Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1897-11-13


Shelby had presumed 10 pay marked
attentions to his daughter Eleanor.
The second was that Mr. Shelby was
simply a bank clerk on a small salary.
Preiudiced people might have been
ungenerous enough 10 observe that the .
second objection bore the most weight +
with the Reverend Masters: hut such +
persons have never known the anxiety
of parent with n manageable daugh-
ter How then can they be expected
10 nudge in.elhgently on such IA I'm
portant question
You are quite right. Bronson.
said his sister-in-law. "What 10 You
know about Mr. shelby You remem-
beY the acquaintance was begun IN an
irregular way-a very irregular way.
There was no denying il did begin
In an irregular way The Merchants
an Il Ira lers Bank was next door - the
residence OF the Reverend Bronson
Masters: and AIr. Jack shelby. an in
dustrious. energetic young clerk. with
his ledger quite near the front win
dow. hal allowed his eyes 10 feast fire.
Quently on the graceful figure and
pretty face OF Miss Eleanor Masters a
she fitted Ia and out OF her fathers
house
Strange TO say. Miss Masters had
also occasionally allowed her glance 20
stray toward the froat window of the
bank Not that any one could posi-
lively state under oath that she had
seen the rather high-bred face OF a
brown-eyed bank clerk IN that same
window: certainly not. But one day
she slipped aud fell on the icy pave
ment ia front Of the bank just as Shell
by was coming out: and he helped her
into the house, and was asked to call.
and did call
Another strange thing was tina;
neither of them seemed 10 regret the
accident, as il would seem natural they
should
Shelby, the third time he called
rather damaged his prospects by get
ting into a discussion with the Rever
end Bronson Masters IN which ne mani
Tested tendency 10 spiritualism. thee
sophy aud other occult and unorsho
dox beliefs This bad impression wa
otherwise augmented by the discov
cry that he had no fortune, not evei
expectations, and was dependent o.
his salary for living.
The growing affection Of the yOun.
people for each other was noticed b.
Mr.. Masters. and he Immediately con
suited with has sister-in-law, having IA
one else with whom 10 consult, and q
has been seen, she quite agreed Wit
him that such Blfection should be i'm
meliately nippei IN the bud
Accordingly Mr.. Shelby was givei
10 understand that Miss Masters wa
no longer at home 10 him. But She
by's ledger was still near the iron
window, aud Miss Masters had II
mode of egress or ingress except b
the front door of her residence, :
Love still preserved his old reputs
tion IN regard 10 locksmiths, an
laughed after the good old fashion.
About this time the Reverend BroI
son Masters met fascinating widow
Mrs. Horton Verlance, who had late
become a member of his congregation
Mr.. Masters intimated TO EleanC
that he would like her to ask AIR
Verlance 10 call Like n duff
daughter she obeyed, and Mrs. We
lance promptly accepted the invit
ton.
She came often, aud dined al
punched with them, much to. q
pleasure of the host, but secretly
the annoyance of his daughter
Mrs. Verlance never seems to n
genuine" she ventured to say OF
day To her father,
Eleanor, L am surprised at su
an uncharitable, unchristianlike
mark from you," was the stern
ply
She saw that her father was deer
annoyed. and dared not say more: b
wSen he closed the door after hi
her feelings foand audible vent.
'-Oh, it's all right for you to Sc
away poor Jack because 1 like him
she cried, and here YOU are fall
In love with mysterious WON
whom nobody knows, aud who 1
sure is a schemer. Oh. wish VIZ
your father, for just one ho'
Wouldn't 1 turn her out 6yii
Wouldn't IL"