Sharp County record., 1885-06-04

New L 0rk. L dOn know tnaC WOulu
have accepted it if one of my deacons
had not had a promising son ready to
fill my place, and | think that my con-
gregation rather liked the idea of a
young dominic. l had about come to
the conclusion that should live and
die country parson; but here am"
with six thousand dollars year
and q comfortable house" added Mr.
Leigh.
The parson frowned. "A man with
four children has no right to slight a
chance of lettering his fortune; but it
was not the money that brought me to
New York. There is work here" He
broke off suddenly, perhaps because he
saw the shadow Of sneer on Mr..
Leigh's lips "And you are still living
in Philadelphia" he asked.
"Yes, indeed; l would not live any
where else. New Workers may turn up
their noses and call it village. but
Philadelphia suits people who belong to
the old Quaker stock.
Quaker! You haven't turned
Friend?" The parsons eye lit on the
glittering scarf pin. "You used to be
an Episcopalian when we were in col
lege!'
Il am yet" said Mr.. Leigh; but my
ancestors were Quakers-sOrt of cous-
ms of old Penn, you know"
"You have son, l believe, tOperpet-
uate the name?" the parson remarked,
dryly.
Zone son-an only child. Morton is
twenty-four, and reading law in my
Office. A bright fellow, too; never gives
me a moments uneasiness; always at
work; steady-going; no boyish nonsense
about him. "
"Twenty-four," the parson repeated,
"and no boyish nonsense about him?
There is a good deal of nonsense about
my boys, am hap-sorry to say. Still
l hope they won't disgrace me. Their
mother thinks they are all right, and |
am learning every day Of my life that
my wisdom, as compared with hers, is
beneath contempt. | can hardly be-
lieve you have a son twenty-four
Why, you are a spruce young man your
self"
Thanks to life free from excesses
of any kind" said Mr.. Leigh. And |
married early-I advocate an early mar
riage if man has money enough to
support family. This waiting to
scrape together paltry income is terri
bly, hard ON a young man. Yes, mar
ried early, and have every reason to
believe that my son will follow my ex-
ample"
''So!" the parson exclaimed, raising
his eyebrows very high. 81 am glad
to hear that. l married early myself,
but it was on one of the paltry incomes
"a thousand dollars, to be accurate. "
"a thousand dollarsm cried Mr..
Leigh, in horror.
Eyes; and we were happy" Dr.
Melton rose as he spoke, his eyes stray
ing toward a photograph of his wife
that stood on the mantel-shelf. He took
his pipe and filled it, smiling absently
the while. 81 can't offer you cigar, "
he said, "but if pipe
Thank you. l have cigar with
me-" said Mr. Leigh.
The two gentlemen smoked for
minute in pensiye silence.
"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 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
shoe. His host watched him until he
uncrossed his legs and looked up.
"Have you any daughters, doctor?'
he asked
1.-TWO of them" ..
"Grown up?"
Il hope so; otherwise they will tower
over my head"
"And do you understand them?"
asked Mr.. Leigh, with gravity that
made the parsons blue eyes twinkle
and the corners of his mouth twitch.
"Oh no, | don't understand them; |
don't understand any creature in petit
coats but my daughters are good girls,
and their mother assures me that they
are remarkably gifted. What do | want
to understand them for?"
at might be an advantage under
some circumstances, Mr.. Leigh re-
marked. Course itn' he exclaimed, with
sudden energy. "Oh, beg your par
don,' he added.
81 don't mind; there are times when
n man is rafreshed hv the trjll of a