Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-12-20
THE RUNAWAY MATCH.
BY JANE WEAVER,

Caroline, / wish you would remain a
moment, said Mr.. Warren, as his daugh-
ter was about 10 leave the parlor.
well, papa, what is il ?
She strove to look unconscious, but
her varying color and the nervous move
ment of her lips. betrayed secret agita-
tion in fact, she suspected the purpose
Of her parent. s
1 thought said Mr.. Warren, that
when | forbade young Collins my house,
you were prepared to submit 10 the pru-
dence of my decision. We talked the
matter over, Caroline, if you remember,
and | was at Considerable pains to con.
vince you that he was idle. wasteful and
I feared. dissipated-in short. very
unfit person for any woman to trust her
happiness with. You silently agreed to
what said--at least you said nothing in
reply. / fancied had persuaded you,
for 1 thought your own good sense, 10
which | appealed. would see the matter
in light similar to that in which your
mother and myself beheld it. Judge
then Of my inexpressible pain when |
saw you walking arm in arm with him in
the outskirts of thecity to-day
He paused, and Caroline hung down
her head abashed. i was not mistaken,
she said to herself. it was pa whom ]
saw
Mr.. Warren waited for more than a
minute for her reply, but as she contin-
ued silent, he went on.
Now, Caroline said be, / wish
you to look on me as what | am--the
best friend you have in the world, and
one who has no motive, much less any
wish, to advise you wrong. tits mis-
take of people, especially of those Of
your sex, to suppose that parents wish
TO tyranize over them in the affair ol
marriage. Believe me, nothing is gem
orally further from parents thought
1t is not unfrequent. indeed. that faith
er differs from a daughter as to the wis.
dom Of her uniting herself with a Ger.
tain suitor, but in such cases the father
is nine times out of ten right, and the
child wrong. The parent, from his
knowledge Of men--from what he hears
in the street, and from other sources. u
sually arrives at juster conclusion. res
pecting young mans character, than ;
daughter. who has little or no means o
ascertaining the truth. In the case o
this young Collins. / know him to b,
extravagant, idle, occasionally intemper.
ate in his habits, aad head over ears il
debt. Besides this, he has a violen
4 temper i beseech you, Caroline. d
1 not give way further to this infatnatiol
lof yours.
4 As Mr.. Warren spoke, he approache,
bis daughter and took her hand. Sh'
! burst into tears. looked up in his fac,
and ssid-'Oh, but, papa, / love him
and he loves me he says he will tliroI
himself away, if.f do not marry him.
d Surely, surely. / can, | ought 10 reforr
4 him..
Is Mr.. Warren shook his head. Care
ltline.1 he said severely. this is sheer fo
/ W. miserable infatuation! No woma
; ever reformed man whose principIe
. were so loose as those of Collins
Rrelch, WHOM his own words viii thro'
himself away If you do not malry bin
Listen TO my words, child, for you al
weaker than | thought, and | must ru
/ fEwhere would prefer topersuade: If e
( er you marry Collins, from that hol
{ this house is closed against you.'
+ The tears Of Caroline flowed faster. Mr. W5
1 IFen, after turn or two across the room, solte
ed again, and addressed her in kinder tones
MY child,' he said. 4 speak thus for 20
own good | know. il You marry Collins; il
y yen will regret it; and I would by inierdicti
2 II spare you much future sorrow. | will I
n urge you to upils with any man you do not fa
X icy, however excellent Imay think him to ]
J. This promise you and on your part, sh
q expect you to give up this acquaintance.
morrow | will look fo1 your promise to this
!. feet. Go now. and think Of it; am sure }
u will obey me-