The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-01-25

without any notice to his employers
and the combination of porplexing cir
cumstances not unnaturally caused old
Mr.. Brown to wonder uneasily whether
they had any connection with one an
other.
Whatever the explanation of it all was,
poor Mr.. Brown was forced to remain in
state of mystification and increasing
perturbation for several days, during
which he heard nothing of his son or of
Mr. Carlow either; but one fine after
noon, on returning to his Office after a
short absence, he found Master Jack
seated in his private room, looking so
pale and nervous that he instinctively
guessed that some unpleasant revelation
was in store.
"I've called, father, to say that l am
quite willing to come into your busi-
ness" said Jack after they had ex-
changed hurried greeting.
80, indeed! You have some very good
reason for the request, no doubt" said
the old gentleman, prompted by an ir-
resistible presentment "Where have
you been?"
son my honeymoon" answered Mas
ter Jack, as unblushingly as possible.
Really. Have the pleasure of know
ing the lady?" inquired old Mr.. Brown,
| turning ominously white and beginning
| to tremble.
81 know that she promised you never
to marry me-" said Jack, raising his
voice and speaking firmly, 'but / over
| persuaded her. She is an orphan, and
was left alone in the world"
Gan orphan! Don't talk that nonsense
to me, sir. I'm afraid that I'm better
acquainted with yonr wife's character
than you are" cried old Mr.. Brown,
commencing to grow purple in the face,
as he extracted document from his
coat pocket with furious gesture.
"Read that, sir, though L expect you
know all about it,"
"What on earth is this about? Lola
what? Lola Bellr' exclaimed Jack.
glancing at the paper with bewildered
expression.
"Stay! Give me that back, Jack, :"
cried his father, hastily snatching the
paper away from him. Don't stand
staring there. Tell me who you have
married"
"Why, thought you understood. We
were talking just now of Amy Marsh
land" said Jack.
"Amy Marshland," cried his father,
subsiding into his chair with sort of
spasm of unspeakable relief.
But Jack, misunderstanding the cause
of his parents emotion, proceeded with
all the eloquence at his command to ex-
cuse his conduct and to plead for for
giveness and by the time he had fin
ished, old Mr.. Brown had risen to the
occasion.
"Well, my boy, you have given me
shock, but we'll say no more about it.
Thank God! you have married lady,
and if you are prepared to settle down
and come into the business"
"a thousand thanks, father! cried
Jack, grasping the old mans hand with
delighted fervor. "By the way, why
did you refer to Lola Bell just now?"
he added, unsuspiciously. ''Have you
heard the story?"
''The story. What story?" inquired
old Mr.. Brown, guiltily crushing the
discriminating paper in his hand.
member Stephen? 1t appears that he
wanted to marry Lola Bell, and in order
to raise money he prevailed upon an
old uncle of his to pay the woman a
large sum on the faith of some cock-and-
bull story or other. Lola entered into
the plot, but when she got the money
she bolted to Paris with somebody else.
Stephen followed in frantic state of
rage, and there was an awful row on
the boulevards the other night. It's in
all the papers. Poor Stephen is locked
up in a French prison for assault and
-s
"Serves him right. 1t sounds uncom-
monty like swindle interposed Mr..
Brown, who had turned unaccountably
red during the recital. 81 hope they'll
keep him in the French prison, and the
woman, too. Anyway, if he comes over
here again, forbid you to speak to him,
Jack-now, mind that!"-London Truth.