Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-04-16
A RUNAWAY MATCH.

A RUNAWAY MATCH.
Mr.. Sheldon was the principal mer-
chant in the important manufacturing
town Of Tomont. He piqued himself
on his wealth but he piqued himself
more on the fact that he had made 1t
all himself, and he piqued himself still
more because he had made it by never
allowing anybody TO get ahead OF him.
That the secret of success in life'
Harry" he said one day to his favor
ite 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 meannesses). But al
WAYS be wide awake, and never let
anybody cheat you. I've noticed, by
the by, that you've seemed rather
down-hearted lately. If its because
you've your fortune yet to make, don't
despair; but follow my advice. An
opening will come at some time for
something better than a clerkship, and
though I shall be sorry to lose you,
yet I'll give you up, if it's for your IN
terest,
Thank you, -" said Harry, apparent
Iy 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, I suppose | shall get
along somehow.
What is it, my dear boy, then? l
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 in love, and
"In love :" exclaimed the rich mer-
chant. In love, and with only a
clerks salary to marry on? 1t will
/
never do--neyer do, Harry. Mar
riage for one like You is fastening a
heavy milestone round your neck un-
less, indeed, and he stopped, as II a
bright thought had struck him-"un-
less, indeed, 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 diff
fcultv. Her father would never let
her marry a poor man, and she won t
marry without his consent -
what a miserable tyrant! = SAID
Mr.. Sheldon. Cad II l was her IoN
er, Harry, I'd run off with her / d
checkmate the old cumudgeon IN that
way :" and he chuckled at the imagl-
nary triumph he would achieve. "Pon
nv soul, l would. never, as l told
Won. let ANYBODY take rise out OF me-
But would that be honorable?'
Honorable? Isn't everything far
in love and war? l thought you had
some pluck, Harry. How I'd like to
see the stingv old hulk rave and stump
about on his gouty toes-for he must
be goutv-whenh he heard ofyour elops-
ment.
And he laughed till his portly sides
shook at the picture he had conjured
up. .
He'd probably never forgive me,
said Harry, deiectedly. And what
could I do, with wife brought up to
every luxury, and only a poor clerk $
salary to support her on p
Never forgive you? Trash and non
sense They always do forgive. They
can't help it. Besides, with "a conf
dental wink, Il know Your man It's
that skinfint, Meadows. I've heard
of YOU being sweet on his daughter.
She's a pretty mink, though she Is his
child Oh, you needn't deny it, saw
how you hung about her at our party
the other night, and when I joked
about it with my daughter the next
morning she as good as admitted that
it was true, saying it would be a very
GOOD match for you. Now, ! owe ole
Meadows grudge He tried to dc
me in those railway shares last winter
and I mean to pay him for 1t some
how. I'll tell YOU what I'll do.
mustn't ask, mind YOU, who the CIR
is. Mum must be the word. Imustn t
t Of course, be known in the affair bu
, III give you leave Of absence for
month, and a check for fifty pound
to pay for your wedding trip, If youI
t make runaway match-is it agreed
Well, there's my hand on it. Here
the check. Egad won't the old ras
cal howl when he hears how we7