Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-06-18
SHEER W|TCHCRAFT
Usual Outcome of Combination of
Obstinate Father. Sweet
Daughter and Her Lover.
BY JOHN ~HABBERToN.

49, ~
unusual combination In this world
more's the pity. There vas such
trio In Moreway not long ago, and a
All the world loves a lover" an
doubly loves two lovers who seem {
have been made for each other, al
Moreway wished that Margie Burc'
and Jack Worthson might be- Above,
to marry and live happy ever after.
They might have made a runawa.
match. but Marg!e longed and hope,
that in time her father would chang,
his mind; besides. Jack was willing 4
wait for her forever. and there wa!
nothing against him but that hi,
father and Margie's had been enemies
for years. But Squire Burch's mine
was not OF the kind that changes.
I'm a straight up and down man..
he often said. and when | set my foo
down its set to stay"
Friends Of the young couple tried Il
reason him out OF his opposition tc
Margie's lover, but besides being {
hard creature to reason with, Squire
Burch was owner Of the principal store
In Moreway. and VAS 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 ard-hearted; he
loved his daughter dearly, but he be,
lieved, like many another middle.aged
man. that love affairs weaken II they
have enough time. and that second
loves make a large proportion Of such
marriages as are happy. Margie was
an obedient daughter, so when he had
forbidden Jack the house and eXacted
from Margie a 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
30 attractive and well-to.do that a 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
should be 30. The squire, who OBJ
served him closely. fumed secretly at
the young mans loyalty, and called
MN a TOOL: 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 hat 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 a 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 II | 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 CONF
into families that owed me money.
Why shouldn't l make another, for my
own peace Of mind?"
The squire nursed his project to
keep it warm. and a few days later for
tune sent Miss Lou into the store to
make some small purchases.
Splendid rig, for q cold day like
this" said the squire. but where on
did you get it? | never saw a
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
t." said Miss Lou. as she caressed a
'ur sleeve. AS for these things
affairs are talked over in
country store, SO you may save me
lot Of questions II you will, by tell.
ng the gossips that they we're sent
ne by a relative In the east. | sup.
pose they are too old-fashioned, or
something, to be useful any longer u
here but they're lust the thing for
bis weatber-.nd mo"
81 wish to goodness Jack Wortbson
,ould see you in that rig. He'd for
ret Margie as quick as a flash and he
wouldn't take No for an answer. and
,ou'd make a splendid connie and I'd
70 at peace"
Miss LOUIS rich. brilliant eves IA shad
nischieyously as she replIed:
at takes two to make a bargain M
hat kind, SQUIRE Burcb."
Yes; I-remember." siehed tbe
ouire; but it's to your credit that I
forget vour pood noin,e Ard
'ou might do worse, and 'twould be
lard for you to do better. 'Tain't
young rascars fault that | hated
lis rather twenty years. Jacks got
I In him, he'll be right smart of a