Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1880-07-10
TIE GOLDEN HAIRPlN.
a Romance in the Improved Modern style.

GEORGE ADpLPHts CLARENDON was
Young man of pleasing presence,
whose age was not far from twenty
years. His father had long and sue
cessfully conducted a most exemplary
meat market at the corner of Market
and 81. Clair streets. in the thriving
village of WestforG, in Central New
York, and had amassed competence
by fair and honorable means. But the
son held the meat business in abhor-
renee. and stea1fastly refused to enter
tain the thought OF following it for
livelihood. He conceived himself to be
formed of quality of clay quite above
the average, and was often heard NUT
tering incoherently in his sleep about
the - higher walks of life" Old Mr..
Clarendon was a stern father, and he
determined that If George Adolphus
would not sell meat he should be COM
PEELED to engage in the distribution of
tracks, with the heels toward the pa
ternal mansion. George Adolphus ac-
cepted the peripatetic alternative with
cheerful alacrity and went on an aim
less tramp. He said he was going in
search OF his proper level.
II.
Maud Muller was the only child of
retired banker in the sleepy town of
Couponville, an aristocratic village in
one Of the eastern counties of Ohio.
Maud charms, both physical and men,
tai, were the rarest ever lavished upon
women, and she had been favored with
every advantage of education that
money could purchase. Her beauty
and accomplishments had made her the
Idol of large circle of young men, to
not one of whom she had ever given
the slightest encouragement. They
swarmed under her chamber windows
on moonlight nights and made the long
hours hideous with their caterwaulings.
until old Muller got tired of it and stole
round the corner of the house with
gun loaded with tenpenny nails and let
drive at the flock. killing three outright
and wounding four others so that they
died on the following morning. That
was the kind of man Mr.. Muller was
but he was exceedingly fond of his
daughter, and had always been kind to
her.
One evening as Maud was emerging
from her boudoir. where she had been
scrutinizing a large mirror and dressing
for the opera. she was met by her father
with the information that Mr.. Muggle-
ton waited in the parlor.
Now, Mr.. Muggleton was an ancient
fossil who had taken great fancy to
Maud, and as he was man of high
social standing and great wealth, Mr.
Muller had thought best to encourage
him as much as possible, hoping that
his daughter would have the good
sense to offer no objection on account
of age.
mir. Muggleton is waiting;" repeat
ed Mr.. Muller.
'Well, give him my compliments, and
tell him to keep on waiting" returned
Maud, with some spirit.
''But don't you intend to go down?
Are YOU going to be rudeg"
20. yes" replied Maud. with an in
jured air, III 20 down and stroke his
shiny old bald head, and ask him about
his children and his grandchildren, and
recollections Of Noah. And, if you like.
I'll 90 to the opera with him, and III
ask him if there was better talent on the
boards when he and Methuselah were
youngr'
Now. Maud" said Mr. Muller. '.you
are making a fool of yourself. MIR.
Muggleton never saw Noah in his life.
As to grandchildren. you know very
well that he is bachelor, and hasn't a
relative in the world, SO far as he
knows. l command YOU to present
yourself at once, and if you don't be-
have properly. there will be a young
lady about your size begging her bread
in the streets before she is aware OF
it."
With these words the indignant fa-
Their turned on his heel and left Maud
to choose which alternative she would.