The Penn's Grove record., 1884-06-28

him. Something was evidently in that
old head. And then, too, he looked SO
curiously. Annie was somewhat per
picked, for those looks dwelt much on
her.
"What is it, father?" she asked of
him one morning at the breakfast table.
as be sat gazing steadfastly in her face;
'do tell me-"
II wish you would have himi' burst
forth like an avalanche. "Known him
for six years-true as a ledger-a gem
tleman-real sensible man dent talk
much-regular as clock work-prime
for business-worth his weight in
gold"
Have who, father? What are you
talking about2"
my head clerk, Copeland-you don't
know him-I do-haven't seen any body
else worth a quill"
Annie was puzzled. She laughed,
however, and said, marry my fathers
clerk; what would people say?''
"Humbug, child, all humbug-worth
forty of your whiskered, lounging, lazy
gentry; say what you please, what do l
care? what's money, after ALP got
enough of it; want a sensible man
want somebody to take care of 1t; all
humbug."
"What's all humbug, father?'
"Why. peoples notions on these mat
tiers, Copeland is pooT-so was | once,
may be again; worlds full of changes;
seen a great many of them in my day
can't stay here long-got to leave you,
Annie; wish you'd like him."
"Father, are you s~eriousP''
"Serious, child" and he looked so.
Annie was a chip of the old block; a
strong-minded, Iesolute girl. A new
idea seemed to strike her.
"Father. If you are really serious in
the matter, I'll see this Copeland; III
get acquainted with him. If he likes
me, and / like him, I'll have him. But
he shall love me for myself alone; l
must know it. Will you leave the mat
ter to meI"
go ahead, my child, and do as you
like. Good morning"
"Stop a moment, father: | shall alter
my name a little, I'll appear to be a
poor girl. a companion of our friend
Mrs. Richards, in Il street. She
shall know the whole affair; you shall
call me by my middle name Peyton; |
shall be a relative of yours; you shall
suggest the business to Mr.. Copeland,
and arrange for the first interview.
The rest will take care of itself"
81 see, 1 see," and one of those rare
smiles Illuminated his whole face. 1t
actually got between his lips, parted
them asunder, glanced upon a set of
teeth but little the worse for wear, and
was resting there, when he left the
house for his counting-room. The twi-
light of that smile had not yet gone
when he reached the well-known spot
and bowed ''good morning. to all in
his employ, for old Paul was, after all,
a polite man. On the morning of that
day what looks were directed to our
friend Charles; so many, 81 peculiar, so
full of something, and the head clerk
could not but notice them, and that
too, with some alarm. What was COM
ingP At length the volcano burst forth.
copeland, my good fellow, why
don't you get a wife?"
Had a thunderbolt fallen at his feet
he could not have been more astonished.
Did Mr.. Bremen say that, and In his
coupting-room, too! The very ledger
seemed to blush at the introduction Of
such a subject. He for the first time
made a blot on the fair pages before
him.
Il say why don't you get a wife?
know just the thing for you, prime ar
ticIe, prime article, poor enough to be
sure, what of that, a fortune In a wife
you know, a sort of relation of mine,
don't want to NEEDLE with other peo-
ple's affairs, know your business best;
can't help thinking you'll be happier;
must see her."
Now the fact is, that Charles had for
some time past thought so himself, but
how the old man should have OWNED
his feelings was quite a puzzle to him.
In the course of the day Mr.. B. handed
him a sealed document Of rather impo-
sing form, saying:
copeland, you'll oblige me by leav-
ing that at No. 81 H street. Place
1t in the hands of the person to whom
it is directed, don't want to trust it to
any n else"
The clerk saw on the outside; Mrs.
Richards, No. 81 II street. The
door bell was rung. The servant ush.
cred Copeland into a small, neat parlor,
where sat a lady, plainly dressed, en-
gagged in knitting a sock. Our friend
bowed and inquired for Mrs. Richards.
''She is not in, but is expected pres.