The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-14
[copyright. 1897. by Clinton Ross.l
PART


had been away. and had not heard
what had happened 10 him; but IL was
not long before t9iat ceaseless, tireless
gossip brought it Co my ears. When
met him, and after we had exchanged
greetings, he himself began: "We never
have had many secrets, Tom. i will
tell YOU" and he told me.
My good mother, you know, Tom,
was always assuring me that / was a
great catchr ever warning me that
there were endless numbers of schem-
ing mammas looking after my money.
In fact. she finally put me into sort of
nervous terror of women; was sure
never should find one who would care
lfor me myself; L was jeremiah Mer-
rivales son; was the head of the great
Merrivale mills; was an object of envy
among men and women: Twas supposed
ito be a fellow with infinite leisure. AS
a matter-of-fact i have or had no rest.
You can't be the employer OF some three
Thousand persons without feeling re
sponsibility; SO my dear father brought
lme up; and / am glad now that never
shirked. Save for two or three vaca-
ltions-and all the employees have these
as well-there is no harder-worked man
bin New York than the head of Merrivale
s& Co. / am not inclined to self-pity.
Rather / pity dawdlers, and God has
given us no greater blessing than this
same work.
But my mother tooloanother view of
il. She insisted that was not able TO
protect myself against fortune hunt
Iresses; and she declared, with her usual
superiority, that she would arrange
NY marriage.
"You must marry, you know, Tom.
It's the best thing for man. But you
must so marry that you will not be
miserable afterward."
"0h, bother marriage" said i; II
haven't time for that"
you've been in love several times"
81 got over it both times in n couple
cf mouths" said /.
"You might have been caught" said
my mother, putting on her glasses and
looking me over critically-she looks
are not in love now, Robert"
LET me consider" said l. "No; don't
think am"
'T have decided on the GIRL" she said.
'What have / to say about it?" said /.
you will be pleased of course. It's
Sally Pentland. She has beauty, dis
ltinction, money" I,
"Oh, money be hanged!" / cried.
Robert" my dear mother said, Sc
verely, "you forget yourself"
"Oh, I'm sorry" said /, "but I'm get
ting tired of being considered kind OF
tyild animal with lot of hunters--or
rather huntresses-at my heels. Now,
j say, such maternal management never
turns out well in the stories and novels"
"The stories and novels are not life.
They are responsible for lot of de-
Illusions. Now Sallie-"
"She has beauty, distinction, money.
What do we want of money!"
"She is a very nice girl. 1 never
found that money made a girl any
worse, Bob. On the contrary. to give
girl who never has known money some
all at once, she likely loses her head.
Those are usually the unfortunate mar
riages."
"Yes, they may be-" said 1; "and /
grant you Sallie is q nice girl"
"Oh. well, what's the use Of talking
about it, Robert. have decided TO have
you out of dangers way before 1 die.
While / live it's my duty to you-to
your poor. dear father-to look after
your fortune"
Bless me! she was always looking
after my fortune. Such dear, good