The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1848-10-11

called Psge. said
i : Ar. Masnsl. have made M llnnnEa-
he pEapasal Tor yaur daughIer's hand.
! Fnr wefks yoa have esndrd. And On sill
eFAdr o. answer. This serms 20 mnrh
Ike milling. Ihal | begin In feel IS If just
fenEer for HfFenre exisIesi.' -
None is intended. 10 assure vou.' .
replied Mr. Mason. With something DE-
pEeersing in his lone. =" But you must
rrnifmhrT. Mr.. Page. that YOU never
sos'sili 10 win the y0nng giIl's affection.
and ii'zi. - ran>eQurnee. Ihe aiirr Of
naHia.e uhirh you with 10 make her,
wiliihe reerIved with surprise. and il may
lie dsapprnvsl. | wish 81 approach her
ON his subject. with proper discretion.
To be ion pTrrIriIaIe. max slzrIle her in
10 instant rePugnan'e agains. your ~i.h-
es."
aShe lnges you. dies she noli" ia.
quirFd Page with n marked significance
Of manner.
. child never loved a parent more
tendrGly." rrplied Mr.. Mason.
= Give her. then. an undisguisri hisIo-
~ ~ y0nr embarrassment, Show her
how our lnrlnnes are trembling an the
brink ri ruin. and that ynu have hui one
hope Of relief and safety lett. The day
she breomes my wife you are rriirSed
from al danger. Will you do this :"
The old man did moi relly. III. was
last in deep rereric. II is doubtful
wheeler he had heard all that The man
had said.
i Will YOU do ,his!' replied Page,
and with some impaiienre in his tome.
Mason aroused himself az from dream
and answered with great frmnrss snd Sig
nifty:
mir. Page. the struggle in my mind
is over. am prepared for the worst. ]
have no idea that Florence will favor your
suit. md will not Use single argument
To influence her. In that matter Sue must
remain perfectly free. Approach her as
a man. and win her ii' you have The pogcr
10 do so. Il is your only hope"
As If stung by serpent. Page started
from his chair.
.lou will repent this, sir" he angrily
reiorled, and repent il bitterly. came
IN ygp with honorable proposals for your
f-i-r--.e--r'o -L-..ls -s.a listened 10 Them.
gave one encouragement. and promised me
an answer tonight. Nnw you meet me
with insult Sir! you will repent this!'
Mr.. Mason ventnred no reply, bu, mere
" bowed in token Of his Willingness 10
meet and bear all consequences that might
come.
For long time after this angry visitor
had retired. did Mr.. Mason cross the floor
with measured step. At last he rang The
hell, and directed the servant who came,
TO say TO Florence he wished 10 sec her.
When Florence came, she was surpris-
ed to see that her father was strongly ag-
iiaiet.
Sit down. DEAR" he said in tremh-
ling voice, al have something 10 say TO
YOU that must be no longer concealed"
Florence looked wonderingly into her
fathers fare, while her heart began To
sink.
Just then servant opened the do"r and
ushered in stranger. He was tall fine
looking young man, jus, in the prime of
life. Florence quickly retired, bu, not be-
fore the stranger fixed his eyes upon her
face, and marked its sweet expression.
Pardon the intrusion, sir" he said,
as soon as the young girl had left the
room, /" but facts that have learned this
evening have prompted me to call upon
You without moments drlay. NV name
is Greer, Of the firm of Greer, Miller e.
Co."
Mr.. Mason bowed, and said-
81 know ynur house very we'll, and
now remember to have met YOU more
than nnre in business transactions"
" Yes, Won have bought one or two
hills Of u.s." replied the visitor. Then at.
ter a moments pause he said in chang
ed tone
Mr.. Mason. learned TO night, { ON
source which leaves no room tn doubt
the truth Of the statement, that your af-
fairs have become seriously embarrassed.
That you are, in fact, on the very verge
Of bankruptcy. Tell me frankly, whether
! this is indeed so ask from no idle cuIi-
oslty, nor from concealed and sinister
motive, but to the end that may proven,
the threatened disaster, il it is IN my pow.
er to do so."
Mr.. Mason was dumb with surprise al
80 unexpected declaration. Tie made
two or three efforts 10 speak. but his lips
uttered no sound.
Confde in me, si,." said the visitor
." Trust me as you would trust your owl
brother. and lean upon me il your strength
he indeed failing. Tell me, then, is it a.
have said :"
! 1T is" was all that the merchant coult
utter.
How much will save you! Mention
; the sum, and if within The compass of m,
/ ability to raise. you shall have i. in hant
, tomorrow. Will twenty thousand dollar