The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-03-01

~Weii. in that case III marry Eon IN
this dress" she said. ~and to morrow, #
you like"
aBut. of course" said John, q must
ask your father frst. don't want to be
dishonorable. AS you are Of age
sTwenty-two," said Edith.
As YOU are Of sge,n John continued,
aI shall marry you whether or no, but l
wish TO be respectful.
Suddenly Eiith became grave
-Jobn.n she sid, 4 know papa better
than you do; il Nould beof DO use. We
viii marry and tell him afterwards, and
avoid a scene; he generally submits to
the inevitable. viii meet you where
YOU please to morrow morning, and you
can take the certificate 10 Dir. Samuel
Smith and secure the position. Go to
yonr home on Monday and l will meet
you there, and later We will tell pa. a
AS you please" John answered, won
dering what sort Of father Edith could
have, and dreading that he was probably
some one Of whom she was ashamed.
Il was strange sort of thing. he felt,
70 marry a girl Of whose anteceden,s he
knew nothing; his friends would call
him mad If they knew it.
But then they should not know, and
with this he flung his doubts to the winds
forever, and, to cut long story short,
married Edith Smith on the following
morning. and, having given her the ad-
dress Of the little cottage which they
were to occupy Samuel Smiths estate
was well il the suburbs, they parted with
kiss.
Il viii be at our cottage at 2 O'Clock,
John" Edith said. Have the papers
signed 20 that there can be no backing
out Oh Mr. Smiths parl.
When John presented himself in Mr..
Smiths study on Monday, announcing
his marriage and proving it by the exhi-
bition Of the certificate, Mr.. Smith Was
very cordial.
@Cariously enough. your bride has one
Of cur family Names he said. Filth
is nay daughters name, was my mothers
and her grsndmother's.
"Well, 1 congratulate you, and here are
the papers. We will sign at once, If you
please. The more see of you, Me-. Pad
dingion, the more 1 ike you. I've no
doubt that your wife will be a prudent
little matron, who will set a good exam
pie to my little witch Of daughter, and
will be good enough to watch over her a
little"
The signatures were appended to pa
pers already made out by a lawyer, and
Mr. Smith held out MS hand to john.
Now shall have a vacation" he said,
"and no doubt my affairs will prosper in
your hands, Mr.. Paddington. I'm very
poor man Of business myself"
"And Mr. PAddington is a good one"
said a voice behind him.
John turned and saS his wife near
them She was in home dress and with
ont bonnet. lie was startled, almost
shocked. Il was not at all nice; in fact,
il was bold and forward to make such al
entrance, 70 speak 50 hmiliarly to Mr..
Smith. lie hastened to check her.
You forget that have not introduced
you 10 Mr. Smith, my dear" he said.
This is Mrs. Paddington, sir"
"Where?n asked Mr.. Smith, looking
about him. "Mrs. Paddington2 l don't
see. This is my daughter, Miss Edith,
SIT. Now, my dear, are you playing some
Joke, hiding Mrs. Paddington some
where?"
This is my wife, Mr.. Smith" said
John P4ddington, wondering if Mr.
smith were out Of his mind.
"sir, this is my daughter" said Mr..
Smith, lifting his voice.
That is tue, papa said Edith, "but
am mis- wife also. You ordered him to be
married and he married me. He hadn't
an idea who really was, though we've
knosn each other for year. Smith is
such q common name, and it is all my
fault thought l would vary the pro
gramme a little, and not elope as my sis
ters did"
"Good heavensr' cried John Padding
ton, sinking into chair "Elith. you
know that implored yon to let me ask
your fathers consent I never guessed
that knew him, believed him some
worthless old man Of whom you were
ashamed. had no idea
Here, confused and mortified, he paus-
ed for words; bu; Samuel Smith, having
regarded him for moment, held out his
hand.
John PAddington," he said, 81 hold
YOU guiltless. As for that-that-"
"Don't you call me names, papa" said
Edith. You knOs you like John very
much, and lie won't want you to settle
money on him, and he'll be a splendid
steward. Kiss me and forgive me"
"I-always was weak fool" said Mr..
Smith.
Aud to-day the coachnan son-in Law
and the gardener son-in-lsw, as well IS
the pastry cook son-in-law, complain
very bitterly that Mr.. Samuel Smith
shows great favoritism 70 the on-in-law
who is a steward, AMI Z lith says. with
an air of great propriety:
You see, that is because John did not