The Monte Vista journal., 1914-11-14

fifteen. president. Indeed. as Evelyn
was nearing her eighteenth birthday
they had begun to talk OF royalty.
Then Harry Alder came to town to
work In Nick's drug store at five dol
lars a week and serve soda at five
cents a glass.
1t was case Of necessity with
Harry-no frivolous notion that $2O
a month would buy dance tickets and
white trousers marked down to $3S9
from SIS. His engineering corps had
been disbanded by flaw In the right
OF way of the new lnterurban trolley
line, and he was a thousand miles
away from home and mother, and IA
ther had said he was old enough to
shift for himself. Anyway, he had
answered Nick's advertisement, and
here he was.
Thence, one day in the early fall,
came Belle and Evelyn for sunde
OF nuts and chocolate, and after that
governors and royalty needed have
care and look after their fences.
Belle finished her sunde leisurely
while Evelyn looked over the post
cards Behind the card rack-not
quite-stood Harry. Just past a
tinted reproduction OF the court
house were Harry's brown eyes. The
brown eyes and the blue eyes looked
into one another and the blue eyes
fell
ITS frightfully warm, dear" said
Belle. Wed better get home so you
can lie down. Your face is so
flushed"
That night Mr. Schmoker called
upon Papa Hixon. Mr. Schmoker, al
though not governor nor an earl
held much the same respect in the
family as Sindbad Of Haroun-al
Raschid. He was rich. In fact he
owned the trolley line that was hav.
ing trouble with its right of way.
Mr.. s. told papa he was looking
for wife and let papa infer that Eve
lyn suited his taste exactly. 81 hat
trafeled all ofer America" said he.
and nefer-nefer haf l seen such
great peauty."
Papa, knowing that Evelyn needed
a little care in the handling, said he
would think 1t over, and asked his
guest to Sunday dinner
Evelyn developed mania for writ
ing letters and postcards, and making
trips to the drug store for stamps.
That week Evelyn ate and drank,
breathed and lived Mr.. Schmoker, till
she grew weary of his name. Satur.
day confirmed her fears when she
overheard papa tell mamma that Mr..
Schmnkar nj
that when he was his son-in-law he
would do SO and so, and SO and so.
Immediately Evelyn scribbled
card to some one and ran down to
the drug store for a stamp. Nick
was out and Harry was holding down
the store alone. He was back of the
prescription counter counting pills
when Evelyn rushed in.
"Oh, Harry, darling. It's getting
to be terrible at home. You know
that fat old Mr.. Schmoker who owns
your road. Well, papa has made up
his mind that | have to marry him.
They've always said had to marry
money. you know. l know how it
Will be-dingdong. dingdong about
1t until | go mad, or die-or worse
than anytihng-give in"
Hush, dearest. You'll never give
In You're going to marry mel"
This minute, Harry, dear, II you
say sol"
"On Ave dollars week."
"On five dollars a week."
But we'd starve. Evelyn, dear, we
must not be foolish"
Mr. Schmoker, who had dropped in
to buy some of his strong, black
cigars. heard part of the conversa-
ton.
He went back to his hotel and wrote
two letters. One was to Mr.. Hixon,
regretting his hasty departure from
town and requesting his kindness to.
ward his (Mr. Schmoker's) private
secretary, whom he was leaving I'm his
place, Mr.. Harry Alder by name.
Later he went back for his cigars.
and when he was gone Harry found
a letter for himself on the counter.
Marry the little Evelyn" said the
letter. She is the prettiest girl In
America. ! inclose check for $40.
Qua wedding present to you both.
In month come TO me In New York.
You VIII be my private secretary
until ! can find something better for
you Wishing you success. ] am very
truly yours, Hans Schmoker"