Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-03-26
SHEER W|TCHCRAFT
Usual Outcome of Combination OF
Obstinate Father, Sweet
Daughter and Her Lover.
BY JOHN HABBERTON.

lover WhOm the rather hates is not an
unusual combination in this world
more's the pity. There was such a
trio in Moreway not long ago, and as
"All the world loves a lover" and
doubly loves two lovers who seem to
have been made for each other, all
Moreway wished that Margie Burch
and Jack Worthson might be allowed
to marry and live happy ever after.
They might have made a runaway
match, but Margie longed and hoped
that in time her father would change
his mind: besides, Jack was willing to
wait for her forever, and there was
nothing against him but that his
father and Margie's had been enemies
for years. But Squire Burch's mind
was not of the kind that changes.
Pm a straight up and down man."
he often said, "and when | set my foot
down its set to stay"
Friends of the young couple e.tried to
reason him out Of his opposition to
Margie's lover, but besides being a
hard creature to reason with Squire
Burch was owner of the principal store
In Moreway, and was also a justice OF
the peace, and there are reasons why
prudent men do not care to antagonize
a person of such double Importance.
The squire was not hard-hearted; he
loved his daughter dearly, but he be-
lieved, like many another middle-aged
man, that love affairs weaken If they
have enough time, and that second
loves make large proportion of such
marriages as are happy. Margie was
an obedient daughter, 80 when he had
forbidden Jack the house and exacted
from Margie promise that she would
not allow Jack to make love to her
when she met him at parties the squire
believed that he could possess his
soul in peace, especially as Jack was
80 attractive and well-todo that lot
of girls-and their mothers-were
angling for him, and ready to land him
at the first nibble.
But Jack did not seem to nibble. He
could not help being courteous to girls
in general besides, Margie, who de-
tested jealous girls insisted that he
served him closely fumed secretly at
the young mans loyalty, and called
him a fool. Indeed, there was one
Lou Naith, a plump, saucy, yet respect
compelling beauty OF twenty-five, who
had been obliged TO give him the nit
ten yet she did it so nicely that they
remained friends.
why doesn't the fool have eyes and
sense enough to fall in love with Lou"
the squire asked himself in the store
one day, when he CHANGED to be alone.
Shed take his heart so entirely that
Margie would seem baby to him. TO
be sure, she's Margie's best friend,
but for that very reason Margie would
be glad to give him up-or ought to be.
| wonder if | couldn't be smart enough
to make the match? I've succeeded
at harder ones, right here in this store
all in the way of business-just to
make sure that money would come
into families that owed me money.
Why shouldn't | make another. for my
own peace Of mind?"
The squire nursed his project to
keep 1t warm, and few days later for
tune sent Miss Lou into the store to
make some small purchases.
splendid rig for a cold day like
this" said the squire, but where On
earth did you get 1t? | never saw
suit Of furs on sale in this town, or a
woman who could afford to buy one.
That old wildcat oil stock of your
fathers must have struck a gusher.
had a chance to buy into the same
company but"
Fathers is for sale, If you care for
it," said Miss Lou, as she caressed a
fur sleeve LAS for these things
everybody's affairs are talked over In
country store, SO you may save me
lot of questions il you will, by tell
ing the gossips that they were sent
me by a relative in the east. sup
pose they are too old-fashioned or
something, to be useful any longer out
there but they're just the thing for
this weather-and me-"
81 wish to goodness Jack Worthson
could see you in that rig. He'd for
get Margie as quick as flash, and he
wouldn't take No for an answer, and
you'd make splendid couple, and I'd
be at peace"
Miss Louis rich, brilliant eyes flashed
| mischievously as she replied:
1T takes two to make bargain Of
| that kind, Squire Burch."
Yes; remember" sighed the
| squire; but it's to your credit that l
can't forget your good points. And
you might do worse, and 'twould be
hard for you to do better 'Tain't
the young rascal's fault that | hated
his father twenty years. Jacks got
| it in him; he'll be right smart of
man some day-when he gets Margie
off his mind"
"Margie off his mind" echoed Miss
| Lou, scornfully, and with another
fash Of her very expressive eyes.
You might as well say when the
world ends,
"Oh, nonsense. Miss Lou! Lots Of
| fine young men have been over their
| heads in love. Yet afterward loved
some other woman for lifetime, and
| lots of fine girls are just like EN-,
| If you're as fond Of my Margie as
| you seem to be you cant do her
| greater kindness than to help me put
| an end to her moaning over Jack
| Worthson, for you know I'll never let
| her marry him. vow, ! wish you
| could be man--without stoppin'
bein yourself"
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