Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-03-21
Married to Order
HEN Theodore Clayton step

W ped down the gangplank Of the
AS lake steamer to take the Cen
ter Harbor stage for Sandwich he was
I'm a peculiar state of mind, and there
seemed to be a sufficient reason for
this. His father had actually ordered
him to go up to little summer resort
in Central New Hampshire and do
nothing more or less than marry Jean
Weston!
"Theo," the senior Clayton had said,
''it is high time you were settled down
in life. You've dallied about in near
ly every country on the face Of the
globe, you've met all classes of wom-
EN-, and you've failed to bring home a
wife. Now, 1 want our firm to con-
tinue under the same family name
long after both you and l have gone
to meet our illustrious ancestors on
the other side. would have been
eminently satisfied with any choice Of
a wife | feel sure you would make,
but you have failed to make this
choice after every opportunity in the
world and l believe you never will do
it unaided.
whom shall expect you to marry. Her
name Is Jean Weston. | have seen
her; she Is attractive; about your age,
and eminently suited to you as a life
companion. / have two reasons be-
sides all this why 1 want you to marry
her. She Is the niece Of young wom-
an whom l was about to marry when
she died, and she has an ample store
Of health and the worlds goods.
Now"
But, father" put in the astonished
Theo. how do you know she will
have me? How do you-'
How do I know! How do
knoww sputtered Clayton senior.
"I've arranged all that. Her father
would be pleased with the match-he
knows you-and his daughter has
your photograph, over which, from re-
ports, she seems to be enraptured; be-
sides, do you want me to think Clay
ton would doubt his ability to win any
bride he had set his heart upon?
You"
But, father again interposed the
astonished and perplexed son.
but me no butts young nan.
You've had your fling and good one.
too. Now do not doubt my ability to
choose for you, who, evidently, can
not choose for yourself. You'll find
Miss Weston stopping at the Holly
wood House, up in Sandwich, New
Hampshire. Run along. now; pack
up your best suits and your golf clubs
and start. Send me reports Of your
progress"
This, then, explains young Clay
toms peculiar state of mind as he ap-
preached the Center Harbor stage,
in which he was to complete the jour-
ney to the bride-to-be of his fathers
choice.
"F'yew want tew go this trip you'll
haf' ter set up on them air mail bags"
said the driver of the ancient vehicle
to Theo; so he clambered up and
perched himself like a watch dog over
Uncle Sans mail sacks, where he
proceeded to enjoy cigar.
The nasal jargon of the stage driver
below attracted his attention, howev-
er. and he was soon deeply interested
in learning that an elderly lady could
be accommodated with a seat upon an
empty egg crate placed between the
two top seats of the stage coach if
her daughter would not object to
"settin' up thar with that feller ON
tn mail sacks"
Theo was pleased to see the young
lady accept this only alternative and
ascend gracefully over the rear wheel
to a position beside him upon the mail
sacks.
She brushed a few willful locks of her
hair back from her forehead with an
easy gesture. and as Theo made a
move as IL to throw away his not half
consumed cigar she exclaimed:
"Oh, don't stop smoking on my ac-
count. please; possession gives you this
attractive place by nine points of the
law, l believe, and, besides, l adore
the odor of a good cigar!"
Thank you" said he. and soon he
commenced to marvel upon the strange
ness of his errand. which was natur-
ally occupying about all his thoughts
at that time. He had implicit faith
in his fathers judgment and never
had he considered for a moment the
idea Of disobeying him since he left
his teens, hence no such thought oc.
Cured to him at this time.
"Ah.-Ooooo!.!"
Theo awoke to his surroundings In
time to see the young lady beside him
slipping, mail sack and all, towards
the coach wheel below.
Grasping her firmly with one hand
and the mail sack with the other he
quickly brought both back to a place
of safety.
You were evidently moved with the
contents Of those letters" he remarked
cheerfully. Il was absent in a day
dream or l would have prevented
your fright. If am to guard against
young ladies taking away whole sacks
of Uncle Sans mail l must keep 8
better watch
His companion was blushing furious
ly and with downcast eyes she muir
INJURED a word Of thanks. Then Thee
saw that he had not removed his arm
from her waist 1t was his turn Il