Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1865-08-02

absurdities and impossibilities If you
will authorize me to act, you will find it
no such thing. VIII you do SO p
mot for the worldr'
/ Understand that have not urged this
matter on your behalf, but for the sake of
your mother and sister-especially on ac-
count of your mother, for whose life you
pretended q moment ago to feel an amount
of solicitude that would enable you to
make any sacrifice"
"For moment I did not think of
them"
1t is time you did Since my counsel
is so very unpalatablo, perhaps you will
eondescend to inform me what you propose
to do"
Anything else; but this is too horri-
be"
The old lawyer turned his chair round,
and commenced writing at his desk as
coolly as if he had been au ingenious ma
chine invented for no other purpose. l
thought on his proposition till grew sick
and faint The recollection of tho con-
summate charms of her | loved added a
horror to the aspect of hate, such as she
were whom | was invited to make my own,
and l could not bring my heart and lips to
say yes to such q destiny. At last | rose
and said:
81 will call Tomorrow and give you my
decision
"Vcry well, replied the old man, with
out turning his head or ccasing to write
went home and attempted to prepare
my mother for the ruin that had bcfallen
us, but in approaching the subject found
that it was moro than she could endure
and relinquishcd the effort in despair. 70
my sister | venturcd to tell the truth and
she wopt bitterly, not for herself, but for
our only parent who she assured me
would inevitably expire on hearing the
news.
Is there nothing on earth that you can
do, Edward, to prevent this ?"
"Yes"
Anu won you 10 lt
" cannot bring my mind to it"
"Is it dishonest2"
"N--o, | do not know that it is, but
very rcpugnant to my feelings"
II am sure | would do anything for
mamma"
"Would you marry tho man you alb
hor ?"
"To save mamma's life-yes"
"Wcll, then, | will not be outdono by
you in filial affection"
"What do you mean, Edward?'
a will tell you tomorrow. IN the
meantime cheer up. [ will save our moth
cr and you, but at great sacrifce-Heaven
only knows how great
My sister flung her arms around my
neck, kissed me affcctionatcly, called me
by many cndearing names, and ] felt as
if almost deserved them, exaggerated as
they were.
| communicated my decision to my law
yer the next day, telling him that since l
could not marry for love, | would marry
for hate.
lie uttered sort of grunt and re-
piled:
"Fcw marriages begin in that way; but
with too many love is merged in antipathy
as soon as the honeymoon Is we'll over
\ our prospect of connubial happiness is
the brighter, rs it cannot change but for
the better. II you know the lady as well
as I do, you would entertain no misgivings
OH the subject
| On the second day after this interview
| received Mrs. Barrington's card, and n
written request from my lawyer that |
would call upon her without delay, as he
/ had settled the prcliminaries in the most
satisfactory manner. did not fly on the
wings of love to the stately mansion OF
my bride elect as there had been little
choice in the matter, but walked thithcr
| like a man who had volunteered to be
hanged.
On my arrival ! was ushcred into q
handsome drawing room, in which was
kept waiting for about n quarter of an
hour, when, ut last. the lady appeared -
She did not look handsomer than when /
met her on the stairs leading to my law
ycr's Office On the contrary, the relation
in which she now stood with respect tc
myself, and the finery she had piled upon
her person, rendered her, in my eyes
more hideous than ever.
| responded to her salutation and re-
mained silent for a few moments She
appeared desirous Of manifesting certain
degree of maideniy coyness, and ! was
disposed to allow her the leisure she re
quired for the performance of the part
When she had enacted the role TO her sat
isfac.ion, and lost little patience, she
opened upon me with the voice of "a dying
scrcech-owl, that made me shuddcr:-
"Wcll, Mr.. Ingleton, tho object of youl
visit, is presume"
$ Ies, madam, it Is as you say, to pro-
pose for your band and heart; they are
convcntionally supposed to 60 togeth-