The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-06-12
WINNING A WIFE.
Mr Claymer, of Texas. and His
Remarkable Trade.

Everybody said that Ben Claymer was
a crank" and no one thought SO more
strongly than Marian Harper who had
been the object of his eccentric atten-
ton for many months She, being Il
student of human nature. was calmly
amused with this .,esid freak" she
called him
ale is a puzzle, Aunt Jane, she said;
Il don't know whether to think hiIn a
genius or an IDIOT. Sometimes I'm
more than half-inclined to believe the
latter"
When Clayrner called on Marian, il
would seem that he took no note of
time, and only the broadest of hints from
her would arouse him. Then he would
smile good -hunoredly, and say: Whats
the use of going anywhere, anyway?
Just about the time / get To feeling set
tied and IL home. somebody tells me 10
GO Poor little Joel Move on
For several rnonths his visits would
he regular and often. and then cease al
together. while for weeks he Tonld
con1ine himself closely to his work
Marian paid no attention to these sud
den falls of temperature, having long
since ceased to wonder at anything he
did. and when. after about = months
absence, he reappeared, she greeted
him as usual and never called him 10
account for his neglect
Mr Claymer was struggling jour
ualist, whose fortune was yet 20 be
made, and Marian was the daughter OF
a distinguished lawyer in good circum-
stances Perhaps this i the reaSon
why Claymer never indulged any tender
sentiments in all his long talks with
AZ =,
labor question. scien9s and religion,
and Marian proved herself thoroughly
mistress of All these wciGhty subjects,
being an Industrious reader who always
kept posted" She captured the
intellect of ben Claymer thus, just
her sweet womanly ways had con-
quered hisheart elayner svss, = i,oii-
tician Ito the bone" and enthusiastic
friends said that he should enter poll
tics for himself instead of spending all
his time and energy in working for
others. This Clayner refused to do.
and continued, with the greatest good
humor, to play jaclIal to inferior lions
much after the manner of Sidney Car
ton.
He has no ambition" Marian said
to herself. Dear me! II | were his
sister or his mother, or anything,
wouldn't / stir him up. though. l have
no patience with people who hide their
lights under Il bUshel.'
Once, when they had been discussing
the marriage of a couple of their ac-
quaintances (for one of Claymer's odd
(?) traits was that he took great inter
est in little gossip, and speculation con-
cerning the affaiTs OF people in gen
.eral. Claymer said:
We'll. | think Parker did very wrong
to ask Miss Webster 20 share his lot.
which said lot is myth, and all she
will be called upon to share win Ii. a
stuffy Room in a sccond-class boarding
house; She leaves q comfortable, pleas
ant home. where everything IS as she
likes il, and expects 10 lind greater
happiness in 4 ten-by-ffteen room
which Overlooks n poultry yard l
should never ass . woman to share my
lot unless it was every bit as good as
the one she left"
Young men shouldn't expect to begin
where the old ones left OFF. When ma
and pa Joined their fortunes. their sole
possessions We're log cabin with a
dirt floor. and twenty-dollar gold
piece. Pa owned the mansion, and ma
brought him the princcly dover. When
times | feel sorry for commonplace,
well-tO-do persons who get married and
prose through life without any real
trouble or pleasure either
--IOu may be right, but that is not
my idea of fun / think poor man is
q selfish brute when he wants u partner
in poverty. Of course it was different
when your father was married; IT was
rather the fashion to Ia. poor III those
times, and people didn't mind II much
Poverty viii never go ont of fash
ion, " laughed Marian, unless Bell3my's
plans are adopted"
Miss Marian" said Claymer, sol
emnly, after several minsItes OF thought,
let me ask you question ii 'rithmctic.
What would be fair exchange for a
girl who is worth her weight in gold,
and five hundred thousand dollars in ac-
tEal cash?-
"A United States senator with a
sixty-thrce ounce brain" promptly, re-
piled she, with twinkle in her eye.
Claymer's countenance dropped sew
eral degrees below zero, and he an
swered. quietly: Correct; go mp head"
After that conversa alton Ben Claymer
had another stay at home spell, and
Marian saw him no more for three
months This was the longest spell he
had ever had. She was on the eve of
her departure for European tour, and
she was thinking: How hate to leave
without bidding friend BENJAMIN good
by when she heard the click of the
gate latch and turned to see the tall,
slightly STOPPING form of Claymer com
ing up the gravel walk.
You're just in time, Sir Truant,"
she called to him from the balcony
Yes" said he, Il have just heard of
your intended tour. How / envy you.
A European tour is the next thing to a
trip TO the promised land in my list
How can you leave us all so long; and,
by the way, how long shall you stay7"
His tone was light and CHEEKY. Marian
would not own to herself that she was
disappointed to see him in such appar-
ent good spirits, but she was I'VE in
tend To be gone three years. Ours will
not be flying trip; we will take our
time and learn n great deal, l have no
doubt
Claymer betrayed even now none of
the dismay which he felt, but ran
his long, slender fingers lazily through
his wavy, black hair. and said: We'll,
you Will be situated so that YOU can
write very readable letters. and if YOU
Will do me the kindness to spend your
idle moments in transmitting your i'm
pressions, stray pieces of information,
and so forth. To paper, and forwarding
the same to me, l shall be greatly in
debted to you Win you?''
If you will promise not to publish
my epistles in the Daily American"
laughed Marian.
Agreed" said he. They talked for
an hour or more and af last The 5,-l.