The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-12-10
A WICKED LITTLE SCHEMER.

THAT the oldcn days were best"
-- Chrmjcrs'& JoUrRdt j. n.
A WICKED LITTLE SCHEMER.
Charles Algernon Smith, financial agent
second floor suite of onlccs ~ Cash Terrace, was II
love with Mabel Densow, pretty, industrious, In
poor. Jessie Roland. daughter of retired merchant
rich, notional, and strong minded, was correspond
ingly situated IN regard to young She had me
once by chance, who had rescued her from beiieatl
the wheels of tecklesSly driven omnibus, and will
polite bow. dcprecatory of thanks, had dlsappearo,
without even telling mo his name Tho love Of tn,
financial agent was reality, that NJ the capitalist
daughter memory, yet she cherished II all the mort
tnndly ana the romance grew moro Intense whoi
circumstances led her Into the r0lo of n porsecuci
maiden.
For papa Roland, imperious, hot headed, and de-
tcrmlncd, had announced 10 her on his return from
Boston that he had delightful visit with his OLD
sChOolmac and friend, labCz Smith. lie descantet
enthusiastically over the Odtlme friendship, til,
hOnOrcd Smith name, and over the valuable Smitl
political and financial influence. and evidently be
ucvcd he was giving Jessie delightful surprise wher
lie informed her that Jabcz had son, n handsome,
well-bobaved young man, aud that the two father
had decided that In no manner could the old family
friendship be maintained pleasantly and constantly
rs by Jessie becoming Mrs. Charles Algernon Smith
Oh Roland eyes opened to their widest. however,
as Jessie heard him through, burst into tears, and
rushed prccipitately from the apartment
''Scntimcntall'' he asptraicd, with u prolonged
whistle of Management. "Who'd have thought il
quiet Jessie, like the hest Of women, eager for q
match, but delighted To cry, laugh, and complain
over VI for the excitement OF the tlug'
Aud honest In his conviction that when the two me
all would he well, tho sCheming father sat down I,
inditc letter to the son OF his Boston friend PEI
agreement with the latter, who had already writer
to charles Algernon setting forth his wish that h,
should meet the daughter OF his old friend
Jabe5 smith was OF harder type of mankind thar
papa Roland, however, FOR lie Informed Charles Al.
gernon that there must he no nonsense. Marry anf
he would settle royal fortune, refuse aud he might
be u financial agent to tho end of the chapter.
nv a mar.
plcXy, AS he PLACED the letter he had written In au
envelope. 'What Is his middle uame-uharles Al.
bert, Charles Andrew, Charles Augustus, Charles A
-somehnE but what-ah have it--Charles Albion
smith. knew II wasa somewhat unusual name. =
Aud so the letter went through The post, directed t,
CHARLES Albion Sniil, Cash Terrace.
Alas for the well-nid plans uf the old veterans VIII,
had determined upon u marriage to suit their owl
ideas. The faithful postman follows technical accu
racieS and nothing was more natural than that whei
he came Ia No. TO- Cash Terrace and sorted out III,
smith letters, he delivered the Charles Albion Smitl
miSSive at the obscure box of an office In the frtl
story, bearing on the plate on the door: ''Charlc
Albion Smith, broker. -
IAN order FROM some city customer, suppose. ~
commented the pleisant-faccd dealer in stocks ant
bonds in % small way. q lIailoo what's thisP''
Hiscyes grew startled AS he peTused the strange mis-
Sive nom papa Roland.
"DEAR FRIEND'--it read As the schoolnat,
of your esteemed father, I can claim you as such.
shall be pleased to have you call at my residence IL
Sheffield Row Tomorrow evening. and viii tax,
pleasure IN Introducing You to my daughter Mis-
Jessie Roland. Truly yours,
MERTON ROLAND
"My father Roland-what does 1t mean ~ AMI
tho perplcNed hroker read and rercad tie letter Of
Oh Roland with no additional clue to It's signiiCanCc
cts mystery to me- he decided finally
g liut maybe 1t Is some old friend of my father, VIII,
has searched me out But the iutTolucliou-wpll
III settle the matter by acknowledging the invita-.
ton ~ aud forthwith he indited aud despatched ;
brief but courteous acceptance OF Mr.. Roand's nyi
tntiou.
MIR. Roland $ precipiatc haste prevented an expIa.
nation upon the very threshold of his plan pleas,
his old friend. shown into the drawing of the
Roland mansion the next morning, Charles Albion
Smith found himself confronted by clustering,
gOOd-ilatrred old gentleman, who shook Ills hand
warmly, enthusiastically referring 10 his FRIENDSHIP
FOR his father, and In the same breath whispering IL
the young man amazed ear, that "essIe was bash
tul, hut the marriage would delight two old, fondy.
foolish hearts, aud bottled from the apartment
leaving the broker mentally discussing the sanity ri
his strange host.
Giles here, - broke ont the old man, as he met
Jessie coming down stairs.
