News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-05-28
A Love. Story.

ginning to feel at home in his new par.
sonsge when he was surprised one even.
Ing to receive call from his classmate
Harvey Leigh. In college days they
had been friends, and for while after
their graduation they had exchanged
letters and visits; but the letters and
visits had come to an end long ago, and
it was many years since they had met.
After some conversation on general
matters, DR.. Melton said:
''You have a son, I believe, to per-
petuate the name ?"
"One son-an only child. Morton is
twenty-four. and reading law in my Of
fee. A bright fellow, too; never gives
me moments uneasiness; always at
work; steady-going; no boyish nonsense
about him."
''And when is your boy to marry ?"
asked the doctor.
"Oh, it is not quite arranged yet"
$50 you arrange marriages in Phila-
delphia? And this particular marriage
is not quite arranged2 Humph I
don't understand that sort of thing. Up
in the country it is, Mary, 1 love you,'
and Jack, I love you in return and
then my services are called for. How
does one arrange marriage in Philadel-
phia2 2''
The touch of sarcasm was quite lost
on MIR. Leigh, who had crossed his legs,
and sat absorbed in thought, frowning
at the patent-leather tip of his neat
shoe. His host watched him until he
uncrossed his legs and looked up.
"Have you any daughters, doctor ?"
he asked.
'Two of them"
"Grown up?"
81 hope so; otherwise they will tower
over my head"
"And do you understand them ?'
asked Mr.. Leigh, with a gravity that
made the parsons blue eyes twinkle and
the corner of his mouth twitch.
"Oh, no, don't understand them
I don't understand any creature in petit
coats but my daughters are good
girls, and their mother assures me that
they sre remarkably gifted. What do I
want to understand them for ?"
"It might be an advantage under
some circumstances" Mr.. Leigh re-
marked.
"What is the matter? What girl do
you think it might be an advantage to
?"
"My ward" answered MIR. Leigh.
:" She is an orphan, far-away cousin
Of my wife, and she has lived with us
Tor the past five years. She has nice
little fortune; she is pretty; she is we'll
bred"
"That goes without saying, muttered
the parson, stroking his long beard.
"But she hasn't grain of common
sense" MIR. Leigh rose, took up posi-
lion on the rug, slipped his left hand
under the short tails of his cut-away
coat, and gesticulated with his right as
be warmed to the story. "Last sum-
mer," he began, "she was twenty-one,
and just out of school. She went to
Cape May with the Phippards, people
10 whom ! placed the utmost confidence.
thought she was safe with them but
10 and behold she must make the
of a young gentleman who
held the responsible position of book
keeper in one of our large hardware
shops, retail concern, and he has sold
many paper OF tacks over the counter.
was in Europe; so this interesting
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. I came
back in October, and before I had been
nome twenty-four hours who should call
1t the house but this young manP He
wanted to see me, and saw him, and
was informed by him that he had wooed
md won my ward. asked if he pro-
posed to take her to live over the shop"
Mr.. Leigh's thin lips curled down
ward; he glanced at the parson for SYM
'athy, but he encountered steady,
omewhat critical look. DIR. Melton
ook the pipe out of his mouth and blew
! cloud of smoke upward through his
nustache.
"Why shouldn't they live over the
hop?" he said.
"Oh, you don't understand" Mr..
leigh exclaimed, fretfully. "She has
een brought up in luxury, and she
ught to have some idea of what is
roper and fitting. There has been a
errible time. Why, I assure you 1
ave had the sympathy of all Philadel-
his. This hardware man had the
ffrontery to say that he had money
nough to take care OF wife, just as
lough he had never thought OF my
ards little fortune. He begged me to
o and see his exployers-people 1
ever dreamt of-and 1 told him that
did not want their recommendations;
did not propose to hire bookkeeper.
[e was insolent, and ordered him out.
hen she blazed away at me, the weak,
lfatuated girl. / tried to reason with
er; my wife talked to her; my son
Yell, you see, my son wanted to marry |
er too, and he would have made Just |
,e husband for her, but she told him if
Q spoke to her she would ask her hard
are man to protect her. Think of 1t |
8 though Morton would insult her
,e best-mannered man that ever lived"
Mr.. Leigh had grown excited. His
gar had gone out, and he relighted it,
rawing at it fercely until the end
urned bright like bit of coal.
"And Morton is very fond OF her."
Q continued-''s fond of her, in fact,
nat he is waiting like hero for this to
low over. think the farce is nearly
nded. for the hardware man became |