LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2544, 3 June 1882, Page 4

LITERATURE.

WANTED—A SON-IN-LAW. Bv Abtiiup. Lot, Fiction. (Concluded) I I have loved you a long while, I love you vary dearly now. I beg you to be my wife. Now look me In the eyes, darling, and answer me from your heart ’ His arm bad tightened around her waist, and be pressed her to his bosom in a way that seemed to be taking an unfair advantage of her under the circumstances. However, she apparently made no obj actions, and, though she uttered no words, either her face or eyes answered his questions satisfactorily, for he bent his head and kissed her ou the lips. ■ My little darling,’ said he, as he released her partly from his clasp; ‘ you have made me very happy.’ ‘But I fear—’ said she, as she looked at the newspaper. * Fear nothing,' said he; * Put on your bonnet, please, and let’s go to Maria’s.’ I I don’t know,’ said Mary, doubtfully. * Oh, Maria wishes it,' said he; * and I beg you to do so. Bring the newspaper, too.’ In a few moments the happy pair were at the house of Mrs Edwards. That lady was shrewd enough to take in the situation at a glance, and she gushed over Mary heartily. ‘ I asked Neil to bring you here,” said Mrs Edwards; ‘ because I wished to explain that there are only two copies of that advertisement in existence. You have one and Neil has the other. ’ ‘ Oh,’ said Mary ; ‘ I am so glad.’ ’Neil and you,’ said Mrs Edwards; ‘were both foolish enough to jump to the conclusion that it had appeared in every copy of the paper.’ *1 learned the truth,’ said Nell; ‘after I had returned from my first visit to your house.’ ‘ Oh,’ said Mary ; • now I understand.’ ‘ So,’ raid Mrs Edwards ; ‘take those two papers into the kitchen and burn them in the range.’ Mary and Neil readily followed the directions given by Mrs Edwards, and, in s few moments, the two important newspapers had vanished into flame and smoke. ‘And now,’ said Mary; ‘let’s go back to the house and tell father. ’ VI. —Thk Captain Puts His Foot Down. When a man wishes to pat away an idea which irritates him, he should never go oat of doors and walk without a companion. The result of such a performance invariably is that the man keeps turning the matter over in bis mind, and, in that way, his irritation Is increased rather than diminished.

That is precisely what happened to Captain Harlot. He reviewed the conduct of Neil Stanton again and again during his walk, and finally succeeded in convinoing himself that the young man had done him a great injury. He had hardly entered the house when Neil and Mary appeared with faces wreathed with smiles. ‘Oh, father,’ exclaimed Mary: * I am so glad that yon are home. Neil has something to say to you.’ Mary blushed, but she did not seem to be at all abashed. ‘ Hum,’ said the captain ! ‘ I thought we had given this gentleman his answer when ho was here before V ‘lt wasn’t satisfactory, Captain Harlot,’ said Neil, with a smile; and 1 would like to apply again, in hopes that I may receive a more favorable response. ’ ‘ After your rights again ?’ said the captain, sarcastically : ‘Very well, sir; on reflection I have concluded that yon do not come up to the requirements called for by my adveitisement.’ • Why, father !’ exclaimed Mary, ‘I hope. Captain Harlot, that you will not find me lacking In too many qualities,’ said Nell, pleasantly. ' Oh, if yon Insist on your rights,’ said the captain, putting a vicious emphasis on the word 1 insist’: ‘ we will try you by the advertisement.’ ‘But, father ‘ The truth i», Captain Harlot,' said Nell: * that Mary has consented to be my wife, if yon will give us your permission.’ ‘ Yon applied for the situation of son inlaw In accordance with my advertisement,’ said the captain, sternly, and we’ll judge jox by that. Mary, bring me the paper.’ * I destroyed it, father,’ said Mary. ‘ Very well,’said the captain. I’ll step next door and borrow Judge t-mith’s copy.’ The captrin left the room, Neil and Mary stood there, looking in astonishment at each other, ‘ What does it mean,’ asked Mary, in a low tone. ‘I don’t know,’ said Neil, ‘unless I have offended your father in some way.’ 1 Bat, Neil,’ said Mary, |if ho should—’ ‘ Don’t fo»r, my darling,’ interrupted Neil, ‘I came very near losing you onco

