Daily Republican., 1884-06-11
CHILDREN TO MARRY.
BY c. M. sTANLEY-McKENNA.

CHILDKEN TO MARRY.
by G. M. sTANLEY-McKENNA.
John Symes was bachelor, crusty
and rich; lie had never msrried-neveI
thought of such folly, as he called it,
but once In his life, and then vainly-
and yet. by = really singular combina
ton of circumstances, he found him.
salt, at the age of sixty, with three
children TO marry
Children he called them, though In
reality they we're we'll grown young
people enough, and Of manageable
age. And as to their needing to be
provided for, that was true, certainly,
In Mabel Symes' case" Little Nab, "
her uncle called her. But 1t could not
be truthfully spoken Of John Howard,
who earned salary and supported
himself; nor of Catherine Gray. "Hand.
some Cathy," she was oftener called,
who, in addition to being like little
Nab, John Symes' own niece, was an
heiress In her ownright to quite . pretty
llttle fortune.
Tho way they all came into the old
mans caro- was this: Mabel came first.
Her father was Johns younger and
only brother, and married the girl on
whom our old bachelor had, in his
youth, once and for all, set his heart.
Failing to get her, since she preferred
his younger and poorer brother, he re.
mai1pd single and growled at all her
sex.
When little Mabel, her mothers
image, was sixteen years old, her father
suddenly died. The widow speedily
followed him, leaving her child to her
brother-in-law's (and former lovers
care. John Symes received her A. a
legacy from the loved and lost, and
cherished her tonderly.
"Her mother married Rrong," be
would say, sagely, secure that none
knew how and why. Poor Jem WASH t
the man for her at all. If she'd married
the ri ght man she'd be alive, and rich
and happy to-day. That's what comes
Of girls choosing husbands for them
selves. I'll choose for you, little Nab,
when your time comes, and 30 you'll
be sure to marry wisely"
Little Nab said not word against
his fancy. Her heart was young, and
sad for her parents death, nor had 1t
awakened to love yet. Nevertheless,
when young John Howard came on the
scene It flutterod q little, and she blush.
cd IS she wondered whether Uncle
Johns choice of husband for her could
possibly fall upon him.
He was twenty two and held posi-
ton In bank. His father, now dead,
had been Mr.. Symes' oontid entail clerk
'or years, and Symss had paid for tho
young mans education, and, on the
fathers death, received him into his
house. This happened almost imme-
diately after Mabel came, and she was
glad OF . youthful companion whose
sympathy and kindness ohesred her.
So those young people became warm
friends and ~ might have been ma
turally expected, after time some
thing more. Mr.. Symss never seemed
to think OF their falling in love, however
For more than year he allowed them
to take pleasure In each others society
without any restraint, occasionally
holding forth to each and both upon
the matrimonial views he held for them,
and his intention of selecting their
fumrs partners, but never appearing to
think for moment that they might
choose for themselves, still less that
they mig t choose each other.
He'll never consent to our mar
riage," said Mabel despondently, as
they talked over their hopes and fears
"If he had any such ideas for us,
would he not have told us But I be-
lieve he intends you for my cousin
Catherine, who ID his sisters only
child and rich. She is an orphan, like
ourselves, and was left in Uncle
Johns care, and is just returning from
her school in Europe. And if he has
formed such plans, John, ought not
to stand in the way, for Cathy is very
handsome girl, with money, and you
are a young man with your way to|
make in the wor Id, and 1 am poor and
And she wept little for poor "No
body" who was not to be allowed to
have even his love.
But John stood up bravely for "No-
body" cathing her In his arms and
kissing her fondly.
az love my little Nobody" said he,
"and she shall be Somebody some
day IL she becomes my wife, promise
you. Why, am able to take care of
you, dearest l earn enough for two of
us to bs happy on. Marry me, my
darling, without word to single soul,
before Cathy comes, and no one can
part US afterward."
1t will seem incredible to old, wise
heads that such piece of folly that
John proposed should have been perpe. |
trated, but 1t was, nevertheless. One
bright summer morning, very early
indeed, our two lovers slipped away to
q certain quiet church, and there, with
out word to any one but the minister
and pew.opener, got married.
They were absurdly happy afterward.
They used to get together and talk over
their future prospects upon all possible
and ran all sorts of risks Of
being found out. But either fortune
favored them, or Uncle Symes was
more than usually blind, for he never,
though he often spoke of them as chill.
lren to be "married off," seemed to
notice or suspect them.
"He never ever thinks Of such a
hing" said Mabel, in dismay. "lt
DOESN'T occur to him that we might fall
IN love. And here we are, actually
married for this week past, and Cathy
coming tomorrow.
And Tomorrow Cathy clne. Uncle