The Monmouth inquirer., 1865-09-28

""'u WIN oJuipoeHCesC COEuldiity. l.
stated the object Of my visit.
Well, my young friend" said he, 81
have anticipated your wishes, and have
just been talking with the successful
party. She is by no means inexorable,
but to tell you the truth, theremis no
ground for compromise left. You have
lost all-the widow has won ALL If she
accords you anything it will simply be a
donation nothing more or less.u
Is there no resource left by which I
can, for time, ward off this final, and
to my mother, fear, fatal blow"
"None in law" HF
La what, then 7" es,s.l
sin yourself" 1t"
How in myself" 9y s.t
+ In your person. You are young and
handsome | don't say SO to flatter you,
but TO mike my meaning clear.''ft
"Well 2" ar
Well marry the widow v
Marry her! | would rather hang my
self at once"
You should know best how fit you are
to die. am afraid your education and
habits have totally untitled you for busi-
ness end usefulness" ,6lari
{" But this marriage is absurd; impos-
sible +"
i am not in the habit of proposing
absurdities or impossibilities. II you will
authorize me to act. you will find it no
such thing Will you do so Z"
Not for the world!" "a. .~s
Understand that / have not urged
this matter on your behalf but for the
sake of your mother and sister--especially
on account of your mother. for whose life
you pretended moment ago to feel an
amount of solicitude that would enable
you to make any sacrifice" 7
{" For the moment did not think Of
them"
:" 1t is time you did. Since my counsel
is SO very unpalatable, perhaps you will
condescend to inform me what you pro-
pose to do 7"
Anything else. but this Is too horri-
ble." n#,
The old lawyer wheeled his chair round
and commenced writing at his desk as
coolIy as If he had been an ingenious ma
chine invented for no other purpose.
thought on his proposition till grew sick
and faint. The recollection of the con
summate charms of her / loved, added q
horror to the aspect of hate such az she
wore whom | was invited to make nv
own, and could not bring my heart and
lips to say yes to such destiny. AT last
| rose and said:
IL will call tomorrow and give You
my decision"
Very WE'LL" replied the old man,
without turning his head or ceasng to
write. "
/ went home and endeayored to prepare
my mother for the ruin that had hefallen
Us, but on approaching the subject found
it was worse than she could endure, and
relinquished the effott in despair. To my
sister l ventured to tell the truth; and
she wept bitterly. not for herself, but for
our parent, who she assured me would in
evitably expire on hearing the news.
"And is there nothing on earth, Ed
ward, that you can do to prevent this ?"
yes"
"And won't you do t!'',
81 cannot bring my mind to it."
"Is it dishonest 7"
mo; | don't know that it is, but very
repngnant to my feelings
81 an sure | would do anything for
mamma
Would you marry the man you ab-
hor?"
"To save mammals lfe-yes."
Well, then, III not be ontdone by
you in filial affection
What do you mean. Edward ?"
II will tell you tomorrow. In the
meantime cheer up. / will save mother
and you. but at great sacri6ce-Heaven
only knows how great /"
My sister flung her arms around my
neck, kissing me affectionately, called me
by many endearing names. and felt as if
almost deserved them, exaggerated as
they were. aa
/ communicated my decision to my law
yer the next day, telling him that since I
could not marry for love, could marry
for hate. as
He uttered sort Of grunt and replied:
+" Few marriages beginin that way; but
with too many love is merged in antipathy
as soon as the honeymoon is we'll over.
Your prospect of connubial happiness is
the brighter, and it cannot change for the
better If you knew the lady as we'll as
| do, you would entertain no misgivings
on the subject"
On the second day after this interview
/ received Mrs. Barrington's card, and a
written request from my lawyer that I
would call upon her without delay, as he
had settled the prelminaries in satisfac-
tory manner. l did not fly on the wings
of love to the stately mansion of my bride
elect, as there had been but little choice
in the matter, but walked thither like
man who had volunteered to be hanged
On my arrival was ushered into q
handsome drawing-room, in which was
ktpt waiting about q quarter Of on hour,
when. at last. the lady appeared She did
not look handsOmer than when | met her