St. Paul daily globe., 1893-01-17
THEY DID NOT ELOPE.


MIR. Smith, looking at John Paddington
through his gold eyeglasses. And your
recommendation are excellent, excel
lent: but my steward must be mar
ried man, married man, sir. Here's a
house for him. you see, and everything
comfortable and proper for nice little
home; but | caunot engage single
man, cannot do it,"
"Shall | be taking liberty in asking
why?" said John.
Yes" replied Mr.. Smith. "You
certainly are, but Fll permit it. I am,
unfortunately, widoWer. and l have
four daughters. am fond of having
fine-looking people about me, therefore
engaged handsome young coach
man; consequence, Amelia, my eldest,
eloped with him. Final result. L have
settled a sum of money on Amelia, and
they are living on it at Hackensack.
II had very fine-lOoking gardener.
piouS, well-educated, had quotation
from the Bible for every occasion. Sa-
lima, my second girl. eloped with him. L
settled something Oh Salina, and her
canny Scotsman has used it to start a
florists establishment of his own.
Later. employed French cook
with moustache as long as himself. l
never dreamed of danger there, but
Comma, my third girl, eloped with him.
They have started a confectioner's
establishment on what L gave 'em, and
he is always calling me his beau pere,
and sending ME some sort OF f1ummery
"a frosted cake, with Cupid Gil 1t, or
mould of jelly, or don't know what.
IL can't quarrel with any one or dis
~, ,,l,
fiirt myself in old times. and ran off
with poor, dear Mrs. Smith from board
ing 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 humpback and
Xantippe of wife; and you-Well, |
do want you. l do, indeed. | know
you can manage my estate perfectly. l
like you personally and all that, but l
kicked your predecessor 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-"
And MI. Smith walked up and down
the room for while, and then suddenly
turning upon Paddington. inquired:
"Why haven't you married before
thiS?'
"Well. sir" said John. unfortunately
| have not felt that my pecunlary condl-
ton was such that | dared to marry.
But if l secure this situation will be IN
a position to take a WIFE,"
"You must be married before en-
gage you," said Mr.. Smith.
Every WE'LL" said John. 'If you will
give me the promise of the stewardship
on those conditions, | can show it to
young lady who will, think, be very
willing to marry me at once, and | can
come to you OH Monday with a wife"
"Good,' said Mr.. Smith. ''Pretty
glrl?'
Beautiful" said John, land 1 am
madly in love with her."
Whereupon Mr. Smith seated himself
at his desk and wrote these words:
Ipromise John Paddington that if he
fultils his promise of marrying at once,
and brings me wife On or before Mon
day, Sept. l. l will engage him as stew
ard of my estate for a period of five
years from date. SAMUEL SMITH.
Armed with this document, John Pad
dlngton started to see his fair one, and
began to pace up and down the pave
ment on the opposite side of the way
from the Church of st. Deborah.
At this moment the bells were ring
ing for afternoon service, and numbers
of nice young ladies were nurrying up
the street with demure couutenances,
holding prayer books in their hands.
One, who was unusually pretty, and
who was dressed with remarkable taste,
looked coquettishly over her shoulder at
John Paddington as she entered the
door, and as he met her eye smiled upon
him.
Instantly he crossed the street and
followed her to pew which she entered
one under the gallery at the darkest
end of the left-hand aisle.
"You are prettier than ever, Edith"
whispered John Paddington.
.And you are naughtier than ever"
said the girl.
II am more in love than ever" said
John, ''if that is being naughty. Now,
Edith, we have had long Irritation. l
adore you, and [ want you to be my
wife. Can you answer me candldly,
Yes or Mop"
The girl blushed, pouted, and finally
said:
ooh, haven't the heart to say mo-"
And now the service commenced. and
the two were obliged to be silent until
its conclusion; then they walked down
the steps and away together.
II have SO much to tell you, Edith"
said John. IL want you to be very
brave and very good. want you to
marry me tomorrow, dear"
'Ohn' cried Edith, tomorrow? But
why in such haste, John?'
My position depends upon my being
q married man." said John. Il shall
have nice little house of my own, a
contract for good salary for five years
and you will be very comfortable. Here
is paper the old gentleman signed.
promising all that to me if l married be-
fore Monday"
"What an odd idea?" said Edith.
"Well, he has reasons" said John.
"See, mere is his promise on those con-
ditions. And he is solid old gentle
man, has nice estate and lives in a
very elegant residence. By the way,
oddly enough, his name is Smith. the
same as yours, my dear"
Nothing odd about that. When they
got tired of naming people they said let
all the rest be called Smith," said Edith,
taking the paper.
Samuel Smith," she read aloud. and
then laughed. And what are you to do
for him, Johu?" she asked.
81 am to have the stewardship of his
estate" he answered. "Now, lll tell
you. dear, what it is all about. He has
had trouble with his daughters. One
eloped with his coachman and one with
his gardener. He thinks bachelor un
safe to have about, and that is why we
must marry at once"
Edith laughed again.
"Well, in that case I'il marry you in
his Dress" she said, land tomorrow, if
you like"
"But, of course" said John, 81 must
ask your father first. l don't want to
be dishonorable. AS you are of age"
"Iwenty-two," said Edith.
"As you are of age," John continued,
II shall marry you, whether or no, but
| wish to be respectful"
Suddenly Edith became grave.
"John," she said, II know papa bet
ter than you do; it would be of no use.
We will marry and tell him afterwards,
and avoid scene; hegenerally submits
to the inevitable. | will meet you
whara Won nIaaSA tOm0rr0uv morning