The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-09-24

fashion plates"
So poor Evelyn dried her tears lest
u stray drop should mar the won
drous simmer OF tie pearly silk in
hcr lap, but the wounds bled inward
ly all the same.
But Charles Stuart went to the
wherein his hours of
daily labor were spent with an abstract
ed countenance and troubled heart.
Rugg, Jeflery & Co, knew not what
to think of him. The three kind-heart-
ed old gentleman were nearly as fond
of Charlie as il he had been their own
son.
"That's three times you've blotted
out that bill of lading, Stuart, and
twice you've overset the inkstand
within the last hour" said Eneas
Rugg, deliberately taking off fhis spec
tacles and cycling his bewildered clerk.
"What is the matter with you2"
"You're not at all like yourself this
morning" said old Mr.. Jeffery.
"Absent-minded, selfengrossed," adj
ded Mr.. Merry, who was the &C.,"
"Make clean breast OF it, my boy
Tell us what the trouble is"
Charlie dashed down his pen de-
sparingly.
"The matter is, sir, that | am miser-
able. The sweetest girl in New York
-"
"Meaning Miss Evelyn Forester.
You see we keep an eye on you, young
man." chuckled old Mr., Rugg "and |
admire your taste"
Eyes, sir, Miss FoTester-is about to
be sacrificed to old Pennithorne's
wealth, although she loves me and !
love her. Do you suppose ! can stand
by and witness her wretchedness, and
my own bitter Disappointment, unmov
ed?"
Eneas Rugg wiped his spectacles
Mr.. Jeffery took snuff, and Mr.. Merr,
rubbed his jolly red nose.
"Pennithorne, Pennithorne," repeat
ed the former. 81 know him-fat ole
stock-broker-head like billiard ball
and heart like stone; sixty-three, j
he's day And so the pretty littl
dressmaking girl is to be sacrificed t.
him? 1t won't dot will never do"
Cant be allowedp cried Jeffery
Perfectly outrageous" said MI
Merry, growing purple in the face.
Mr.. Rugg clasped his hands behin
his back and strobe two or three time
up and down the Office floor.
"No, it will never do" he repeated
Charlie, my boy, don't look so cas-
down, Just step over to the dock an
see about the loading of that SPANS
vessel with the queer name. / prom
ised to go myself, but I've other bus
ness on hand Well look after you
interests, Charlie, | and my partners
eyes, but, sir"
! "Not word, youngster. I'll hay
: neither making nor meddling in tn
affair. l tell you, you shall marry ii
nice little blue-eyed girl yet, TAX
l your hat and be off like shot"
And Charlie Stuart obeyed, for /
knew that when Eneas Rugg ont
took thing in hand he was pret
: likely to engineer it through, thoul
obsticles were piled higher than ii
: Rocky Mountains.
y The three old gentlemen consult,
) together in mysterious whispers, aft
their confidential clerk was gone, al
i finally separated aboue their sever
/ business, with beaming countenanc
/ Of satisfaction.
s. The clubhouse was quite full th
:, evening as Mr.. Pennithorne saunter
ina stout-built, coarse-featured {
gentleman, with u bald head and
o curiously mottled countenance. ]
q was not just the sort of looking pers
'0 for charming girl of eighteen to (
III love with but gold spreads a Gu
: Gus glamour over ihe eyesight of mo
ers and guardians in many such ca
as this.
:, whats the matter, Rugg?" he
~ manded OF old Eneas, who sat al
~ table screwing up his face over a I
. of little papers. Toothache, eh?"
~ "Worse than that, my dear fellC
- worse than thatl" groaned Rugg, c,
a fidentially hooking his forefnger il
no the third button-hole of Mr.. Pen
" thorne's coat and drawing him neal
III "You may thank your stars that ,
10 are not married man. Bills, b
o' -exorbitant bills-extravagant bill
ck outrageous bills! A woman, sir,
~ no more idea Of the value of mo-
than babe"
ng "Somc women have not perh'
ne, but"
'e- "AH women,I tell you, Pennithor
lb- cried Rugg.
en- eyes, but suppose they have b
ms brought up In poverty and the ST.
lie, est economy?"
ly. "All the worse. sir, when they c