Perth Amboy evening news., 1905-03-29
How a Scandal
Was Averted q
By w. NEWMAN FLOWER

JOSIAH WAGSTAIF made a
lVI pretense OF being something in
he city. This he did purely as a hob
by. because he had realized d large for
tune out OF pork. but finding idle re-
.irement rather monotonous he began
o go to the city again with the earii-
st, and only reached home At night
when most people would have thought
Of going to bed.
What his occupation consisted of 10
one knew, not even his wife and fam
lily. and no one who knew Josiah
Wagstaff cared 10 ask.
WagsJaff WAC the autocrat OF his "
home. When his brow appeared puck
cred the whole family trembled. and il
was very puckered just now. so that
Mrs. Wagstatf. the three Misses Wag-
STAFF, and Master Timothy. aged IA. sat
mutely round the breakfast table at The
prospect of 4 coming storm.
Kitty" he began. lowering his cot
fee cup into the middle of the saucer
with mathematical precision. Your
conduct has astonished and amazed me.
Last evening Il youth can call him
little else, although he's 2~5-called 10
see me. and actually-yes. actually
asked for my permission 10 marry you.
"Of course. | should have granted his
request could he have satisfied me as
to his prospects. He is one of those
writing chaps. and turns out novelties
in the same way as my machinery used
To turn out sausages.
But that is not the greatest trouble
which you have been the means OF
bringing upon me. Not only do yon fall
in love with q supplemented idiot,
whose sole ambition is writing senti-
mental trash. but | actually ind you
reading one of these driveling rags. the
publication of which any sensible gov
erument would IT once suspend.
II found this in the pocket OF your
macintosh last evening. The name,
The Lovers Companion is very ap-
prupriate, and. no doubt, your lover,
Herbert Grant, is 4 contributor to it,"
Yes, he is. and he makes s3.G00 a year
by writing. at any rate" replied Kitty,
doggedly.
We'll let MIN go on making it, but
you shall not add to the success OF such
q Journal by reading it. And. bear this
in mind. my girl; that II | catch you
reading such pifie again. | shall not
only stop your pocHet-money, but take
very stringent measures 10 prevent
your reading anything but your Bible
and catechism In future. AS for this
Herbert Grant. the sooner you forget
all about him the better. for such a
uaion will never have my sanction
The family began TO breathe again.
But Timothy, the Wagstafs' son and
heir. was up in arms az his sisters dis
comiture.
u say, pateT.' he said. It's q bit
rough on sis. because when she wrote
to the editor for advice he told her 10
stick to her lover through thick and
thin. and thai her pater would knuckle
under if her chap was Il really decent
Young man. And Grants all that.
can tel you. Why. | saw him knock d
cad down yesterday because he made a
Joke about his height, and asked him il
il was cold up there
Timothy. leave the room!" said Mr..
Wagstan, who had paled somewhat, il
n voice of thunder. When ! wish you
TO be master here III say SO. And now.
Kitty he said when the lad had
closed the door behind him, Il ask
you If you dared to drag the family
name into a paper like that BY writing
10 the editor
81 had to take 4 nom de plume, 50
ever The editor didn't know who | was
confessed Kitty.
Very well. | will say no mo.e about
II this time, but bear in mind my warn
ing. that's all"
And just then MIR. Wagstafi dlscov-
| cred that he had five minutes IN which
to catch his train. So he hurried from
the room. much to the relief OF hi:
assembled offspring.