The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-01-05
me T0nn0DDY WEDDING,

ou6 " UUOUu W6UUU .
Mr.. Roderick Macaulay was an.
noyed. Ho had two causes for vexa.
ton just then, one connected with his
journal and one with his daughter.
For Mr.. Macaulay was not only pro.
prieter of the Evening Blazer, aprofit-
able and popular paper. but tho iather
of q very charming daughter. Grace,
who had turned the age 0, twenty.
AZ to proprietorship. Grace generally
asserted her ownership of him; but
juat now the father was in q state
of rebellion. The journal gave very
little trouble. and brought him in lots
OF money. He had q managing editor
who understood his business, and who
was a scapegoat whenever one OF the
blunders Of the proprietor, who would
interfere, produced disastrous conse-
quences. To balance that, Mr.. Ma.
carlny always appropriated the glory
OF his managing editors successes to
himself. His daughter gave him no
end OF trouble, and cost him q heap OF
money. He did not grudge the ex.
pense; but when she informed him
that she had accepted Mr.. Frank Ell.
ton as a husband.elect. and expected
the paternal consent, it was too much
Tor any man to stand.
For Mr.. Frank Elton, though q
bright young fellow enough, active az
a 2-year old colt, and bold as OF.
iginal sin. had no prospects. He was
only what actors would call "a utility
man" on the Blazers staff; or as he
put it, Il make myself necessary" Ii
the leader writer fell sick, Frank filled
his place, and did it very we'll. If the
city editor went off ION drunk, ~
which he did once a :nonth-being the
best around, tins little eccentricity
was overlooked-Frank "bossed" the
city department. But his great work
lay in the reporting of social events,
the balls, kettledrum, weddings, funer.
ais, and other pleasant occasions. His
accounts were marvels Of Jenkinsism,
especially his description of the ladies'
dresses, which would have done credit
to q mantuamaker. They had made
the Blazers reputation in "s assiety."
Decidedly, as @ member of the staff,
Frank was highly useful. But Mr..
Macau;ay objected to him as son.
in-law. For Frank had met Grace
at one OF these gatherings, and i'm.
pressed her. They had gradually
grown intimate. The father found it
out through some good natured
friend. and interposed g. veto. He
was astOunded when Grace told him
fatty that she would have Frank or
no one, and that when she was 2l,
and mistress of the snug little sum
loft her by her mother, she would be
married with the parental consent or
without it.
Bad enough; but the vexation con-
nected with the Blazer was bad also.
That journal was to be prevented
from showing its strong point. Miss
Gwendoline Tomaoddy was to be led
to the altar by Mr.. Alfred Toplofty.
This was to be the event of the sea.
son. The Tomnoddys and the Top.
loftys were the cream of the cream OF
'sassiety." To be sure the grand
father OF Gwendoline had laid
the foundation of his fortune
by successful contract in
street cleaning; that is to say,
it was successful so far as his bank
account was concerned. People had
called him a ''screwing old scavenger,"
but he died worth q million; and his
only son, by lucky purchases of min
ing shares, had multiplied the
amount by ten. And Gwendoline was
an only child. A million gives re.
spectability, no matter how gained,
for dirt does not stick to gold; and
ten millions give a patent of nobility
in any land where money is king and
honesty has become a rae-picker. As
for the Toploftys, there was not a
blot Oh their family escutcheon. They
had only .toiled in signing cheques and
cutting of coupons. The wedding
was to be a great affair, and ALLOWING
account OF it was needed, If the Blazer
was to keep up its reputation.
But there was a bar to free journal
ism, and check to the spirit of in
quiry. The Toploftys insisted that
while all "sassiety" and he wife should
be invited, the press should be barred
out: No profane reporter should set
his foot within the charmed circle.
Those invited to the church, or to the
wedding breakfast, were upon honor
not to give the reporters ''points."
The only thing that leaked out was
that Peter O'Rourke, the great florist,
had carlo blanche as to floral decora-
ton ut the church and house; but
there was nothing now in that, for
O'Rourke had the custom OF "sassie-
ty" before all his brethren. Every
attempt to get a Judgment failed, and
the Blazer people were in despair.
The day before the wedding, Mr..
Macaulay went home to dinner in a
very gloomy state of mind. The first
person he ran against in the house
was Frank Elton.
What VIII the (blank) are you doing
here?" he asked.
dropped in to see Grace" replied
Frank, coolly.
swell, drop out. Why amt you
attending to business?''
"Done, for to-day. Shall report TO-
morrow morning at seven and a hall
sharp. Always do"
And Frank deliberately removed a
hair from his coat-sleevo.
Now that hair. engendering suspi-
cions, had the effect upon Mr.. Macau.
lay Of a red rag on wild bull; and he
loaned with rage.
"You're a very useful man, Mr.. e.
ton, but the Blazer can do without
you. Consider yourself discharged and
keep from here.''
"Certainly, Mr.. Macaulay, 50 far as
the discharged is concerned. It is q
transfer of posts. The Grower will
be < lad to get me, especially rs have
made arrangements to give q full and
detailed report OF the Tomnoddy wed.
ding tomorrow. Good day."
Here! Stop!' Between the Growler
and Blazer there was open war. Nei-
IS kho ,,,:A