Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-08-02
TAKING HIS ADVICE
AnR. SHELDON was the princi-


S0S manufacturing town of Tor
mont. He was proud of his wealth, but
he was still more proud Of the fact that
he had made 1t all himself, and his
pride was greatest because he had
made it by never allowing anybody to
get ahead of him.
That's the secret of success in life,
Harry" he said, one day, to his favor
ite clerk. ''Sharp's the motto, II you
wish to rise. don't mean you should
cheat; that, of course, is both wrong
and ungentlemanly." (Mr. Sheldon
prided himself, also, on being what
he called "a gentleman" and above all
little meannesses.) But always be
wide-awake, and never let anybody
cheat you. I've noticed, by the bye, that
you've seemed rather downhearted late
ly. If It's because you've your for
tune yet to make, don't despair; but fol-
low my advice. An opening will come
at some time for something better than
a clerkship, and though shall be sorry
to lose you, yet I'll give you up, if
it's for your interest"
Thank you," said Harry, apparently
not bit cheered up by this cool way
of being told he had nothing to expect
from Mr.. Sheldon; ''but it's not exact
ly that / suppose l shall get along
somehow"
What is 1t, my dear boy, then?
really take an interest in you, as you
know and he did, so far as words
were concerned. "Perhaps l can give
you some advice"
"Well,' said Harry, with some hesi-
tation, ''I'm in love, and"
In love" exclaimed the rich mer-
chant. ''In love, and with only clerks
salary to marry on. 1t will never do
never do, Harry. Marriage for one like
you is fastening milestone round your
neck, unless, indeed"-and he stopped,
as if bright thought had struck him
unless, indeed, the girl Is rich"
''She is rich, or will be, l suppose"
answered Harry, 'for her father is
wealthy man. But that's just the diff
Guilty Her father would never let her
marry poor man. and she won't marry
without his consent"
What a miserable tyrant!" said Mr..
Sheldon. ''If l was the lover, Harry,
I'd run off with her. I'd checkmate
the old curmudgeon in that way" and
he chuckled at the imaginary triumph
he would achieve. "'Pon my soul, l
would! l never, as told you, let any
body take a rise out of me-"
But would that be honorable?"
Honorable? Isn't everything fair in
love and war? thought you had some
pluck. Harry. How should like to see
the stingy old hulk rave and stump
about on his gouty toes-for he must be
gouty-when he heard of your elope-
mentI"
And he laughed till his portly sides
shook at the picture he had conjured
up.
He'd probably never forgive me-
said Harry, dejectedly. "And then
what could l do, with a wife brought
up to every luxury, and only a poor
clerks salary to support her onT'
'Never forgive you? Trash and non.
sensel They always do forgive. They
can't help it. Besides" with a conf
dental wink. 81 think 1 know your
man. It's that skinfint Meadows. I've
heard of your being sweet on his
daughter. She's pretty mink, though
she is his child. oh, you needn't deny
1t. ! saw how you hung about her at our
party the other night; and when ]
joked about it with my daughter the
next morning she as good as admitted
that it was true, saying it would be q
good match for you. Now, 1 owe ole
Meadows grudge. He tried to do me
in those railway shares last winter, anG
1 mean to pay him for it. somehow.
tell you what I'll do. I mustn't ask
mind you, who the girl is. Mum mus
be the word. mustn't, of course, bt
known in the affair; but I'll give you
leave of absence for month and
check for ESQ to pay for your weddin,
trip If you'll make runaway match
Is it agreed? Well, there's my han,
on It. Here's the check. Egad! Won
the old rascal howl when he hears hov
we've done him!'
Harry seemed to hesitate, however
and 1t was not till Mr.. Sheldon, cage
to see his old commercial rival put a
a disadvantage. had urged him agail
and again, and promised to stand b,
him. that he finally consented, and tool
the check which his employer persiste'
In forcing upon him.
The next morning Mr.. Sheldon cam
down to breakfast in high glee, for
note had reached him just as he wa
shaving, which ran as follows:
Dear Sir-I have, with much diff
Guilty, persuaded her to elope. 1t wa