Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-05-28

Zone son-an only child. Morton
twenty-four. and reading law in m
Office. a bright fellow, too; never give
me a moments uneasiness; always a
work; steady going; no boyish nonsens
about hin"
'Twenty-four, the parson repeated
land no boyish nonsense about him
There is a good deal of nonsense abou
my boys. l am hap sorry to say. Still
| hope they won't disgrace me. Thei
mother thinks they are all right. and
am learning every day of my life tina
my wisdom, as compared with hers, i
beneath contempt l can hardly be
lieve YOU have son tventy-four
Why. you area spruce young man your
self
Thanks to life free, from excesse.
of any kind" said Mr.. Leigh. And
married early-I advocate an early mar
rage if a man has money enough Il
support family This waiting tc
scrape together paltry income is terri
bly, hard on young man. Yes, mar
ried early, and have every reason &c
believe that my son will follow my ex.
ample
So" the parson excla med. raising
his eyebrows very high. Il am glad
to hear that. | married early myself
but it was on on" of the pa!try incomes
"a thousand dollars. to be accurate. y
"A thousand dollars cried Mr..
Leigh, in horror.
YES; and we We're happy" DIR.
Melton rose as he spoke, his eyes stray
ing toward a photograph of his wife
that stood on the mantel-shelf. He took
his pine and filed it, smiling absently
the while. - can't offer you gar,
he said, but if pipe"
Thank vou. | have a cigar with
me. said Mr. Leigh.
The two gentlemen smoked FOR a
minute in penSive silence.
And when is your boy to marry?'
, asked the doctor.
GA, it is not quite arranged vet"
$50 yOu arrange MARI ages in Phila-
deiphia? And this particular marriage
is not quite arranged? Humph, | don't
understand that sort of thing. Up in the
country it is, Mary, l love you,' and
JACK, love you in return and then
my services are called for. How does
one arrange marriage in Philadel-
phia?'
The touch of sarcasm was quite lost
on Mr.. Leigh, who had crossed his legs
and sat absorbed in thought, frowning
at the patent-leather tip on his neat
shor. His lost watched him until he
increased his | rs and looked up.
Have you any daughters, doctor?"
he asked
Two of them"
Grown up?'
Il hope so; otherwise they will tower
over my head"
And do YOU understand Them"
asked Mr.. Leigh. with Il gravity that
made tn" parsons blue eyes twinkle
and the corners o. his mouth twitch.
''Oh no. don't understand them;
/ don t understand any crea ure in pc IT,
coats: but my daughters are good girls,
and their mother assures me that they
are remarkably g.fied. What do want
to understan them for?'
at might be al advantage under
some circumstances Air. Leigh re-
marked. Curse it, he exclaimed. with
sudden energy. "Oh. / beg your par
don, he Il ded.
Il don't mind; there are times when
man is refreshed by the trill of a
curse, said the par Oh, who read Jean
Paul. What is the matter, though?
What girl do YOU think it might be an
advantage 10 understand"
My wari,' answered Mr.. Leigh
'tShe is an orphan, Il PARKWAY cousin
OF M wife, and she has lived with us
tor the past five years. She has a 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 Mr.. Leigh rose. took up a
position on the rug, >lippel his left hand
under the short tails of his cut-awav
coat. and gesticulate with his right as
he warmed to his story. Last sum-
mer. he began. ''She was twenty-one.
and Just out of school. She went t.
Cape MAY with the Phipoard~. people
in whom place the utmost confidence.
! thought she was safe with them: but
10 and behold, she must make the ac-
gualntance OF young gentleman who
held the responsible position OF book
kecrer in one of cur large hardware
shops. retail concern. and he has sold
many a:paper 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 clerk two weeks vacation,
and he speat that at Cape Nav. ! 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. DIR. Melton
took the pipe ont of his mouth and blew
clond of smoke upward through his
mustache
Why shouldn't they live over the
shop?' ne said.
oh, you don't understand" Mr.
Leigh exclaimed. fresfully She has
been brought up in luxury, and she
ought to nave some idea of what is
proper and fitting. There has been a
terrible time. Why. l assure YOU |
have had the sympathy of all Philalel |
phia. This hardware man hal the |
etfrontery to say that he had money |
enough TO take care of wife, Just Is
though he had never thought of my |
wards little fortune He begged me to |
go 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. |