The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1883-04-27

lhtu. WIN OUT pdItluliy TctotciCV
equanimity. he leaned back and gazed
up at the Sisiinc Madonna on the wall
before him.
The air of the room had grown very
close and warm. and the cushions of his
chair seemed to wax softer and softer to
his yielding frame; and still he sat with
eyes wide open, looking up abstractedly
at the divinely beautiful face above him.
The slender Egyptian urns on the
mantel appeared to grow smaller and
smaller The tick of the Swiss clock
sounded farther and farther away. and
it seemed to Mr.. Caruthers rs if he was
just about to sink in dreamy delicious
doze, when a slight movement at his
elbow caused him to turn.
The ruby wine in the costly decantcr
still sparkled on. The cigars reposed
peacefully ON the terra-cotta tray; but
where was the little bronze frog?
Mr.. Caruthers did not have far to look.
There, perched on the topmost bar of
the silver CRATE, with form swelled To five
times its original size, needless of the
fervid heat, sat the creature, with a
malicious CLEAN sparkling in its small
green eyes.
$50 you won't allow your daughter
to marry Frank Remson," it croaked in
voice as hoarse as voice could very
well be. ''And he's a rascal, because he
hasn't made fortune while his hair is
yet unturned and his years number less
than thirty! Why, you were not so very
much ON time yourself, old man!'
Mr. Castleton Caruthers drew himself
up to his full height. and his outraged
dignity was something impossible to con-
template.
s'Come, now" said the frog, turning
a somersault into the fire and landing on
the silver bar again, ''you don't remem-
Der n little cabin in country lane, do
you? and harefooted boy with an un-
tidy low head, who used to roam around,
helping himself freely to t c contea ,.t
fruit orchards, and whom the pestered
villagers used to call little Bill Caruth-
crsp'"
The form in the chair softened its Dig
nilied aspect q little. and an actual
smile lowered around its lips. All, no
days could ever be like the childish days
of yore
''Goodr' croalled the frog. ''Now be-
hold the wild urchin, grown a shy awk-
ward lad, starting out into the world to
carve his own fortune. He comes TO n
great city, begins work in an office, and,
by patient application, advances step by
/, step to clerkship, and wins the conf
dencc of his wealthy employer by his
honest integrity and fine business capa-
bility."
The smile faded from Mr.. Caruther's
face, and look of gratiiied pride shone
there instead.
''One day he is thrown into the COM
pany of his employers daughter, and he
loves her. She is rich; he comparative
ly poor, but advancing. He goes like q
true man to her father and states his
case. What does the parent say? He
says:
William Caruthers, moneyis agGOd
thing, but it will sometimes take TO it
self wings and flee away. You have
honest hands and good business head,
and the possession of those are equiva-
lent to any fortune. Take her and be
That old mans Judgment was cor
rect.
"On the death of his employer, the
once clerk became head of the firm, and
took his Wife maiden name of Castle
ton to precedc his own; and years went
on.
Mr.. Caruthers leaned forward and
gazed into the small green eyes before
him, as If completely fascinated.
But success marred the nature Of
this man instead of elevating it, and he
became despot over n small kingdoms;
and his subjects consisted of two delicate
women and couple of half-grown boys.
These he tyrannized over to his
heart content, till his presence, instead
of being welcomed came to be feared
and dreaded"
All the hoarseness suddenly died out
of the creatures voice, and it took on u
stern accusing tone.
land what is the result?
"The wife, who gave up wealth and
position to marry poor man, not
knowing that she would regain both in
the future, is timid shrinking woman,
starting at the very sound of her lord 5
autocratic voice.
''His only daughter knows nothing of
fathers sympathy, and the lads are
beginning to hate the elegant home
where no boyish freedom is allowed
them
I'm sure, stammered Mr.. Caruthers,
shrinking to half his size, IL
"Sience, sir!'
The tone was so exact an imitation of
his own that he actually started.
why" he repeated, Il"
Don't you dare contradict me, sir!''
The frog turned one of his favortc
somersaults into the fire.
''How long would you remain in q
home, if you, % high-spirited lad, were
| spoken to like that by father?'
Mr.. Caruthers sat with a shamed look
on his face and wisely said nothing.
Suddenly the fog disappeared, leaving
nothing but the bed of glowing Goals.
Listen" said voice so sweet and
sad that the dreamer thought it must be
n messenger from the spirit world.
''Some day there will lie in the stately
parlors below n wan face whittier than