LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2541, 31 May 1882, Page 4

LITERATURE.

WANTED—A SON-IN-LAW. Bv Arthur Lot, Fiction. I, The A dvertiskment. • Mary," said Captain Harlot in a vary solemn manner to hia daughter, 4 how old are you ? ’ 4 s'or shame, papa,’ exclaimed she; 4 1 really believe you are anxious to obtain information for the man who takes the census.’ 4 1 ought to know your age,’ said he slowly, as If trying to recall something from the buried past. 4 Of course, you should,’ said Mary, laughing 4 And I think you’re twenty-two,’ suggested he. 4 Well, call it twenty-two,’ said Mary. • What then 7 ’ ’Then,’ said the captain in his most solemn manner, 4 it’s full time that you wore married.’ 4 Oh, pshaw! ’ said Mary. 4 la that all ? 4 I’ll turn it over in mind,’ said the captain, 4 and see what should be done about it.’ Captain Hariot was a widower, and Mary was his only child. They lived in a charming little cottage, which was situated in the outskirts of Northfield. Captain Hariot had commanded for many years one cf the great ocean steamers which ply between Now York and Liverpool; but having amassed a, moderately-sized fortune he had retired from business, and had located himself with his daughter in the cottage already mentioned. The captain was a tall, spare, lantern jawed man, whose eyes, deep sunken in his head, gave a rather stern expression to his face. He had a habit, the result of many years’ practice, of using a tone of command even at home ; hut, as a general rule, Mary gave the real orders in the cottage. However, the captain occasionally 4 pat his foot down,’ as he expressed it, and then everybody, even Mary, knew that ho must ha obeyed. Mary Hariot was a charming young girl, with a graceful, rounded form of a medium height. Her hair was of a chestnut hue, and her eyes were of that dark-blue color which often accompanies chestnut hair ; her features were daintily cut, and were always beaming with Intelligence; her lips would have tempted a hermit; and her easy, charming ways, which, however, never seemed undignified, were the delight of all who knew her. She was a fresh, beautiful, dainty girl of twenty-two years of age, and heart-whole. Captain Hariot’s cogitations were rather brief. He did not, it Is true, solve the conundrum—How should his daughter obtain a husband ?—in the expeditions way in which, in former days, he was accustomed to determine the position of hia vessel ; but on the following morning he remarked to Mary : 4 I’ve turned that over In my mini.’ 4 Turned what over ? ’ said Mary, thoroughly nonplas-ed. She had entirely forgotten the conversation of the preceding day, •Yes.’ responded the captain ; 4 we'll advertise.’

‘ Advertise !’ ejaculated Mary : * What do you man to advertise for ?' ‘ We’ll advertise for a son-in-law,’ replie4 the captain, with the utmost coolness. •Papa,’ cried Mary j 4 you don’t mean that !’

‘I do mean it,’ said the captain, very seriously. ‘When we want a horse, -we advertise; when we want furniture we advertise? when we want a servant, wo advertise; when we want anything, we advertise. Well, we want a son-in-law— ’ ‘But wo don’t, papa,’ interrupted Mary. ‘I do, then;’ said the captain; ‘The thought that my daughter should have reached the mature age of twenty-two, and should still be unmarried, is startling, I want a son in-law, and I'll advertise for one.’

‘ It's a shame, papa !’ said Mary. • That’s what 1 say,’ promptly responded the captain, ‘lt’s a shame that you should still be single. Now I’ll prepare an advertlssment, and then you can take it to your friend, the editor of !tbe ‘Clarion,’ and arrange with him to pat it in a conspicuous part of his paper.’ ‘ Ob, I can’t do that!’ exclaimed Mary. ‘Then I’ll do it,’ said the captain, firmly. *Oh,’ said Mary, with a decidedly lugubrious expression upon her face. Suddenly a new idea struck her, and her countenance brightened up at onoe, * Well,’said she ; ‘give me the advertisement. If I must be put up at auction, I’d prefer to select the spot myself on which I am to be sacrificed.’

‘That’s reasonable,’ said the captain ; ' If it is put in a parsably prominent part of the paper, I shall be satisfied,’ On the fol'owlng day Captain Harlot handed to Mary a piece of paper, on whioh he had written the following : 4 Wanted, a son-in-law. A gentleman, who has retired from business, desires to obtain a son-in-law. The advertiser’s only child is a young lady with agreeable features and manners, the has been well educated, and possesses the nsnal accomplishments. She is kind and gentle, and never practises the scales on the piano. Tho gentleman who applies for the position of son-in-law to the advertiser must come well recommended must be of good family, must be well educated, must be at least twenty five years of age and not more than thirty, must be of medium height and passably good-looking, must be financially capable of caring for a family. ’ ‘There, Mary,’ said the captain : ‘lthink that covers the ground.’ 4 What ground V asked Mary, as she took the paper in her hand. 4 The kind of son-in-law I think we should advertise for.’ •Oh !’ said Mary, as aha rapidly perused the paper. Mary Harlot road, with open-eyed astonish, ment, the document whioh her father had prepared. As aha finished it, her hand dropped to her side, while her face grew rosy with blnthes. * Well ?’ said tho captain. 4 Oh, i apa,’ gasped Mary : 4 that is frightful I I never, never conld put that in the newspaper.’ 4 Pshaw 1’ said the captain : 4 We certainly have not unreasonably praised our wares, and I’m sate we have not been exacting in our requirements. ’ 4 But, papa, such a thing was never heard of. No girl was ever pat up in that way, unless it was in some barbarous land.’ 4 It’s a very intelligent way, and if there is any place where they do it, you can be sure it isn’t a barbarous land. ’Well, I could never put such a thing about myself in the newspapers.’ ’Very well,’ said the captain, quite complacently : 4 give It to me. I’ll go down to the office of the 4 Clarion’ and give it to the editor myself,’ 4 Will yon, really, papa ? ’ asked Mary, eagerly. • Undoubtedly,’ answered the captain, firmly, 4 I believe in advertising.’ 4 Oh, then,’ said Mary, while tho hot blushes suffused her cheeks ; 4 I’ll take it down to the office of the 1 Clarion ’ myself.’

