Daily Republican., 1886-10-05
LOVE VERSUS LEOGERs.
BY u. b.

The Channings were going to Long
Branch. 1t had been settled after due
amount Of coaxing and scolding and a
profuse FLASHING of tears, the tears
proving the most effectual argument,
for what man, with heart in his
bosom, can resist their eloquent plead
mgr
Mrs. Charming hac almost despaired
OF gaining her case, for her husband
had other plans for the summer, and
also for his surplus change. At last
she tearfully appealed to his sympa-
thy, by representing the need of a
change of air for their eldest daughter.
Aggie Charming, tall, delicate,
languid beauty, was suffering emore
from the want of healthful exercise
than from any physical ailment, but
1t was case of nervous prostration,
so said their physician, and when
Mrs. Charming artfully suggested that
he should prescribe sea air, he advised
a trip to Long Branch, and received
ior the prescription crisp five dollar
Dill, which was slipped into his
pocket with evident satisfaction; while
Miss Aggie's pale blue eyes sparkled
as she remembered from past expert
ence that the tonic DR.. Greene had
recommended was not bad to take
Even the anticipation of it seemed to
brace her up wonderfully, judging by
the amount of shopping which she
contrived to do, and the calls made at
Madam Nixon's fashionable dressmak-
ing rooms were almost innumerable.
However, as the result, Aggie Chan
ming was able to stow away in the
depths of her huge Saratoga trunk
several elegant suits, while single
black silk WAS all that Mrs. Charming
allowed herself.
1t took some time TO bring their
wardrobes to the state of perfection
which they deemed essential to sum-
mer campaign, and when they had
gone Mr.. Charming and Edith, the
youngest daughter, were left alone.
Not quite-ior Mrs. Harthwell, the
faithful housekeeper, remained in
charge, so that household arrange
ments were still unchanged.
Edith Charming, a bright, gleeful
girl in her teens, was not fair like
Aggie. An olive skin, and dark
brown eyes. with hair of q blue-black
shade that waved and rippled about a
broad, low brow, were the heritage
Nature had bestowed upon her, and
when she looked at her sisters blonde
loneliness she wished, sometimes,
that the delicate shades Of dress which
Aggie wore were as becoming to her.
But that Edith Charming was bru-
nette was fixed fact, and it did not
give very serious annoyance.
Her temperament was buoyant, and
she was the sunshine of the household,
especially so to her father.
Concentrating his whole energy up
on business through the day, It was
Edith, more than any member of his
family, to whom Mr.. Charming turned
for sympathy when he came home at
night, and it was her soft gentle hands
that smoothed away the lines of care
from his brow and exercised the spirit
of care and unrest.
But OF late something had come over
her father that Edith could not un-
derstand. He was just as kind and at
fectionate as ever, but he was grave
, and preoccupied, and spent his even
ings mostly in the library, apparently
busy with his accounts.
After her mother and sister had gone,
Edith noticed still more change in her
father.
The girl was lonesome, and after
practicing on the piano and busying
herself with her fancy work and her
birds and flowers till she wearied of
them all, she would nestle quietly
down on a hassock at her fathers feet,
and wait in the evening stiffness for 8
O'Clock and goodnight kiss.
One night he looked so wretched that
she begged to know what worried
him.
"Oh, child, you would not under
stand if should tell you," Mr.. Chan
ming made answer, letting his hand
rest tenderly upon Editb's glossy
curls,
"Why, papa" the little maiden an
swcred confidently, I'm not a child.
| shall be II next month. Professor
Berkeley said l was quick and accurate
in figures, and should 80 much like
to help you"
Can you keep a secret, my little
girl2" Mr.. Charming asked, as he put
his arm about her slight form and
clasped her to his breast with unwont-
ed emotion.
ga dozen if you wish, papa, only
don't look so SOBER" Edith answered
in her impulsive fashion, and then the
grave man told his daughter that he
was on the brink of financial ruin that
constant labor was required in looking
over the accounts of the firm, and that
Mr.. Morton, the senior partner, was
almost distracted, and quite incapable
OF assisting him.
81 feel certain chat can help you,"
Edith said, sure of her mathematical
knowledge, and at last Mr.. Charming
set her at work. He found that she
understood clearly the perplexing de-
tails, and he was surprised to see the
quickness and accuracy Of her reckon
ing; while after several hours of close
application, the worried man was con-
WINGED that in little Edith he had found
invaluable aid.
There had been lamentable blunders
between day book and ledger, and
Edith's thorough knowledge of book
keeping, branch that she had been
particularly fond of while at school,
might straighten the tangle.
After few hours of her assistance,
Mr.. Charming had reason to believe