Sharp County record., 1885-06-04

quaintance of young gentleman who
held the responsible position of book
keeper in one of our large hardware
shops, retail concern, and he has sold
many aspaper of tackS over the counter.
| was in Europe; so this interesting
tack-seller ran down to Cape May every
Sunday, and staid until Monday. Then
he had a clerks two weeks vacation,
and he spent that at Cape May. | came
back in October, and before had been
home twenty-four hours who should
call at the house but this young man?
He wanted to see me, and saw him,
and was informed by him that he had
wooed and won my ward. | asked if
he proposed to take her to live over the
shop"
MIR. Leigh's thin lips curled down
ward; he glanced at the parson for
sympathy, but he encountered steady,
somewhat critical look. DR.. Melton
took the pipe out of his mouth and blew
a cloud of smoke upward through his
mustache.
"Why shouldn't they live over the
shop?" he said.
"Oh, you don't understand" Mr..
Leigh exclaimed fretfully. "She has
been brought up in luxury, and she
ought to have some idea of what is
proper and fitting. There has been a
terrible time. Why, l assure you l
have had the sympathy of all Philadel-
phia. This hardware man had the
effrontery to say that he had money
enough to take care of a wife, just as
though he had never thought of my
wards little fortune. He begged me to
90 and see his employers people |
never heard of-and told him | did
not want their recommendations; did
not propose to hire book-keeper. He
was insolent and | ordered him out.
Then she blazed away at me, the weak,
infatuated girl. l tried to reason with
her; my wife talked to her; my SON
Well, you see, my son wanted to marry
her. too, and he would have made just
the husband for her, but she told him if
he spoke to her she would ask her hard
ware man to protect her Think of it!
As though Morton would insult her
the best-mannered man that ever lived. "
Mr.. Leigh had grown excited. His
cigar had gone out, and he relighted it,
drawing at it tiercely until the end
burned bright like bit Of coal.
'And Morton is very fond of her. he
continued-''s fond of her, in fact,
that he is waiting like hero for this to
blow over. l think the farce is nearly
ended, for the hardware man became
partner the other day in nail factory
or something of that sort, and week
ago be sailed for Europe. He will have
to stay year, travelling for his firm,
and when he comes back" MIR.
Leigh broke off to smile astutely and to
drop the lid over his left eye.
81 don't exactly understand your OBJ
jections to him." said DR.. Melton, slow
ly. "Does he drink, or keep low COM
pany?"
Ne" answered Mr.. Leigh; "but--"
81 beg your pardon" i" said the doc.
tor, interrupting him, ''but | want TO
speak in his behalf. He must be indus
trious. and no fool, and prospering, or
he would not have jumped into this
new position. | confess | don't think
you have made out clear case. vi
course you want to see your son happy;
but if she does not love your son, that
ends the matter. And if she does love
this other man, and he is honest and
upright, why should he not have herr"
"He is not her equal" said MIR.
Leigh. "You know in Philadelphia"
The parson rose up with stifled ex-
clamation that coming from a lay
mans lips, might have sounded pro-
fame.
"It is warm in here" he said. II
want little fresh air; am not used to
a furnace-heated house Poor girl!
The city has not yet claimed me for its
own, and | miss the fireplace in my
old study. Poor fellow?
He threw up the window, and looked
out on a wild expanse of tiny high
fenced back yards; but overhead was
the clear sea of sky, where the moon
rode at anchor amid the fleet of stars.
He stood there, drawing in the crisp
December air, until tap sounded on
the door. "Come in," he cried, and
one of his daughters entered-a tall,
slim girl with her fathers blue eyes.
Papa" she said, pressing close to
him, and smiling mysteriously, there
are some people in the parlor.
"Drawing-room, my dear" said the
DOCTOR ''We are in Philadelphia"
"We are not, but no matter" she
returned. 81 tell you there are some
people in the parlor, and l think it is
our first town wedding She is very
pretty, and she has on the loyeliest lit
tie bonnet you ever saw. Go marry EN-
quick, and let me be witness, only
they have two witnesses with them"
He passed his arm about her and
kissed her, she did not know why; then