The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-07-02
ONE TRUE HEART.

ia, S1lu MT. AruOlu W MS cInplOye,
young, handsome fellow, with brown
curly hair.
TOO fond of her, sir?" stammered
the Young man. surprised and con-
founded.
Yes, too fond of hertz said Mr..
Arnold. II saw you last night stand
ing at the garden gate, and you held
her hand for five minutes, and when
you said goodnight, actually kissed
her. Can you deny this?"
Il have no wish to deny it." said
young Frank Nettleford. '.Miss FL
frida did not seem angry with ME for
doing it. 1t was an impulse l could
not resist, sir"
You should have resisted, SIR" said
Mr.. Arnold. getting very red in the
face. "How dare you kiss my daugh
ter?"
I'VE are engaged. sir"
"Engagedr' said Mr.. Arnold, while
Frank closed the door of the private
office. How long have you been en-
gaged?"
"Since last night" said Frank, blush
ing like girl. at was when she con-
sented to be my wife that / kissed
her. That was the first kiss L ever
gave her."
..And it will be the last" said Mr..
Arnold.
Il hope not, sir. If you were to
separate Elfrida from me it would
break her heart"
And Frank pictured her as he had
seen her on the preceding night, clad
in the blue silk ball dress, trimmed
with lilies. How lovely she looked,
and what white, shapely shoulders she
had.
~ on are talking nonsense, MIR. Net
tleford. My daughter is too young to
think of being engaged; she is only
seventeen. Why, it is only the other
day that she was put into long frocks.
Be more discreet in future, sir, and
will still employ you. If you persist
in trying to see my daughter against
my will, you shall quit my service at
once. 1t was very ungentlemanly of
you to try to win my daughter without
consulting me. l consider you have
behaved badly"
when l escorted Elfrida home"
Miss Elfrida, if you please"
well, when l escorted Miss Eifrida
from the ball last night, the words
slipped out, Will you be my wife?' 1
cannot withdraw them now. You do
not know how l love her. Your daugh-
ter is the most lovable and beautiful
girl in the world"
You are at liberty to think as high
ly of my daughter as you like" said
MIR. Arnold; sbut you are not at iber-
" to marry her. L have higher views
for her future. Promise me that you
will give her up, and you can remain
here; but if you persist in trying to see
her, you will leave my service i'll q
week.
Very we'll, SIR" said Frank, Il will
leave this day week. l would sooner
lose my situation than lose Elfrida."
You are throwing up good situa-
tion," said Mr.. Arnold. ''Times are
hard; you will find it very hard to find
another place; but if you will be head
strong you must go.
That evening, when Mr.. Arnold ar
rived home, Elfrida was surprised to
see that he was quite alone.
why, where is Frank-Mr. Nettle-
ford. mean?"
HE is not coming here any more,
you sly, wicked little jade" said Mr..
Arnold. Il have told him to go about
his business. He will leave ME next
week"
"Why, papa?" asked Elfrida, know
ing perfectly well why all the time;
and she turned very pale.
81 have dismissed him for kissing
you last night" said Mr.. Arnold.
What right have you to be engaged,
you weak-minded baby?'
al Iowa him mana | poulnn't holm
it."
but you shall help it," said Mr..
Arnold. You shall never marry Frank
Nettleford with my consent. All
through you l have been obliged TO
dismiss him, and he will go to Samp-
son and Trudge's, and | shall be ruin
ed-ruined, do you hear-and you'll
have to wear shabby hats and sell your
piano"
Frank will not work for Sampson
and Trudge's," said Elfrida.
do. you think he'll starve?" said
Mr.. Arnold.
Yes, he would sooner starve than
90 to the rival firm. He would do
nothing to injure the father of the girl
he loves"
Time will show" said Mr.. Arnold,
with peculiar smile. Then he add
ed: Il tell you whom you must mar
ry. He is very rich, and very fond of
you"
..WhoP" asked Elfrida, with femin-
inc curiosity.
Young Partridge. the son of the
mayor. He is very rich"
He is a nice young fellow" said FL
fridS. musingly.
so he is, said her father, $50 he is,
my dear"
Yes, he is very NICE" said Elfridai
''but not like dear Frank"
Frank is scampn' cried Mr. Ar
mold, and then he sat down and wrote
letter inviting young Partridge to
come and spend the next evening with
him.
He came, but Elfrida was very cold
| to him.
At the end of the week Mr.. Arnold
shook his head. She is very fond OF
Nettleford, he told himself.
Quickly the day came when Frank
Nettleford had to leave Mr.. Arnold;
very sad he felt as he passed through
the door for the last time.
Not far from Mr.. Arnold's shop he
met gentleman, who came up to him
! with a smile on his face.
''You are Mr.. Nettleford." he said,
! looking at the young fellow.
Yes" said Frank, wondering what
the man could want with him.
"You have just left Mr.. Arnold's, u
said the stranger.
what is that to you?" cried Frank,
rather savagely, for this was a sore
subject.
81 will tell you," said the stranger
''My name is Sampson. of the firm O
Sampson and Trudge. Hearing thai
you were going to leave Mr.. Arnold,
have come to offer you situation il
our firm you shall have double Wha