St. Paul daily globe., 1893-01-17

and you can take the certificate to Sam
uel Smith and secure the position. &c
to your home Monday and [ will meet
you there, and then we will tell papa u
"As you please" John answered, won
dering what sort of father Edith could
have, and dreading that he was prOba-
bly, some one of whom she was ashamed.
1t was strange sort of thing. he felt,
to marry girl of whose antecedents he
knew nothing. His friends would call
him mad if they knew 1t.
But then they should not know, and
with this he flung his doubts to the
winds forever. and, to cut a long story
short. married Edith Smith on the fol
lowing morning. And, having given
her the address OF rhe little cottage
which they were to occupy Samuel
Smiths estate was we'll in the SuburbS),
they parted with kiss.
II will be at our cottage by o'clock,
john" Edith said. 'Have the papers
signed, so that there can be no backing
out on Mr.. Smiths part"
When John presented himself in Mr..
Smiths study Monday, announcing his
ton OF the certificate, Mr.. Smith was
very cordial.
"Curiously enough, your bride has
one of our family names," he said.
Edith is my daughters name. was my
mothers and her grandmother's."
"Well, congratulate you, and here
are the papers. We will sign at once,
il you please. The more see of you,
Mr.. Paddington, the more [ like you.
Eve no doubt that your wife will be a
prudent little matron, who will set a
good example to my little witch of a
daughter, and will be good enough to
watch over her little"
The signatures were appended to pa
perS already made cut by a lawyer, and
Mr.. Smith held out his hadd to John.
Now | shall have a vacation" he
said, land. no doubt, my affairs will
prosper in your hands, Mr.. Paddington.
Pm very poor man Of business my
Self.''
land Mr.. Paddington is good one,"
said voice behind him.
John turned and saw his wife near
them She was in home dress and
without bonnet. He was startled, al
most shocked. 1t was not at all nice: !:
in fact, it was bold and forward TO make
such an entrance, to speak SO Familiarity
to Mr. Smith. He hastened to check
her.
you forget that 1 have not intro
duced you to Mr.. Smith, my dear" he
said. This is Mrs. Paddington, sir"
''Where?' asked Mr. Smith, looking
about him. Mrs. Paddington? L don't
see her. This is my daughter, Miss
Edith, sir. Now, my dear, are you
playing some joke, hiding Mrs. Padding
ton someWhere?"
spVhic iS y1,ifn Mr. Smith y ooIH
John Paddington, wondering if Mr..
Smith were out of his mind.
Sir, this is my daughterw said Mr..
Smith, lifting his voice.
THAT is true, papa" said Edith. "but
l am his wife also. You ordered him
to be married, and he married me. He
hadn't an idea who really was, though
we've known each other for a year.
Smith is such common name. and it Is
all my fault | thought | would vary
the programme a little, and not elope as
my sisters did"
Good heaveus" cried John Padding
ton, sinking into chair. Edith, you
know that lmplOred you to let me ask
your fathers consent. L never guessed
that knew him; l believed him some
worthless old man of whom you were
ashamed. l had no idea
Here, confused and mortified, he
paused for words; but Samuel Smith,
having regarded him for moment. held
out his hand.
John Paddington," he said, II hold
You guiltless. AS for that-that-"
Don't call me names, papa" said
Edith. you know you like John very
much, and he won't want you to settle
money on him. and he'll be splendid
steward. Kiss me, and forgive me-
81 always was weak fool" SAID Mr..
Smith.
And today the coachman son-in-law
and the gardener son-in-law, as we'll as
the pastry-cook son-in-law, complain
very bitterly that Samuel Smith shows
great tavorltSm to the son-ln-laW VINO
is steward, and Edith says, with an
air of great propriety:
you see, that is because John did
not elope with me-"