The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-06-27
the parsons blue eyes twinkle and the
corners of his mouth twitch.


| 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
l want to understand them for?'
1T might be an advantage under
some circumstances, Mr.. Leigh remark
ed.
'What is the matter! What girl do
you think it might be an advantage to
| understand?'
my ward,' answered Mr.. Leigh.
sShe is an orphan, far-way cousin of
my wife, and she has lived with us for
the past five years. She has nice
little fortune; she is pretty; she is
ell-bred-'
THAT goes without saying lnutter-
ed the parson, stroking his long beard.
But she hasn't a grain of common
sense Mr.. Leigh rose, took up
position on the rug, slipped his left
land under the short tails of his cut
away coat, and gesticulated with his
right as he warmed to his story. Last
SUMNER he began, she was twenty
one, and just out of school. She went
to Cape May with the Phippards, peo-
pie in whom placed the utmost conf
dence. l thought she was safe with
them; but 10 and behold ! she must
make the acquaintance of young gen.
tleman who held the responsible posi-
tion of bookkeeper in one of our large
hardware shops, retail concern, and
he has sold many paper of tacks over
the counter. Twas in Europe; so this
interesting tack seller ran down to Cape
May every Sunday, and staid until
Monday. Then he had clerks two
weeks vacation, and he spent that at
Cape May. I 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. 1 asked if he proposed to take
her to live over the shop
Mr.. Leigh's thin lips curled down
ward he glanced at the parson for
sympathy, but he encountered steady,
somewhat critical look.
'Why shouldn't they live over the
shop?' DR.. Melton said.
'Oh, you don't understand Mr..
Leigh exclaimed, fretfully. 'She had
been brought up in luxury, and she
ought to have some idea of what is
proper and fitting. There has been a
terrible time. Why, I assure you I
have had the sympathy of all Philadel-
phia. This hardware man had the eff
frontery to say that he had money
enough to take care of wife, just as
though he had never thought of my
wards little fortune. He begged me
to 60 and see his employers-people l
never heard of-and 1 told him that l
did not want their recommendations
,sI did not propose to hire bookkeeper.
jfIe was insolent, and 1 ordered him
out. Then she blazed away at me, the
weak, infatuated girl. tried to reason
with her; my wife talked to her; my
son-well, you see, my son wanted to
marry her, too, and he would have
been just the husband for her, but she
told him if he spoke to her she would
ask her hardware man to protect her,
Think of it AS though Morton would
insult her-the best-mannered man that
ever lived.
sAnd Morton is very fond of her.
he continued-'so fond of her, in fact,
that he is waiting like hero for this to
| 1~Iou, o1,ar thio1> he forca &c paorlu
ended, for the hardware man became
partner the other day in nail factory
or something of that sort, and week
ago he sailed for Europe. He will
have to stay year, travelling for his
firm, and when he comes back Mr..
Leigh broke off to smile astutely and
to drop the lid over his left eye.
Il don't exactly understand your OBJ
iections to him, said DR.. Melton slow
ly. Does he drink or keep low COM
pany2'
NO. answered Mr.. Leigh; 'but'-
Il beg your pardon, said the doctor,
interrupting him, 'but l want to speak
in his behalf. He must be industri-
GUS, and no fool, and prospering, or he
would not have jumped in this new
position. l confess I don't think you
have made out clear case. Of course
you want to see your son happy; but
| if she does not love your son, that ends
the matter. And if she does love this
other man, and he is honest and up
right, why should he not have hera'
sHe is not her equal, said MIR. Leigh,
you know in Philadelphia
The parson rose up with sti1ed ex-
clamation.
1T is warm in here,' he said. 4
want a little fresh air; am not used
to furnace. heated house. Poor girl
The city has not yet claimed me for its
own, and I miss the fireplace in my
old study. Poor fellow
He threw up the window, and look
ed out on wide expanse of tiny high
fence back yards; but overhead was
the clear sea of sky, where the moon
rode at anchor amid the fleet of stars.
He stood there, drawing in the crisp
December air, until tap sounded on
the door. Come in, he cried, and
one of his daughters entered-a tall,
slim girl with her fathers blue eyes.
sPapa,' she said, pressing close to
him, and smiling mysteriously, there
are some people in the parlor.
'Drawing-room, my dear, said the
doctor. sWe are in Philadelphia.
'We are not, but no MATTER she re-
turned. Il tell you there are some
people in the parlor, and think it is
our first town wedding. She is very
pretty, and she has on the loveliest
| little bonnet you ever saw. Go marry
'em quick, and let me be a witness,
only they have two witnesses with
them.
He passed his arm about her and
kissed her, she did not know why
then led her to the guest.
sMollie this classmate of mine. My
daughter, Mr.. Leigh-Mr. Harvey
Leigh, of Philadelphia. You must ex'