Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1888-12-06
to earn, and the origin of which

that perhaps II proper marriage might make
change. A good wife, if the young man
was not past cure, might alter the whole
tone OF his life, by removing him from the
influences that surround him.
Aye, there's the rub, if he could only
get good wife, but what call good SEN
elble woman wouldn't have anything to say
to him. Oh, no; no such luck. 1 wouldn't
care If she hadn't second suit to her
pack, II she would only mold him into
something. AS it is, he spends his life
rigidly in doing nothing except nursing Q
little cane, admiring his clothes, distortina
the language he learned to speak when q
child into something nobody speaks but
himself and his class--dudes, think they
call 'em-agd then wonders that don't
approve or 1t"
BY this time the old man had worked
himself into state of almost anger, but
Marion soon Gained him, and she went on
and said
@You have more family, Mr.. Smith,"
Yes, have daughter. God bless the
poor little girl. / often wonder. Miss De-
iorme, how she does SO we'll, considering
all the circumstances
Stanley felt as though he could have
taken the old man to his heart and Rugged
him.
She works, he continued, "all the
time. She's always got something to do;
some poor old woman to attend to, some
church festival to assist at, or, if nothing
else, waiting on her mother or her lazy
brother. She don't seem even to find time
to go shopping, that womans paradise,
and declare, Miss Delorme 1 don't be-
lieve she'd what is called dress if her
mother wasn't given that way, and lugged
n "a 6raS lar hak
am always delighted to give Clarry money,
without question, but l declare 1 begrudga
every dollar that worthless, lazy son Of
mine spends"
Your daughter must be great joy in
your house, Mr.. Smith," said Marion, with
Rn arch look at Percy It'll be sad day
when you lose her.
Indeed she is, Miss Delorme. Clarry
isn't dreadful smart. I'm glad to say. but
she's no fool, and she's as pretty and inno-
cent as God makes EN-"
Stanley was almost about to exclaim
"Thats so!' when Septimus began again.
AS to losing her" he said, II have a
pledge from her on that point She doesn't
marry without my consent, and l have
pledged myself to give my consent to any
man who really loves her, is worthy of her,
and who knows how to earn his own living
She doesn't seem to take much to these
little, high bred fellows like my son,
though she is very fond of him, and SO
have some hope, though l don't conside,
der out of danger. for the little wretches
swarm everywhere. AS to my son, sup
pose he'll marry some little nonentity OF
his own grade. as his mother tells him he
must marry rich and live, as he has begun,
worthless life."
At this moment Septimus stopped sud-
lenly and gazed at portrait on the wall
with intense interest, and from the portrait
1e cast a quick glance at Miss Delorme,
shen back to the portrait. After minute
Of silence he said eagerly:
Mr.. Stanley, I'll give you a thousand
dollars for that picture.
"That can't positively sell, Mr.. Smith, :"
said Stanley, laughing, while Marion
blushed very red. at is the portrait Of
Miss Delorme, and belongs to her.
"Um!" said Septimus, with his eyes still
On the portrait. We'll, you know business
is business, and though have never done
business with a lady, I'll commission you
to do it for me. If you will purchase that
picture of Miss Delorme for me, I'll give
you thousand dollars. How'll that dor"
Il will not sell my portrait, Mr.. Smith, "
said Marion, with smile, but if you will
accept it will give it to you.
UNI" said Septimus, q little bothered.
Il don't know how that will do. What do
you think of it, Mr.. Stanley?"
Il think well of it, sir. Miss Delorme is
OF age and can dispose of her own prop
erty. advise you to accept it." answered
Stanley, with laugh, which was echoed
merrily by Marion
Il think l WILL" said Septimus, gravely.
sThe fact is. Miss Delolme, I'm greedy,
and when / see thing want. I. some-
how, want it.
But what will Mrs. Smith shy to your
bringing home lady's portrait, Mr.. Smith, +"
said Marion, with another merry peal Of
laughter.
"Ohl Bertie's all right, Miss. She's
never jealous of me. She never had ocl
casion to be, not even when I was young
and handsome, ha! ha! ha! aud certainly
she wouldn't be now, when am old and
ugly. ha! ha! hal" Septimus always laughed
the heartiest over his own jokes. Il wish
you could know my daughter, Miss De-
!orme. Will you call on her. or will she
call on you, Tomorrow"
Marion said that she would be glad to
meet Miss Smith, and suggested that her
father should bring her the next day to see
the picture, as it was to be vanished and
could not be removed for day or two,
and it was agreed that on the following af-
ternoon such should be the programme,
and Septimus departed more delighted
than he had been for years with his two
hours in the artists studio, and thinking
to himself:
Hum! now there's girl for you. BY
gingerl if / was forty years younger I'd
fall in love with her on sight. and marry
her on an hours notice. Now if that dom
key of a son of mine would only get hold
Of girl like that there'd be something in
it. She could make something out of him
if there's any material left; but he don't
know how to do it, aud such girl don't
want him, no matter how much money
might give him. No! no! And that's a
fine fellow, too, that Stanley. He must be
making money, for they say he has more
orders than he can attend to and works like
horse He acted like trump about that
De Sorter, and about the portrait I'll
have that portrait hung in the parlor, by
George. and tell everybody that it was
given to me by the most charming girl I
ever met in my life, except my wife.
Hem!"
That was what Septimus said or thought,
and here is what Stanley and Marion said,
when the old man went away.
Hes rather pleasant than otherwise, "
said Stanley, smiling.
Pleasant, responded Marion, that's d
poor word for it, Percy. declare I think
he's delightful, like his little vulgari-