through pride, and 1 don’t mean to lot my temper get the better of me again ’ • He is my father yon know,’ said Mary. «I’ll bear that in mind, never fear,’ At that moment the captain returned with the paper in his hand. • Now,' said he, as he unfolded the paper, ‘we’ll judge yon by the advertisement under which you have applied.’ Then the captain diligently looked through the paper, but to his intense astonishment ho could not find the advertisement. He hastily turned the paper and looked at its date. The date was the correct one, but still he could not find theadveitiaement, ‘Mary,’said he, ‘will you find that ad. vertisement for mo ? 1 • I can’t, father, ’ eald Mary, smiling in spite of the seriousness of the situation, ‘ Can’t!’ ejaculated he. ‘ It Isn’t there.’ 4 But I saw it in our copy,’ said her father, 4 That w&a a special copy, father,’ said Mary ; ‘ and there isn’t a copy of that advertisement in existence now.’ ‘lt didn’t appear in the whole issue, then?’ asked the captain, astonished. 4 No,’ said Mary. 4 But ha had a copy, too,’ said the captain, pointing at Neil. ‘ There wore two copies,’ said Nell ; 4 but X destroyed mine when your daughter destroyed yours.’ • Oh,’ said the captain. For a moment the captain stood perfectly still, looking at his daughter and Neil. 4 Well,’ said ho finally, ‘ the girls are becoming too shrewd for their fathers ’ • The truth is, Captain Hariot,’ said Ne 1, who was determined to drive away the captain’s ill hnmor ; ‘that I do nob apply for any position under that advertisement.’ ‘ There isn’t any advertisement,’ said the captain ; ‘ and so you haven’t any rights— ’ 4 None at all,’ said Nell. 4 To insist on,’ added the captain sternly. ‘I insist on nothing,’ responded Nell. 4 Oh, you have changed you tune since your last visit. ’ Mary looked nervously anxious as she heard her father’s words, and it was a beseeching glance which she oast on Neil. Nell nodded to her with a smile. 4 The truth is, Captain Harlot, that I thought the woman I loved had been humiliated, sndl thought she had humiliated me, and I allowed my temper to get the better of me. Mary has pardoned me, and I hope you will, also.’ ‘Oh, you are not insisting on any rights, then ?’ sail the captain. • No, indeed,’ said Neil, laughing. The smile which Mary gave him quite compensated her lover for keeping his temper on this occasion. ‘Very well; then let us hear what yon have to say,’ said the captain, in quite a magisterial manner. ‘ Mary,’ raid Neil, as he took her hand : ‘is willing to admit that she loves me.’ ‘ A sudden attack, isn’t it ?’ asked the captain, looking sharply at his daughter. 4 Oh, ever so long 1’ exclaimed she ; then, remembering herself, she added : ‘ I mean—that is— ’ ‘Ever so long is right,’ said Neil. 'And you!’ said the captain, turning round and addressing Neil. 4 Oh, I’ve loved her ever so long, too,’ exclaimed Neil. 4 Well,’ said the captain : ‘as you don’t apply under the advertlsemen—’ ‘Oh, dear, no 1’ interrupted Neil and Mary together. ‘And as yon do not insist on any rights— ’ • I ask a great favor,’ said Neil. ‘ Why, then, I don’t see any obj-.ctlon it Mary wishes it.’ • Oh, father ! ’ was all Mary could say ba fore Neil clasped her in his arms and kissed her, ‘All the same,’said the captain, as he moved out of the room; * this proves conclusively that there’s nothing like advertising for anything yon want. 1 advertised for a son la law, and now I am provided with one. The advertisement bad a somewhat limited circulation, but then It went to the right place, and that’s all it could have done had the circulation been immense,’ In due time Neil and Mary were married, and it would be a difficult thing for the most astute reasoner to prove that Captain Hariot did not obtasn the new member of I his family by putting in the ‘ Clarion ’ that advertisement headed, ‘ Wanted, a son-in-law.’