The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1924-12-25
Those Artful
Dodgers
By H. IRVING KING
(Copyright.)

GONE thing is certain" said Mrs.
~ Varnum Foster to her daugh-
ter Mary-age twenty-one and very
fair to look upon-"you shall not
marry Amos Fisher" Mrs. Foster
had been having heart-to-heart talk
with Mary on the subject of matri-
mOny, and had strongly intimated
that it was about time the young
lady considered the subject in Sc
'riOus and practical light. The fond
mother had named several eligible
young men, any one of whom she
would willingly receive as a son-in-
law, and Mary had replied to every
suggestion with some such fiippant
remark as Nonsense "Pooh!" or
"He's horrid!" Then the irritated
matron issued her decree of prohibit
ton against Amos Fisher.
Mary "sat up and took notice" at
this. She had no idea of marrying
Amos until her mother put the idea
into her head. But, now she came
to think of it, Amos would not make
such bad husband-if she really
had such an encumbrance. She and
Amos had been good friends for
years-in fact were quite 'chummy"-
Mary had never pictured Fisher as
leading her to the altar.
"Why, what's the matter with
:Amos?" asked Mary.
Everything is the matter with
him." replied the mother. HE hasn't
any money, or. any prospects"
'Oh, yes, he has," cried Mary; "he
has a bank account-he told me So
and he is going to be taken into part
nership by the firm he works for next
fall-he told me So"
HE told you SOP scoffed Mrs Eos
ter. "And I suppose you believe every
thing he tells you. Well, your father
and have talked it over, and you
shall not marry Amos Fisher"
What could you expect after that?
But one thing. Mary resolved that
she would marry Amos Fisher if she
had to do the proposing herself. The
nebulOus creature of her fancy whom
4
ing her to the altar now assumed the
form and features of Amos Fisher
And then she thought, Goodness gra-
ciOus! Have been in love with Amos
all along and not realized it?'
Mrs. Foster had been wrong when
she scoffed at Amos Fishers pros
poets What he had told Mary about
his bank account and his being taken
into partnership was true; and be-
sides, his father, Thomas Fisher, was
a rather successful business person
quite as fiourishing as Mary's father,
mothers with pretty daughters, Mrs.
Foster had resolved that Mary should
make a brilliant match.
About the time that Mrs Foster was
/ delivering her allocution to Mary, Tom
Fisher was in his private Office hold
ing forth to his son on the same sub
lject and in like strain.
Amos" said he, "it is about time
you got married. You are now TWEEN
ty-six. / was married when / was
itwenty-one. l have noticed you going
about good deal with that Foster
girl. Nice girl enough, but no wife
for you. With your good looks, your
education and your prospects, you
ought to marry somebody who will be
help to you. Now cut out Mary Eos
ter and look about for some nice girl
with money"
"Why, father" replied the aston
ished Amos, Mary and have been
chums since we were children. But
as for marrying her, never" Then
he stopped suddenly. He turned pale
and then red. and gave little gasp.
He seemed to be struggling with some
sudden emotion. some sudden convic-
ltion. A new heaven and new earth