Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-01-22

recon- AAN 0ANNNAt1n 49,
lent; but my steward must be a married
man, a married man, sir. Here's a
house for him, you see. and everything
comfortable and proper for a Diee little
home; but 1 cannot engage a single man.
/ cannot do it,"
"Shan be taking a liberty in asking
whyP" said John.
ayes" replied Mr.. Smith. You GER
tainly are, but I'll permit II. am, IN
fortunately, a widOwer, and have Tour
daughters. / am fond OF having hne
looking people about me, therefore 1
engaged a handsome yOnng eoachman;
consequence. Amelia. my eldest, elopea
with him. Final result. 1 have settled
a sum Of mO0ey on Amelia, and they are
living on 10 at Hackensack.
81 had a very fne-lOOking gardner,
pious, we'll educated, had a quotation
from the Bible for every occasion. Sai-
ina, my second girl, elODed with him. L
settled something on Salina, ana her
capny Scotsman has used it to start a
florists establishment Of his own.
"Later, 1 employed q French cook
with 8 mustache as long as himself. 1
never dreamed OF danger there, but Car
olinna, my third girl, eloped with him.
'They have started a confectioner's
establishment on what 1 gave 'em, and
he is always calling me his beau PEREZ
and sending me some sort OF hummery
"A frosted cake with Cupid on it, or a
mould Of jelly, or I don't know what.
'I can't quarrel with any one, or dis
own nv girls. You see, 1 was q great
firt myself IN old times, and ran OF with
moor. dear Mrs. Smith from boarding
school. They inherit IL from me.
but 10 cannot happen again. Ny
Edith is still with me, and every one
about me must be- married, or very
old aud ugly.
tMy cook would brighten the crows,
my gardner has a humpback and a Kan
tiDDe Of a wife; and you-well, 1 DO
want you, 1 do indeed. l know you can
manage my estate perfectly. like you
personally and all that, but l kicked
your predecessor out for kissing his
hand 70 my daughter, and have been
seeing 20 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 Mr.. Smith walked up and dow
the room for awhile, and then suddenly
turning p o PaddinEton, inquired:
"Why haven't you married before
thisP"
'Well, sir" said John, unfortunately
have not felt that my %pecuniary con-
dition was such that dared 10 marry.
But II l secure this situation 1 Will De
IN q position 70 take a wife,
you must be married before l engage
you" said Mr.. Smith.
every well" said John. eff you will
give me the promise Of the stewardship
on those conditions, / can show it TO a
young lady who will, l think, be very
willing TO marry me at once, and l can
come 10 you on Monday with 8 wife"
GOOD" said Mr.. Smith. Pretty
grip"
"Beautlful," said John, 'and I an
madly in love with her"
Whereupon Mr.. Smith seated himself
at his desk and wrote these words:
az promise John PaddingtOn that II
he fulflls his promise of marrying at
once, and brings me a wife on or before
Monday, September 1, l will engage
him as steward Of my estate for q period
OF FIVE years from date.
TSlRpedl SAMUEL SMITH"
Armed with this document John Pad
dington departed 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 hurrying up
the street with demure -countenances,
holding p~rayer-books in their hands.
One, who was unusually pretty, and
who was dressed with remarkable taste,
looked coQuettlshly 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 70 a pew which she entered
-one under the gallery at the darkest
end Of the left-haRd side aisle.
''You are prettier than ever, Edith"
whispered John P~addingtOn.
''And you are naughtier than ever"
said the girl.
81 am more in love than ever" said
John, "if that IS being naughty. Now,
Edith, we have had q long Irritation. ]
adore you, and / want you to be my
wife. Can you answer me candidly,
Yes or Mop"
The girl blushed, pOuted, and finally
said:
sob, 1 haven't the heart to say mo-"
And nov the service commenced, and
the two were obliged 70 be silent until
its conclusion; they then walked down
the steps and away together.
II have so much to tell you, Edith,
said John. ~ want you 20 be very
brave and very good. 1 want you to
marry me tomorrow, dear"
''Ohl" cried Edith, tomorrow? But
why in such haste, JOhn?"
my position depends upon my being
q married man" said john. Il shall
have q nice little house Of my own. a
contract for a good salary for Eve years,
and you will be very comfortable. Here
is the paper the old gentleman signed,
promising all that TO me IL l married be-
fore Monday"
"What an odd ideap' said Edith.
swell, he has reasons" said John.
''See, here is his promise on those con-
ditions. And he Is a solid old gentle-
man, has q nice estate, and lives in a
very elegant residence. By the way,
oddly enough, his name Is Smith, the
same as yours, dear"
''Nothing odd about that When they
got tired Of naming people they said let
all the rest be named Smith," said
Edith, taking the paper.
ssSamuel Smith" she read aloud, and
then laughed. "And what are you TO do
for him, JOhn?" she asked.
III am to have the stewardship OF his
estate" he answered. Now IN tell