this wise poor, dear "papa'
became, unconsciously, of course, the
position d'amour between his daughter
and her swain.
Thus things continued for four long
months; but the best silk hat-let it be
ever SO carefully brushed, wants an iron
now and again. Mr.. Ms hat was sew
eral years old, and just about Christmas
it wanted ironing badly. So Mr.. M.
instead of proceeding to the hair
dresser's as usual, went to the hatter's
and presented his hat for renovation.
Mr.. Halter says, after inspecting it:
els this hat too large for you"
"No; why do you ask?"
because YOU put paper inside"
Paper! Paper! Not I; how does
it get there, I wonder?"
Not long did he wonder, for on care
fully unfolding the paper he read :
Don't be down-hearted. dear Ed ward ;
my father is good and generous at heart
let us speak openly to him OF our love
he will not say no, if we promise to
make his old age happy. On my knees
I will confess my love to him: Besides,
our correspondence cannot last much
longer; the continued brushing has SO
worn papa's hat that fear from day to
day tha. he will have to have it done
up," etc. :,
Mr.. Ms hat having been refreshed
he went as usual to his hairdresser's,
having previously carefully replaced the
letter. :,
In the saloon he kept a steady, though
covered lookout on the officious young
assistant, and found his surmise cor
rect.
The operation finished, he gravely
received his hat, handed the assistant as
usual his pour boire, and departed.
Before returning home, however, he
took occasion to inspect his lat, and
extract and read a missive from nc
other than the engineer. Among other
things tue young man swore that not q
penny did he want of his loves father
his position, thank goodness, bringing
him more than sufficient to live happy
and comfortable.
"Well," said papa, "he seems to be
an honestly-disposed young man, ano
it," etc.
For some time he allowed the cor.
respondence to go on, reading regularly
and watchfully the letters from both
sides, unknown to them, of course, un
ill one day, when the letters had beer
particularly desponding and good, ht
put an end to it, and made them happy
as may be seen by the cards sent to ell
whom it might concern.-Hairdresser't
Chronicle.