The day book. [volume], March 24, 1917, LAST EDITION, Image 20

About The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917

Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

                
poor clerk meant to go on living in
Holly street No, no, it was unthink
able. "This place must look very dingy
to you after your shining new paint
in there," she said to him.-
"No," he said, "it looks very cozy,
very homey." He took in the ample
library table, the shaded lamp, the
books and the good pictures on the
walls. "It looks very much as 1
thought it would."
"We've asked time and again to
have this room papered and painted,
but that miserable old skinflint of ah
owner won't do it. It seems he had
to next door."
"Did you ever see the owner?" he
asked.
"No, I don't even know his name.
The agent said he wouldn't"
"I think he will," said the young
man.
"Mr. Royal! But how do you
know?"
"Well, you see, I work for him in
tlfe silk factory."
"Does he own that, too? Well, he
is worse than a skinflint"
"No, he's a decent fellow, if he is
a millionaire. It's the agent who's to
blame." .
The speedy way in which the cot
tage was overhauled and everything
done just as Florence and her mother
wished convinced them that young
Mr. Royal must have some "pulL"
The love route is sometimes sub
ject to fluctuations, but this one
day he put the important question:
"I'm getting only $25 a week now,
but I'm promised a raise. Woufd you
be willing to live on that?" he asked.
"I've got to think of mother," she
answered. "If you'd let me go on
with my typewriting "
'No, no," he demurred. "I want to
be mothered a little, and I want to
take care of you both. I don't want
you to work in an office."
"I must say for a poor man you
have some foolish pride," she pouted.
Then the next minute: "I don't care
if it's only $20, we'll manage."
When Mr. Royal again found his
voice he announced that he would
bring his father to call.
The old gentleman scrutinized his
future daughter-in-law so searching
ly she began to feel uncomfortable.
"Miss Bennett," he said, "I fell it
is my duty to inform you that this
young man has been telling you a
perfect tissue of faslehoods."
"Father!" interposed the young
man, glancing at the surprised face
of the girl going white with the '
shock of the revelation.
"It's true he is getting $25 a week,
but as to a raise-"
"If that's all," she cried, "I don't
care. We can live on it If there's
nothing against' Mr. Royal's charac
ter "
"'Mr. Royal!'" sniffed the old
man. "You rascal! You didn't even
give your right name."
"What?" she gasped.
'''Now never mind, Miss Bennett!
It was just a part of his Quixotic
game. He wanted to see if you real
ly cared for him. You are the right
sort. I shall be very proud to have
you for a daughter. I tried out Jack
to see what he was made of. Now,
I'm going to make him superinten
dent" "Superintendent!" she echoed in
credulously. "Yes, xou see I'm the owner, and
the old skinflint who owns these
houses. All I have will be the bo.y's.
Just now I want him to take a vaca
tion for a honeymoon and I want
it to begin right away. Come here
and kiss your father.
Florence somewhat dazedly com
plied. Then she glanced at her moth
er who had taken the old gentle
man's outstretched hand and she fC
knew her own had come to her.
o o
NEVER AGAIN
Young Lady (to army surgeon)
I suppose you will marry after t!he
war, doctor?
Doctor No, my dear young lady.
After the war I want peace. Squib,