The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-04-24
BREAKING A MATCH.
MIR. Parks Takes as His Guide g
Novel Of the Day.

One evening Mr.. Joel Parks, q wealthy
manufacturer in the thriving New England
village OF Redield, and DR.. Mills. leading
physician of the same place, sat chatting in
the doctors office. A stranger noting the
age and rather prosaic appearance of the
two men would hardly have guessed the
topic of conversation. They were discus
sing works of fiction.
Il must have been going on fifty years
old when | read my first novel;" Mr. Parks
was saying. "You see a man that starts on
journey, as l did, barefooted, so to speak
has got to attend to business and nothing
get anywhere in particular at last He
doesn't have much time for light reading,
doctor. But in the last few years, I've read
a good many, and enjoy them, especially
when they seem true to life, and think |
can generally tell when they are. l like
Irollope on that account. | never saw an
Archbishop or Duke, but know as well
as want to that he just hits them off to a
T. And | like Howells if he does hold such
men as be up to ridicule. And let me tell
you, doctor, there's instruction in novels
Those writers have to study human nature.
I've got many a hint about managing men
from reading those books.n
Eyes, said the doctor, 1--WE read them
all my life, and like them yet-love pas
sages and all. Funny, amt it," he con-
tinued, chow two old gray heads like you
and me will follow the love story of silly
boy and girl who won't listen to their nat
ural guardians. and sympathize with them
every time. We never have any feeling
for the sensible fathers and mothers of our
own age who are being plotted against"
Il don't know about that, " was the reply
81 do sometimes sympathiZe with the old
folks, and think that if | had been in their
place | would have been more successful in
having my way"
well, Joel" said the other with laugh,
81 guess that is one point on which YOU
never get much instruction from the story
teller Papa and mama always have their
ideas of their daughters future. The wrong
young man happens along and she develops
her ideas quite opposite from theirs. And
she always comes out ahead. If you want
to carry your point with your offspring you
will have to learn how outside of story
bookn
80, as to that, perhaps the instruction
is all there, only its instructions how not
to do it. | don't suppose that l shall ever
want to interfere with my daughter about
husband or a lover; but, If should, am
not sure but that could learn something
from the noyelists"
If there were no condolences there would
be no stories. 1t was coincidence that,
later on that same evening" Mrs. Joel Parks,
an amiable lady whose mind was in her
husbands keeping, said to him:
Joel, have you ever noticed that Lee
Tilton and Annie seemed to be taking a
notion towards each otherl"
Joel was engaged with his newspaper at
the time, and he did not take his eyes from
the list of newly-appointed postmasters
which he had been reading But it cost
him an effort, for his wife's question was a
shock indeed. Such an idea had never
occurred to him, and as he sat there physi-
cally at ease, he found his thoughts sadly
crowding each other
Lee Tilton One of his own clerks
Likely fellow enough, pleasant and honest.
But he didn't like Lee Tilton. He didn't
know just why, and he had never thought
of it before, but now he was sure of so much
Lee was nothing but Redfeld boy any
way; and unambitious-stay in a little
place like that and living with his mother
and sister. And then his daughter Annie
What future was possible for that girl
Beautiful as any heroine of fiction No;
his daughter should never be given to Lee
Tilton! That was one decision, absolute
and final. A subordinate question was also
discussed and settled in mental council of
war. 1t would perhaps be as well that Mrs.
Parks should not for the present know her
husbands feelings in the matter. So much
having been arranged, he slowly raised his
eyes from the paper, looked at his wife
absently, and said
'Oonl-ehl"
81 was asking if you had noticed any
thing in particular between Lee Tilton and
,lSs.sie, " replied Mrs. Parks placidly.