Her pale face and tear haunted eyes did not daprI
the old mau' s enthusiasm.
must see him, papa ?'' she faltered.
~ Must you see him ~ clustered the old man,
- Amt IL all arranged? Doesn't the young mar
Know all about the match? Won't old Jabez Smith
Just Jump ont OF his bouts to have pretty and g0ot
daughter-in-law? No sentiment, Jessie II had
the pick of the city couldn't find ms Handsome and
acceptable sonin-aw as the young man In the parlo
tlereh
"My daughter Jessie, ~ Ito said moment later
Mr.. Smith, ~ and with genuine chuckle OF salts
faction, waved his hand benencently and departed y,
Jessie had hot ycntrod to lft her face to her visitor
But he, coming close TO her side, startled her by III,
words:
lis 1t possiblc?''
little cry of joy, suppressed with better success
than the blush which recalled her TO a sense of pro.
prieiy, broke from her lips.
''MS friend of tho accident. ~ sho murmured
vaguely.
''My reckless lady of the street CROSSING =, ant
Jessie forgot the hateu marriage contract and was
secretly happy over the strange combination of cir.
cumstances which had revealed to her that her hero
the lover of her dreams, was tho of her father
old friend.
What delightful evening How swiftly the hour
flew by, how shy and happy Jessie, how flushed ant
loSoS the broker, under the rOseato influenced of frs
love!
old Roland never Interrupted the interview of III,
lovers. II was enough for him To know, from sly
famohSly, and he rubbed his hands gleeruly as Ii,
mentally pronounced ''Jabez and me are ole
sChemers.' ~
As for Mr.. Smith, life seemed to change from TIA,
mono0nous shadows OF dry routine business 10 flower
and sunshine. Half dozen visits within fortnIgll
had led to the exact result old Roland had anticipated
anu ihe happy lovers were engagei-engagcd both II
heart As well ms In name.
But one night in the incidental course of conversa
tion Jessie Roland made discovery which seemed I,
drive the blood Ia her heart like lee
Unconscious that he had assumed tho place O
another man, MIR. Smith had revealed TO her that III
was not the son Of Jabez Smith, Of Boston, wa
Charles Algcinon smith, but plain Charles Albion
Smith, broker.
He was content to receive Iesso's assurance thai
'Fhis Is too awful for anything, ~ murmurol the
enlightened maiden, appalled, ut her discovery ~
her lover left the house and she sat down 10 relec
over the complication the case had assumed.
81 aim his fault. ~ she pOutcd, 'and shan
toll him Of his mistake. hut the real Mr.. Smith
what VIII pa say when he finds OutY''
'Pa, - radiant and somewhat flushed with after.
dinner iollity, came into the room at that moment
"Wcll, my dear, my choice was not SO bad one,
ELI, yon little rOgue.h
No, papa, replied Jessie, demurely. "If you
like him. ~
"lf like him tell YOU Jessie, never saw
young man with more sense, lie Obeys his father
Jessie WINGED. 'One good point, lie suits YOU. ~
She smiled fOndly. al like him better every time
see him. l wouldn't have any one else for u son,
in-law If he had mllllons.'
"Sure, papaY''
Certain, y replied Mr.. Roland, enthusiastically.
''lhe sooner the wedding the BETTER
Jessie gave u little scream Of affected fright.
"oh papa, how can you?''
'Can what Y''
"'Talk OF sending me away
"Send you away-aTo you Gra2Y2 No, no! stay
here 10 turn your old father out Of doors when you
gel possession, SUPPOSE le playfully laughed
young man AMI he loves you. 1 want to surprise my
old friend Jahez What do you say 10 q quiet we'd
dlng SOON No cards, hut an Invitation to ul,
iaheH 10 Inakea visit aud find new relation In tn
family lla, la, la, - and old Roland laughed him
self into rare nt of humor as Jessie lifted 10 ho
room.
SOFT was arranged, aud a week later quiet wed
ding took place AZ the Roland mansion, with old Air
Roland insisting that his son-lu law was credit 4
his fatheraud man In a thousand.
Jessie started and paled slightly rs u ring came a
the door, as, after the ceremony they were seae,
In the parlor, Roland In his most ainiable mood
"Jabez " cried the old man, with both hands
extended, Chuckllng the surprise Ia store for nj
old friend from Boston, as he greeted the latter
warmly, rs he was ushered into the TOOm - Hut witt
" your friend ~
"rlls, ~ said Mr.. Smith, from Boston, turning (,
the young man AT his side, lis my undutifu sol
Charles, who never called you II seems after Al
our trouble to make him happy FUTURE
Tile severity IN old MIR. Smiths voice. tho COuT
teous bow of Ills som an lost Mr. Roland as IN
started back, his face study In ts bewilderet
anazement as lac gasped:
- Your son -
''Certany. Why what's the matter witt
you?n
The storm broke. Roland turned TO the newly
married couple. but he only shook with Suppressed
eXcltement-he could not speak.
90 | am the Culprt, papa - spoke mp Jessie, com.
from her \ and brIpnv tp