The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-10-31
CTPlD'S MESSENGER.
How a Stern Parent Was Out
witJed by Two Lovers
Cnlnovingiy lie Acted A. a Po,tman for
Nears Lsrtwsen uis Daughter and Her
Komco-A Case uE Love Laugh
ing at Obstacles.

"'Lovc laughs at Ioclssmiths no doubt
OF it," said % Jolly old fellow in a car OF
the elevated railway the other day, as
he spread his newspaper on his knees
and leaned back 90 have a hearty laugh
az the story % an clopcment he had
just been reading to q New York Trib-
uue reporter This story he coutin-
ued, 'romiuds me OF the courtshiQ Of
myself and my wife, years ago, when 7
was prentice boy % a crusty old loath-
er merchant ia the swamp He used 20
live over IN Brooklyn and part of nay
meager wages were taken out in board
and lodging at his house. Of course
left my bed in the attic and was sweep
Ing out rhc couutiu--r1om long before
his old u.as was up and I returned to
my supper lonr after le had left the Of
fee for the day, yet I found time 20 fall
IN love with his pretty daughter for al
that
''Shc returned my feelings II may say
it without vanity, as we have been mar
ried now these thirty yearsl and /
stepped around in the seventh Heaven
FOR time, but tho old man soon spotted
Us and 1 narrowly escaped a severe
thrashing 10 his hands for my presump-
tion. i was bauislcd from the house
and Jane was locked up in her room on
bread and water diet for a week. OF
course, we foGud o way 20 meet once in
very long time, but how % corrC spond
as frequently as our ycaruing young
hearts desired was question that puz-
zled as for months. The post-ofice was
no use FOR there was no housc-t0-hOUse
delivery In those days, and all the letters
tor the family came 20 the counting
house and passed under the old mans
eye. and there was no one TO act as gO-
between O. whom we dare cOntide the
secret. Can't you hit some plan, Jane,
dccrF l said in despair one day, on
which we had managed 20 arrange for n
clandcsrine meeting after month spent
without glimpse Of each other. Is
there mo- one i1 your family or among
your friends or servants whom YOU
could trust % carry our notes back and
torth?'
No ono,' she replied, with q sigh.
Have / not thought and thought and
Thought as much about il as you? But
oh, / have f., have it" she exclaimed,
suddenly ciappl1v her hands. 4 hav,
found some one or last and She burst
into o poaI OF laughter SO long that ,
could hardly control my impatieuco tC
hear her discovery.
'WLo is it? Tcu me quick I said
Papa she rasped, and went OF into
another fit of laughter.
Your father? I said, astouuded.
Jane you're making cruel fun of me-,
and ] turned my back on her in a hutr.
% Il am not, indeed. dca- Billy she
replied. 4 mean just what say. You
know Vap-'s old overc0at that be
viii insist ON wearing nine months in
the year "a zprg. or all tnar every body
can say. Well TIL hide a little note to
you every day in tho lining of the coat
tail. ana when Lu hangs it up behind
the uu.lur-room door 10 viii be casy
fog yua f' get 10 og- and hide your an
swer iu the same place. oh. my, won't
10 be funny .p tuIuE of papa. who has
scf bis hear. ul Keeping us auarr. him
self carrying our layo letters back and
forth from One Co the other every dav,'
and sha burst into another merry peal
of laughter, in which joined heartily
this time.
"WoL we adopted the plan and il
worked to charm. The old hov was
our tlltGfuI posguan for years. and
often .-.l to truuhlo as / tI1u-ht ,f
the possible consequences IL ha should
over discover ono OF nay burning love
uissives I'm the tails OF his ra. tv old
coat. But hy never did. and i'm due
course ot r-ue worked my way no t1a
place lu Gls business where ho could no
4on-gg ignore nae coz my claims. Tie was
rather aetou.su,d ono day, though, when
formally asked for his daughters hand
and assured aim chat She was willing If
he Was. he consented, but il was not
D"