The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-09-25
A RUNAWAY MATCH.

Mr.. Sheldon was the principal
merchant in the important manufac-
turing town of Tormont. He piqued
himself on his wealth, but he piqued
himself more on the fact that he had
made il all himself, and he piqued
himself still more because he had made
it by never allowing anybody to get
ahead of him.
"Thai's the secret of success i'm life,
Harry" he said one day to his favorite
clerk. ''Sharp, is the motto, if you
wish to rise. / don't mean you should
cheat; that, of course, is both wrong
and ungentlemanly." Mr.. Sheldon
piqued himself also on being what he
called "a gentleman" and above all
little meanness). "But always be wide
awake, and never let anybody cheat
you. I've noticed, by the by, that
you've seemed rather down-hearted
lately. If it's because you've your for
tune vet to make, don't despair; but
follow my advice. An opening will
come some time for something better
than clerkship, and though | shall
be sorry to lose you, yet I'll give you
up, if it's for your interest"
"Thank you," said Harry, apparent
ly not bit cheered up by this cool
way of being told that he had nothing
to expect from Mr.. Sheldon; ''but it's
not exactly that. / suppose l shall get
along somehow"
"What is it, my dear boy, then?
really take an interest in you, as you
know :" and he did, so far as words
were concerned. perhaps / can give
you some advice"
"Well," said Harry, with some hes
itation, ''I'm i'm love, and"
ain love?' exclaimed the rich mer-
chant. ain love, and with only a
clerks salary to marry on. 1t will
never do-never do, Harry. Marriage
for one like you is fastening a heavy
milestone round your neck, unless, in
deed" and he stopped as if bright
thought had struck him-''unless, in
deed, the girl is rich"
''She is rich, or will be, | suppose
answered Harry, "for her father is a
wealthy man. But that's just the
difficulty. Her father would never let
her marry poor man, and she won't
marry without his consent"
sWhat a miserable tyrant ~ said
Mr.. Sheldon. ''Gad if / was her low
er, Harry, I'd run off with her. I'd
checkmate the old curmudgeon in that
way ~ and he chuckled at the imagin-
airy triumph he would achieve. "Pon
my soul, / would. / never, as told
you, let anybody take rise out of
me-
"But would that be honorable ?''
Honorable? Isn't everything fair
i'm love and war? / thought you had
some pluck, Harry. How / would
like to see the stingy old hulk rave
and stump about on his gouty toes
for he must be gouty-when he heard
of your elopement."
And he laughed till his portly sides
shook at the picture he had conjured
up.
He'd probably never forgive me, "
said Harry, dejectedly. "And what
could do, with a wife brought up to
every luxury, and only poor clerk S
salary to support her on? ~
"Never forgive you? Trash and non-
sense, They do forgive. They can't
help it. Besides" with confidential
wink, al think know your man. It's
that skinfiint, Meadows. I've heard
of you being sweet on his daughter.
She's pretty mink, though she is his
child. Oh, you needn't deny it. l saw
how you hung about her at our party
the other night, and when | joked
about it with my daughter the next
morning she as good as admitted that
it was true, saying that it would be a
very good match for you. Now, owe
old Meadows a grudge. He tried to
do me in those railway shares last win
ter, and / mean to pay him for it some
how. I'll tell you what I'll do.
mustn't ask, mind you, who the girl is
Mum must be the word. / mustn't
of course, be known i'm the affair; but
I'll give you leave of absence for &
month, and a check for fifty pound:
to pay for your wedding trip, ifyou'l
make q runaway match. Is it agreed
Well, there's my hand on it. Here''
the check. Egad won't the old rasca
howl when he hears how we've don'
him?r
Harry seemed to hesitate, however
and il was not till Mr.. Sheldon, cage
to see his old commercial rival put at {
disadvantage, had urged him again an'
again, and promised to stand by him
that he finally consented and took tn
check which his employer persisted ii
forcing upon him.
The next morning Mr.. Sheldon cam
down to breakfast in high glee, for
note had reached him while Shawn,
which ran as follows:
DEAR SIR II have, with much diff
Guilty, persuaded her to eloPe. 1t wa
not, however, till / showed her you
check that she would consent do so
| She said that she was sure you woul'
not recommend anything that wa
wrong; that you would advise her as
YOU were her own father, and she hope
YOU will stand by US. We shall b
married tomorrow, before Mr.. Mead
ows is up.
Very thankfully,
| HARRY CONRAD.