The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-13
PART J..


I had been away. and l had not heard
what had happened to him; but 1t was
not long before that ceaseless, tireless
gossip brought it to my cars. Wheh
met him, and after we had exchanged
greetings, he himself began: I'VE never
have had many secrets, Tom. VIII
tell you," and he told me.
My good mother, you know, Tom
was always assuring me that l was
great catch; ever warning me that
there were endless numbers of Sohem-
ing mammas looking after my money,
In fact. she finally put me into sort OF
nervous terror of women; l was sure
never should find one who would care
for me myself; l was Jeremiah Mer-
rivale's son; / was the head Of the great
Merrivale mills; l was an object of envy
among men and women; was supposed
to be q fellow with infinite leisure. AS
a matter -of-fact have or had no rest.
You can't be the employer Of some ;hree
thousand persons without feeling re-
sponsibility; so my dear father brought
me up; and am glad now that never
shirked. Save for two or three Vaca-
tions-and all the employees have these
as well-tncre is no heard worked
man in New York than the head OF
Merrivale & Co. | am not inclined to
self-pity. Rather I pity daWdiers, ana
God has given us no greater blessing
than this same work.
But nv mother took another view Of
it. She insisted that l was not able to
protect myself against fortune hunt
resses; and she declared, with her usual
superiority, that she would arrange
my marriage.
"Ycu must marry, you know, Bob.
It's the best thing for q man. But you
must so marry that you Will not be
miserable afterward."
"Oh, bother marriage" said Il
haven't time for that
"You've been in love several times"
"I got over it both times in couple
of months" said I.
"You might have been caught" said
my mother, putting on her glasses and
looking me over critically-she looks
like Justice with those glasses on.
"You are not in love now, Robert?"
let me consider" said l. mo;
don't think I am"
81 have decided on the girl" she said
What have / to say about it?" said
"You will be pleased, of course. It's
Sallie Pentland. She has beauty, dis
tincton, money"
"Oh, money be hanged!" I cried.
Robert" my dear mother said, Sc
yerely, "you forget yourself"
"Oh, I'm sorry" said l, but I'm
getting tired of being considered a
kind of wild animal with n lot of hun
ters-or rather huntresses-at my
heels. Now, say, such maternal man.
agement never turns out well in the
stories and novels"
"The stories and novels are not life
They are responsible for lot of de-
lusions. Now Sallie-"
"She has beauty distinction, money
What do we want of money!"
She is very nice girl. l never
found that money made a girl any
worse, Bob. On the contrary, to give
a girl who never has known money
some all at once, she likely loses hel
head. Those are usually the unfortun-
nate marriages"
"Yes, they may be-" said l; "and
grant you Salle is a nice girl"
"Oh, WELL what's the use of talking
about it, Robert. l have decided tC
have you out of dangers way before
7 die. While I live it's my duty tc
you-to your poor, dear father-to look
after your fortune"
Bless me! she was always looking
after my fortune. Such dear, gooC
mothers-with the best intentions
often turn fellows to viciousness But
never had any strong inclination thai
way.
Sallie and l were thrown together
constantly. And she is a tremendously
nice girl, you know. You rarely NEE
a nicer It's not so easy after all tC