Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-04-25
His Partners Daughter.

Mr.. Brewster handed his partner
daughter to the large plate-glass
doors, bowed low, showed his fine
teeth in warm smile, and stood look
ing after her as she walked away
smiling still.
Mr.. Brewster was forty-odd, and a
well-preserved and handsome man.
Margaret Clifford was twenty, and
charming girl
This was not the first time certain
idea had presented itself TO Mr. Brew
ster's mind.
He had thought that he had finished
with all that soft Of thing when a
tender passage in his life had closed
disastrously twenty years ago-when
there had been a foolish quarrel and
betrothal ring sent back, and then,
a few months later, a cruel marriage
notice in the papers. He had thought
that his lonely life must be his pun
ishment for his hasty injustice, and
that he could never care for another
woman.
But when Margaret Clifford had
burst upon him one day, beautiful
and radiant, he had felt a new sensa-
| ton.
When she had brightly talked with
him, perched on dry-goods box, per
haps he had felt his heart grow warm
within him; when she had made a lit
tie call in the private ofiice-but she
was at home all over the store and
! good friends with all the employees
and laughed and chatted with him,
from all arm of his big chair, he had
felt odd, new hopes stirring in his
| breast
He knew well enough .how George
Clifford would view it, The marriage
of his daughter to his partner, who,
with himself, ranked with the fore
most of the solid prosperous men oil
the city, would not fail TO crafty
| him.
Mr. Brewster thought that he might
bring the girl to care for him. Bet
ter he than some young scapegrace
who would make her miserable. She
would make charming mistress for
the fine house he could give her.
Twenty years younger? What of that
He would make her too happy to
| think Of it,
He pulled his moustache, just
touched with gray, to disguise the
broad smile he could not repress.
There was fresh bill Of goods up
| stairs to be invOiced. and Mr. Brew
/ ster took the elevator to look at it.
Not but John Carruthers would
attend to it perfectly. Carruthers
was the upstairs manager, and a
treasure-only twenty-five or so, but
uncommonly clever and efficient and
honest: the sort of fellow 10 make his
mark.
But Mr.. Brewster was not thinking
| Of John Carruthers just now; he had
! before him distinct picture Of oval
/ cheeks and a sweet mouth, which
/ hopelessly confused all else.
He had paused behind a mammoth
box of newly-arrived goods, and
/ looked absently down into the street
What were those fellows chattering
about back there? 1t put his glowing
visions TO rout. That was Carruther's
/ voice, though, and he never chat
tered: tall. square-shouldered,g good
/ looking young half Scotchman he
was, who could mind his own affair,
and say little. But that was hi,
voice.
Il tell you, Stiles, i might as wei
want the MOON" he was saying al
though in emphatic repetition. His
voice had a dreary tone. Il shai
never get her. 1t could never be pos
sible. Everything is against it.
haven't chance | don't say it's un
reasonable, either It's a law o
nature. What could you ask or ex
pectf She is daughter of one Of tn,
owners of the house which employ
NE. Would it be likely that he
father would consent with JOY TO III!
proposal for his daughter? It's likel.
he'd discharge me on the spot"
So, so. Mr. Brewster stood still. H'
might have slipped away, but he fel
somehow powerless 10 move. Ii
tugged at his moustache, and list
ened.
Go in and win, ;" said Stiles, boldly
You're as good fellow as she'll b.
apt 10 meet, and you know it, Carru
theirs. Any girl ought to he glad t.
get you, should say. Just go il
and win"
Thank you said John Carru
theirs, hopelessly. But do want L
plunge her into a sea Of trouble
Stiles An angry father and hu:
band who couldn't take care Of he
by any means a. she has always bee
taken care of-that isn't a pleasan
situation for any girl. Don't thin
I'm growing I'm prepared to sut