Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-09-09

"'oot ~ WIN my dallEhlcr lHo next
morning she as good as admitted that it
was true, saying 1t would be a very
good match for you. Now, l owe old
Meadows grudge. He tried to do me
in those railway shares last winter,
and l mean to pay him for 1t somehow.
I'll tell you what I'll do l mustn't ask,
mind you, who the girl is. Mum must
be the word. l mustn't, of course. be
known in the affair; but I'll give you Il
leave of absence for month, and Il
check for fifty pounds to pay for your
wedding trip, if you'll make Il runaway
match. Is it agreed? WE'LL there's my
hand on it, Here's the check. Egad,
won't the old rascal howl when he hears
how We've done him?"
Harry seemed to hesitate, however
and 1t was not till Mr.. Sheldon, eager
to see his old commercial rival put at
disadvantage, had urged him again
and again, and promised to stand by
him, that he finally consented and took
the check which his employer persisted
in forcing upon him.
The next morning Mr.. Sheldon came
down to breakfast in high glee, for a
note had reached him just as he was
shaving, which ran as follows:
Dear Sir: have with much difficulty,
persuaded her to elope. 1t was not,
however till l showed her your check
that she would consent to do so. She
said that she was sure you would not
recommend anything that was wrong;
that you would advise her as if YOU
were her own father; and she hopes you
will stand by us. We shall be married
tomorrow, before Mr.. Meadows is up
Very thankfully,
HARRY CONRAD.
The old gentleman brought the note to
the table, opened it out before him,
adjusted his SpectacleS and read it over
and over again.
I'D give Il ten pound note" he said,
chuckling, "to see the old fellows face
when he hears how Harry has done
him.
1t was the custom of Mr.. Sheldon to
read his newspaper at breakfast, while
waiting for his only child and daughter,
who, little spoiled by over-indulgcncc,
was generally late.
But this morning Matte was later
than ever.
The banker had read all the foreign,
rs well as the home news, and even re-
peruscd llarry's note again, and still
she had not made her appearance.
The lazy puss!" he said at last Then
he looked up at the clock. Half an
hour late! Now this is really too bad.
John" he cried, addressing the man
servant at the sideboard, send and see
why Miss Sheldon doesn't come down.
Tell heY," with Il severe air, Il am
tired OF waiting"
John came back in about five minutes
looking very much clustered.
"If you please, SIR he stammered.
"Miss Sheldon is not in her room, and
the maid says she says, that the bed
looks as il it hadn't been slept in all
night"
The rich merchants jaw fell.
II there was one thing he loved better
than money, better even than life itself,
it was his motherless child. What had
tragedy was about TO be revealed to
him? Had she gone out for Il walk the
evening before and stumbled into the
river? No; he remembered parting
with her at 10 O'clock Had she been
looking from the window of her room
and fallen out?
lie started uD with Il cry OF agony, to
so and see, Eeholding. in imagination,
her manglcd and lifeless form. But he
was prevented by the footman appear
ing at the door with telegram.
"a telegram" cried the merchant, un-
folding it with trembling hands. "What
can it mean? Has She been found dead
lnyWhereE'
This was the telegram:
Dear Father-iIarry and were mar
ricd at S o'clock this morning would
not consent TO an elopement till Harry
assured me you had advised it, and had
shown me your check as proof. He
says you promised to stand by us, and
l know you pride yourself on never
breaking a promise We wait for your
blessing. MATTE.
We'll, l never" calculated Mr. Shell
don, when he had recovered breath
THE impudent, disobe-''
But here he stopped-stoppcd and
moppcd his bald head, which, in his cx-
element, had broken out into great
drops of perspiration. lie remembered
in time that both the butler and foot
man would oYerhear him. He remem.