4 Very well,’ said the captain, calmly ; 4 1 shsll be quite satisfied.’ Mary Hariot went to her room and put on her hat; then, with the paper on which her father had written the advertisement In her hand, she walked slowly to tho office of the * Clarion. ’

ll.—Tub Advertisement is Published. Mary Harlot walked out of tho house with the piece of paper which had been given to her by her father in her hand. She walked slowly down the street until she came to a shop, over which hung a sign on whioh was painted 4 The Clarion,’ She paused a moment, but finally passed the shop and entered the garden of tho adjoining houae, and, walking slowly up the front stops, reached the door and rang tho bell. Tho servant who opened the door evidently was well acquainted with the visitor, for she ushered Mary Hariot at once into a oosy little sitting-room. There was only one person —a lady, apparently about thirty years of age —in tho room when Mary entered. The lady looked np from the sewing with which she was engaged, and, with a smile, exclaimed : 4 Oh, I’m delighted to see you, Mary ! Sit down here. I’ve a thousand things to tell you.’Mary dropped Into the chair which was nearest to her, and appeared to bo a perfect realisation of dolefalness. Tho hostess, who was a plump, round. face 1 , black-eyed, handsome little woman, evidently brimful of merriment, looked at her visitor in surprise.

• "Why, what’s the matter !' she exclaimed. • Everything’s the matter, Mrs Edward*,’ said Mary : * This ia a wretched, miserable world.’

* Good gracious !’ exclaimed Mrs Edwards : • Since wuen ?’ ‘Ever since father has taken it into his head to act so unreasonably. ’ Mrs Edwards rose, went over to Mary Harlot, lifted that young lady to her feet, led her to a sofa, placed her on the sofa, and then sat down beside her. ‘There,’ said she; ‘Now Mary, tell mo all about it.’ ‘Well, it’s dreadful,’ said Mary : ‘Don’t you think so V * Oh, frightful, dear. What is It ?’ * Well, papa ia going to advertise for —for a son in-law.’ ‘What?’ ejaculated Mrs Edwards, who could scarcely believe her own ears. ‘ Papa thinks it’s the proper thing to advertise for a son-in-law.’ Eor a moment surprise swept over Mrs Edwards’ face, but then her lips opened, and she fairly roared with laughter. She tried again and again to stop, but as soon as the idea would come back to her, she would fall back into a laughing fit. ‘Oh,’ said Mary Bariot. ‘of course It’s funny to you ; but to mo— ’ * My dear Mary,’interrupted Mrs Edwards; but then she became again aflliotod with a desire to laugh so strong that she yielded to it. Finally, by messing her hands against her sides, she succeeded in somewhat repressing her laughter, and continued her remarks. ‘The truth is, Mary,’ she said: ‘the thing la funny. You'd laugh yourself, if any other girl were in your place. Advertise for a son-in-law I Was such a thing ever hoard of P’ Mrs Edwards laughed again, hut oa this occasion not quite so vigorously as before. * I don’t believe,’ responded Mary, dolefully ; ‘ that suoh a thing over was heard of before ’ ‘Oh, well,’ said Mrs Edwards; ‘he was only joking. He will not carry out h's threat.’ ‘ There’s the advertisement, written out by himself,’ Bald Mary, holding out the paper. Mrs Edwards took the piece of paper and read it. ‘Well,’ exclaimed she; ‘he’s somewhat exacting la his requirements. But how did this paper come into your possession P’ *He said ho would take it down to your husband’s paper, the “ Clarion,” and put it in.’ ‘ Well, I would have lot him do It, if he dared.’ *No ; I said that If I was to be offered up, I’d select the spot myself.’ *Do you mean to pub It In the paper V asked Mrs Edwards, in surprise, * I must. If I don’t he will— 1 ‘ Oh,’ said Mrs Edwards ‘But,’added Mary, in a hesitating way, ‘ I think I can arrange it, if you will heip mo— ’ ‘Of course I will, ’ Interrupted Mrs Edwards, ‘ Can’t you get your husband to strike ofl one copy of the paper with that advertisement in it ? I’Jl give that copy to father, and that will satisfy him.’ * I think so,’ said Mrs Edwards. 1 come and see.’ They left the bouse and entered the adjoining building, in which was the office of the ‘Clarion.’ There they found Mr Edwards, the proprietor and editor of the paper. To him they put the question which Mary had esked Mrs Edwards. When the whole matter had been explained to him ho laughed heartily at Mary for a few moments ardthon informed her that there was only one objection to complying with her request. 'The paper is not stereotyped,’said Mr Edwards, ‘and so the thing is possible; but, as there will be no answers to your father’s advertisement, the character of my paper as an advertising medium may be ruined.’ (To ba continued )