The Starkville news. (Starkville, Miss.) 1902-1960, 1904-05-13

finances were at low ebb, but what
mattered that-did not papa have plen-
y of money?
In the meantime papa was hustled
into the background and the campaign
was waged without his assistance. The
women feared that papa would make
some break that would scare away the
golden fish nibbling at the hook.
Papa saw all this and felt it more
keenly than he admitted to himself
He was man among men. He held
the respect of every person with whom
he had ever come in contact.
His name had ever been the syno-
nym for commercial integrity and his
counsel had been eagerly sought in
most important matters connected with
business, finance and civic affairs. To
be thrust aside by those he loved 50
unselfshly and generously as sort OF
blockhead who would make ducks and
brakes of their plans came to him as
very bitter pill The more he thought
of it the more he resented it, until his
very soul revolted.
Finally the campaign came to close
and Leslie Archibald Van Not asked
permission of Eleanor to speak to
Papa Smythe-and obtained 1t. When
he spoke John Smith sized the young
man UP with a keen glance Then he
asked:
What do you do? What is your
business?"
Really, Mr. Smythe (Van Not pro-
nounced the as in ice), [ have no
do nf 400 N
trade, you know. l am-er-connected
with brokerage firm, Hamburger,
Van Not & Co. you know, but | SO
to the Office seldom or never. They
give me a share of the profits for the
use of my name, you know. But it IS
quite inadequate for the needs or
man of fashion | assume, Of course,
that Miss Smythe's dowery will be
ample And that is the point upon
which | wished to consult you, sir.
"Oh, it was" remarked John Smith,
lingering his chin whiskers. 'Well, Iii
| think the matter over and see you
again in few days.
John Smith took more liquor tnas
night than he had imbibed for many
years.
On the following evening the OLD
soap maker, while smoking in the con-
servatory, was made the unwilling
listener to a confidential conversation
! between mis- wife and daughter.
"Mr Van Not says" said the daugh-
| ter, with emphasis, that papa posi-
| lively must make some connection IN
| the business world which will give him
standing sufficient to justify an alll-
ance with the Van NotS. Positively
papa must buy an interest in a bank
| big enough to make them elect him
vice president, or something.
With a snort of rage John Smith LEFT
! the conservatory and the house. When
| the subject was broached to him, how
ever, he was Unexpectedly tractable
and trotted right off and, with his
usual efficiency, managed the matter
forthwith. He arranged to be made
second vice president of the Forty
eighth National bank at the coming
election. He then Informed Van Not
of his action, and that he would give
his daughter a dot Of a cool million
upon her wedding day.
All the preliminaries being settled,
function was arranged for the purpose
| of announcing the great event. For
the first time Mrs. Smythe found her
parlors filled with people to whom she
| and her daughter had looked as the
very elect. For some unaccountaDle
reason John Smith was late. He was
| not there when the curtain was rung
| up, but appeared later so smoothly
groomed and faultlessly dressed as to
warm the hearts of his wife and
daughter and Leslie Archibald Van
Not. The latter seized upon him and
| led him into the group of his most I'M
| mediate relatives. The interest OF all
| the guests was centered upon the IN
| PRODUCTION to the exclusive Van Nots
| to the new parvenu who was to re-
| juvenate their fortunes.
Mrs. Van Not" drawled Leslie
Archibald, ALLOW me to present Mr..
| Smythe, quite figure, you know, In
| the banking world Mr.. Smythe, my
mother, Mrs. Van Not"
'De-lighted, / assure you, ma'am."
| rejoined John Smith. heartily. but there
was a dangerous glitter in his eye.
| "My young friend here is slightly mis-
| taken. My name Is not Smythe, but
| Smith, plain John Smith, and I'm not
| banker-just bought little interest
In a bank to please Nellie. my daugh-
ter" Then, raising his voice, "I'm
soap-maker, ma'am. That's the way
made the money the young man wants
making soap; and 1t was good soap,
| a'am, none better; pure as the mora
| in dew and honest as old Abe Lincoln.