The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-09-05
Il FASCINATING NAN


- ,yigI1a1 to BECOME a merchant in
AZ ,.ifv ana was DESTROYS that Clara,
who was a charming girl, should mari!
4 city man. His plan was to sell me
farm and set up country store. 1nls
would take him TO the city TO oJ
goods. where he would make the NC
CIIaiTltance OF business men through
Ivboru he would gradually work his
WY into a wider field. Some OF these
ac6unintances he might Introduce TO
Clara. and among them she might ma
husband.
Douglas carried out his plan. Before
s4aPtfnas to th,s-city his sister warned
him to beware OF city people ana re-
member that he was not versed IN city
ways. To this he replied that ne haa
letters to the firm of Burt q Richard-
son and would rely on them for e1vl &c.
Burt & Richardson were wholesale
arocers. Douglas was received by MI
richardson, who said to him:
.rYou have goods to buy in SO many
different lines that you had better take
one OF our clerks to show you where
Won can buy cheapest. At the same
time YOU can sound the market for
your groceries, and we will do as well
or better than you can do elsewhere.
Douglas gladly accepted the oner'
and the clerk who was sent with HIM
Be
way of securing bargains. and by
o'clock all but the groceries had been
purchased. Douglas had found Adams
strictly a business man and was much
relieved on returning to the store u
he introduced to u Mr.. derriman, Who
he understood had just dropped in an
whose genfality captivated the-youi%
countryman mt once. Mr.. Merrlmlh
seemed to take to Douglas and sat
~ lit 1E.k VNIaR nh a Il
tended to business.
s.TerriTnan." said Mr. Richardson.
1--WE nre very busy just now and can't
give Mr.. Midway the attention ."
needs. Can't you devote yourself TO
him this EVENING""
ssI shall be most happy" said the
genial NIerriman.
The evening was q revelation to the
young merchant. He saw the sights
Of the city In the most denghtful fash
ion. He tried to pay his share OF the
expense, but Merriman would wink :lt
the cashiers and remark to Douglas.
'sJYatt till 60 to your place, then it
win be you who shall do the paying.
DouSlns became confidential, show
ing his new friend a photograph OF
his sister. AIerrIman at once went
jato raptures over 1t, declaring the
face to be the most beautiful he had
ever seen. Then n secret desire crcI't
into Douslas' breast. Merriman was
Just the match he would Ike for Clnr;'
The next morning Merriman spoke
OF the picture n such terms that Ell
bert Adams asked to see it. He gaZed
at it for some time, then handed it
back without a word. Douglas would
have been disappointed had he not
been satisfied with Merriman's enthu
siasm.
Douglas, having completed his pllT-
chases, hurried home to tell Clara that
he had made the friend of his life, who
had fallen in love with her picture and
was dying to see her. He was to come
up soon, when Douglas would return
the favors he had received, but must
necessarily do so in his own house
This would throw Merrlnan and cara
together.
week after week passed, but nothing
was heard of Mr.. Merriman. Doug
las was disappointed. When OctcIci'
came he wrote inviting Merriman to
come up and make them a visit. The
letter was answered by the firm, say
ing that AIerriman was very busy.
few days later young Ebert Adams
walked into the store In shooting cos
tune ana said he was on his way to
his shooting club. Douglas invited
him to supper, and from the moment
he and Clara met they seemed desper-
ately pleased with each other.
Adams did not get away to his shoot
ing for several days, remained there
but short time and when he-c came
back spent several days more in TIE
company of Clara Midway. Douglns
was troubled. He did not relish the
idea of his sister taking fancy to a
mere clerk. He wished to keep her
for the fascinating Merriman.
During the winter there was not
holiday that Adams did not appear
and spend the whole of It with Clara.
The more Douglas thought about the
matter the more he was surprised. The
man who had fallen in love with the
picture had not taken the trouble tn
zee the original. The man who had
made no comments on the picture had
fallen In love with the original.
One evening Douglas went horro
from the store and found Adams and
Clara together. Indeed. they were veg
near together-they were in each 9th
er's arms. Adams on becoming aware
Of Douglas presence said to him:
''Do you remember showing me your
sisters picture in the city on yonr
visit there?"
eyes, and you made no comment on
IL"
"stin waters run deep: fell in love
with It. vowed that I would s:';,k
out it's original and win her IL possible.
have done both and nothing reInC iIi!i.