The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-11-21

N,z@Mz ieal mai Maachse. sSrs ise:
ter man. He knew the ms and outs OF
the dry goods trade perhaps better
than any man in it He had made one
fortune. and like good many other
successful men was trying to make
second.
Really. in his inmost conscience-for
he must have had very varied assort-
naent of these articles-he felt that his
second fortune was to be social as well
as monetary.
Throughout his life he had made it a
point to admit the superiority of no.
body. At billiards-which, by the
way, like most men who have been on
the road he played remarkably we'll
he was, according to his own account,
the champion of the midland counties;
at cricket he claimed to have played
for his county longer than any other
man, and in his time he was fond OF
boasting that no man Of his own
weight would stand up to him for more
than couple of rounds.
There was a great deal of truth in
much that he said of himself and his
prowess, although an unkind rival bag
man once said that he must have been
born with q lie in his mouth instead of
a spoon.
But indubitably he was successful
man. His house was one mass Of things
which looked as if they said: This is
what money can do" and no extrava-
gance of the newly rich was missing,
even to the monogram in eighteen.
carat gold which was let into the backs
of some real old oak dining-room
chairs, thus dest roying every artistic
charm they possessed. His grounds
were delightful, for fortunately he
couldn't very well spoil nature
Mrs. Masterdon, (she had never sue
ceeded to the prouder title of Mrs.
Thomas Masterdon), was. or rather had
been, for she had b been dead two years
at the present time, a woman Of exactly
the taste, temperament and mental
caliber for her husband In fact among
his other claims to champion honors he
was often heard to claim that his little
wife was the best wife God ever made.
For a year after her death Mr..
Thomas Masterdon was different man,
and seemed to have met with the first
rebuff, which for man of his indomit-
able energy was CREST deal His sor.
row was SO real that for time all the
bounce went out of the man, and the
people he met had an opportunity OF
seeing his real self. Most of them
thought that the real article was even
worse than the Brummagem one. and
were glad when, as the months of the
third year wore on, Jabez became his
old boasting self again.
Two of his acquaintances, for he had
not really any friends in the true sense,
were talking him over at the club one
afternoon, when one of them startled
the other by saying:
What do you think is the latest,
quite the latest about old Jabez?"
Haven't the least idea-made an
other thousand or two, l suppose, COM
pany promoting"
mo; he's going to be married"
What, and his wife not dead more
than two years?"
Eyes, and I'm told he's going to mar
~ the prettiest girl in Manchester"
'He told you SO himself. l suppose"
''No, he didn't, but it's quite true
at least that he's going to try to get
Miss Everett-Nellie Everett-to marry
him.
why. she's well-nigh engaged to
young Jephson, isn't she?"
That won't stop Jabez, if she isn't
quick. If ne wants her, anything short
of being married to some one will not
stop him."
''But surely her parents will. Why,
he's sixty if day"
''She's only got a mother. and moneys
none too plentiful with them"
well, only hope he won't get her.
for she is only girl yet. and, I'm told,
a rather supersttious, silly sort of ro-
girl into the bargain"
Mr.. Thomas Masterdon's friends had
been correctly informed of the latest
the great never-to-be-de-
MED Jabez had been considering But
be had foreseen great difficulties in his
way, and yet these only seemed to add
2 zest to his task.
Nellie Everett he knew was consid--
cred to be the belle of Manchester
and its suburbs-there was no denying
that she was apretty American blonde,
with accomplishments and vivacity. to
say nothing of tact and nous. which
would make her shine in every society.
liked clever. tactful people. His
preliminary inquiries were very far
from satisfactory, for one way and an
other he found out that she was. as
his friends had heard, almost entering
upon an engagement with young
Jephson, which engagement would at
least have to extend over two years
And there could be little doubt that
Mrs Everett did not see her way clear
to keep up any sort of appearances for
much longer unless Nellie was taken
off her hands Acting on this, Jabez
called one day on Mrs. Everett, but
came away somewhat disappointed.
My daughter must answer the ques-
ton herself, once and for all. and with
out any suggestion on my part In such
matters. ! consider it to be the quintes-
sence of cruelty. and a dishonor to a
mothers love. to influence a daughters
happiness for life"
Even If she be making foolish
match?" Jabe. asked.
THAT is entirely different; 1 have no
objection 10 your paying more calls
here. and shall be very pleased to have
you dine with us occasionally. but sb-
can say nothing more Nellie
must decide all the rest herself
Mrs Everett's dec isive manner GER
tainiy added a uSy difficulty. because