Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-12-09
CHAPTER ".


Tuesday, December 6, 1892. the morn
ing edition of the New York Herald con-
tanned 16 pages, which is Is more than
the average mind can benefit by at
tempting TO absorb, of any daily news
paper.
In an obscure column. under the head
line Personal" there appeared. among
others, this advertisement: "A young
man wants a wife. Must marry Tues
day. Answer before noon. Malcolm.
Herald. Uptown"
J a messenger boy waited to receive the
replies, find the applicants. and direct
them to call in person at the Office OF
Robert Stanton, legal representative of /
this indefinite Malcolm.
II seemed well arranged and promis- |
ing. and as Stanton entered his Office |
shat morning. after an unsatisfactory |
slight al a hotel, smile of sad satisfac-
zion lifted his upper lip from the tips
of his excellent teeth.
lie touched the bell, and his Office boy
not overnight, appeared at the inner
door connecting the private room with
the main office. There was another
door. marked Private" leading from
The inner office directly into the hall.
Some women may call to see Mr..
Malcolm he said. 81 represent his in
terests. You are to show them in one
at q time, in the order of their coming.
When / have done with one l will ring.
Don't let smother come in till you hear
the bell. See?"
Not a muscle seemed to move in the
blank. stupid face. as the boy muttered;
-.Yesser'' and closed the door. Then,
however, a great grin instantly divided
his face and his eyes opened almost too
wide for his head to hold them. He
dropped into his chair, and, clutching
the Office copy of the morning Herald
he quickly hunted up and read again a
little two-line advertisement: -
young man wants wife. Must marry
Tuesday. Answer before noon"
"Gee Whit" ne muttered. "A wed
din in de family. An ter-day's Tues
day, or I'm a sinner. Hi! but here
No. /. Cracly, she's a corker- II
struck it rich, sure 'nough-"
Instantly he pulled every atom o
expression cut of his face. Approach
ing woman hesitating in the ope
door. he said:
Good mornin', 'um. Lookin' fur d
Mr.. Malcolm as adetised in de morI
in Herald UNI? Right dis way, I'M
He's a-waitin' right in here"
He opened the door of the priva'
office The lady timidly entered. Il
closed the door again, and with
broad grin retreated to his chair
wait for the next and listen for II
bell
Inside, the two faced each other fl
a moment in bewildered silence.
Each naturally looked for somethil
OF a wolf at the opposite end of such ;
advertisement and each was natural
perplexed at the excellently adjust
sleeps clothing.
Stanton was the poorest possii
Judge of woman IL she was out OF I
witness stand, and ne was too TIT
.oughly bewildered to be half so 60
a Judge as usual. He saw face
like of which il seemed to him that
had never seen before, with keen. gu
eyes. lips curving scornfully. yet
most ready TO laugh, and someth
about it which frightened him.
He was so thoroughly bewilde
that when the woman recovered 81
GENTLY to remark: This is Mr..
colin believer" Stanton hesita'
hung his head, and, looking at the fl
replied:
:'why, yes-or, rather, no, not
actly."
1t was an excellent reply.
"Oh. indeed! 4 didn't suppose
Won we're exactly Mr.. Malcolm"
exclaimed, with a pointed twist to
actly." "9ut you are the one
wrote the advertisement, exa
aren't you?"
"Why-yes, madam, did write
oe repiied. with marked accent OF
-"write."
Her eyes sparkled. Her head
thrown back Her lips were
laughing, but the curve of scorr
better defined, too, and made hi
test himself without in the least
izing why.
with an excellent imitation {
s'vrite" she said:
cit doesn't matter, after all, sll
did the writing. You are the ma
thinks that he wants wife, I'm
The tips of Stanton's teeth apI
upder his mustache as he rephe
81 am
It was not even professional
but very like the smile of sch
who is about to be logged and
ing to keep back the tears as
possible. --