The Democratic advocate., 1909-05-07
Love, Tomatoes
and Finance.
Copyrighted. 1909, by Associated
literary Press.
BY EsTRLLE CLAYTON.

= = y y = ? = - = y v = = = y =
The big man OF the town OF strongs-
vile was Jacob Strong. First, his
grandfather had founded the town;
second. he had been justice OF the
peace for some years; third, be had
received almost votes enough once t.
send him to the legislature, ana. lastly.
he was worth about $4,000.
MIR. Strong felt bis bigness and ex-
acted respect accordingly. He did his
best to make bis son Horace and his
daughter Maude feel their superiority
ever all other human beings In and
around StrongsviIle. He succeeded
admirably with the daughter. but the
conduct Of his son gave him no little
anxiety.
One morning he said to the latter;
Horace, l am panied and humiliat-
ed to learn that for months past you
have been paying attention to the
daughter Of scribner, the carpenter.
You have been riding with her, and
you have frequently called at the
house. What does It meanT
Miss Scribner Is a nice young wom-
an, sir" was the reply. "she is as
well educated as our Maude and has
as good Manners"
"Tut. tut, strl Make no such com-
parsons. II you forget who and what
am, you ought to be ashamed Of
yourself. Being the son Of q man Of
position and wealth. with moro wealth
and social prestige coming, you must
look higher. sir, far higher"
It was true that Miss Nettte Scrib-
uer was the daughter Of carpenter.
but as the favorite OF her Aunt Hiida
Bascomb. a rich old spinster, tho girl
had been sent TO seminary and en-
joyed exceptional opportunities. In
ell but wealth she was the peer OF any
girl in the county.
AS a matter OF fact the couple were
engaged. but keeping II a secret.
Horace had hopes that when the time
came TO announce the fact 10 his
father II would be received at least In
a reasonable way, but the converse
ton OF the morning showed him the
breakers ahead.
What Mr.. Strong meant when be re
ferred to more wealth and social pres
tige coming was the fact that he had
organized the Strongsville Cannery
company. The cannery building was
already under way. II was a fertile
farming country around the town, but
with poor facilities for shipping fruits
and vegetables, and he had conceived
and entered on the idea OF a tomato
cannery.
He had investigated until be was
certain that the profits would DO large.
He put in almost all tho money and
controlled things, and what few other
stockholders there were did not belong
to Strongsville.
As president Of a tomato cannery
Jacob Strong felt himself 10 be a tan
gible object He was right there and
all there in his pomposity. He didn't
propose to have any OF his neighbora
feel that as stockholders they need
aot have too much awe Of him.
OF course the magnate's son In.
formed the carpenters daughter OF the
situation OF Affairs. Young Horace
was determined to disobey his father
at any cost; but fortunately, Aunt Hill
da arrived on her annual visit She
didn't exactly believe that all people
were equal. but she bowed to none.
II carpenter and a blacksmith were
honest and respectable men they were
Just as good IN her eyes as magnates.
The Scribners attempted TO keep the
secret from her. but she hadn't been
Ia the house a day when she turned
on her sister and said.
'Mary. there's something going on
here, and I want to know all about
it ! find Nettie looking piqued and
sorrowful, and she hasn't eaten enough
at three meals to keep bird alive,
No use trying to keep 1t from me.
What's the matterT
She was told. and when she had the
particulars she set her jaw and nod.
ded her head, which showed that she
had made up her mind. Just what II
was she didn't say that evening, nor
did she tell 1t next morning when she
put ON her rusty old bonnet and sal
lied out. She said merely that she
had business matter to attend TO.
Mr.. Magnate Strong had a business
Office In the town, of course. AunI
Hilda made straight course for 4
and plunged herself down in chall
in front of the great man to say:
Jacob Strong. my niece and you
boy were attracted toward each other
and they have fallen In love and ar,
engaged. 4 understand that you op
pose the contemplated marriage"
with all my SOUL and II you arr
here to say anything in favor OF 1t 20,
may as well save your breath. won
der that you had the impudence to ap
pear at ALL"
"And what are your objections?' q
quietly asked Aunt Hilda as she got
strong hold Of her temper.
"You have no right to as1g' he shout
ed at her. "But will tell you at leas
one objection. No son Of mine car
mate with the daughter of a common
carpenter"
"No? Jacob Strong, how long dit
your father get skinny living Off /
mighty poor thirty acres Of ground ii
Michigan and what did he amount t,
as a man? How far back is 1t since
you were running an old sawmill OF
Ten Mile creek IN the same state7 Mr.
Scribner is a carpenter, but his pedi
gree is as good as yours"
IF you were a man I'd throw yo,
out of the Officer shouted Jacob Strong
"But. being Pm q woman. I'll wall
out as fast as ! can | Just called q
let you know, Jacob, that / have ar
rived In town. Please keen n IitfIa