The Princeton union., 1892-10-06
KEDID NOT ELOPE WITH HER

eyes, 1 like your appearance, said
Mr.. Smith, looking at John Padding
ton through his gold eyeglasses. cane
your recommendation are excellent
excellent; but my steward must be a
married man, q married man, sir
Here's a house for him, you see, and
everything comfortable and proper
for nice little home; but I cannot en
gage a single man, 1 cannot do it. u
"Shall l be taking liberty in ask
ing why?" said John, with his head on
one side, and that insinuating smile
of his, which did more for him than
any number OF recommendations and
letters of introduction with most peo-
pie.
"Yes," replied Mr.. Smith. ''You
certainly are, but I'll permit it, am,
unfortunately, q widower, and have
four daughters. I am fond OF having
fine looking people about me, there
fore | engaged a handsome young
coachman; consequence, Amelia, my
eldest, eloped with him. Final result,
I have settled a sum of money on
Amelia, and they are living on it at
Hackensack.
II had a very fne-looking gardener,
pious, and we'll educated, had a
quotation from the Bible for every
occasion. Salina, my second girl
eloped with him. settled something
on Salina, and her canny Scotsman
has used it to start a florists estab-
lishment OF his own. He is getting on
in life, more pious than ever, and
because l happened to swear g. bit
over the elopement, prays for me ght
and morning, as g. misguided sinner.
Later, employed French cook
with a mustache as long as himself.
never dreamed of danger there, but
Corinna, my third girl, eloped with
him.
''They have started confectioner's
establishment on what I gave 'em,
and he is always calling me his beau
flumery-a frosted cake with Cupid on
it, or mould ofjelly, crI don't know
what. can't quarrel with anyone,
or disown my girls. You see, 1 was a
great t1irt myselfin old times, and ran
off with poor, dear Mrs. Smith from
boarding school. They inherit it from
me: But it cannot happen again. My
Edith is still with me, and everyone
about me must be married, or very
old and ugly. My cook would frighten
the crows, my gardener has hump
back and a Xantippe of a wife;
and you-well, I do want you, do
indeed. know you can manage my
estate perfectly, like you PERSONAL
ly and all that, but I kicked y our pre-
~decessor out for kissing his hand to
my daughter, and have been seeing to
my own business ever since. By the
way, he made a very good thing OF the
case OF assault and battery he brought
against me-"
II suppose I shall have to get an
other defornlity to attend to the
estate, if don't want another elope-
ment."
And Mr.. Smith walked up and down
the room for awhile, and then sud-
denly turning upon Paddington, in
'quired:-
"Why haven't you married before
this?"
"Well, sir" said John, "unfortun-
ately have not felt that my pecuni-
airy condition was such that I dared
TO marry. But if I secure this situa-
alton | will be in a position to take a
wife"
You must be married before I en-
gage you,' said Mr. Smith.
VERY WE'LL" said John. eff you
give me the promise of the steward
ship on those conditions, I can show
at to young lady, who will, 1 think,
be very willing to marry me at once,
and can come to you on Monday
with wife"
"Good," said Mr.. Smith, ''Pretty
girl?"
Beautiful" said John, "and 1 am
madly in love with her."
Whereupon Mr.. Smith seated him.
self at his desk, and wrote these
words:-
II promise John Paddington that
If he fulfils his promise of marrvine al
once, and brings me wife on or be-
fore Monday, September 1st, I will
engage him as steward of my estate
for period Of five years from date
Signed, 'SAMUE1 SMITH "
Armed with this document, Johr
Paddington departed to see his fail
one, and began to pace up and dowr
the pavement on the opposite side O
the way from the church OF St. Debor
ah.
At this moment the bells were ring
ing for afternoon service, and numbers
OF nice young ladies were hurrying u1
the street with demure countenances
holding prayer-books in their hands
One, who was unusually pretty, and
who was dressed with remark able
taste, looked coquettishly over he,
shoulder at John Paddington as she
entered the door, and as he met he1
eye, smiled upon him.
Instantly he crossed the street and
followed her to pew which she en-
tered-one under the gallery at the
dark end Of the left-hand side
aisle. 80
The congregation had mostly gath
cred near the front of the church
and on this weekday afternoon waf
not large. .." -.
Service had not begun, and the
young people had as good an oppor