Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-12-29
COLUMBUS. OHIO SATURDAY MORNING.
Statesrl.rarl.
MAUDE's ORDEAL.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

Ys
clerk at eight hundred dollars year,
nevertheless he had boldly craved audi
ence of the portly old millionaire, and
asked him for his daughter, as he might
have asked tor the milliner girl round the
corner. ...sr .frer'i .. I-..
Mr.. Bryant cooly wiped his pen and laid
| it in the brOnzed rack he moved back his
chair pace or two, looking Charles May
| full in the face as he did so, with curious
mocking light In his cold blue eyes.
80 you want to marry my daughter, eh?"
81 do, sir" said Charley.
Provokingly handsome he looked as he
stood there, with the reddish brown hair
thrown back from his square, white fore
head, the hazel eye clear and confident, and
the perfectly cut lips little apart. Some
how, in the midst of his wrath and deris-
ion, old Richard Bryant could not help
he might possibly have fallen in love with
such young man as Charles May.
! as there any other little trihe could let
you have?" sneered the eaustic old man.
"a block of houses or Broadway lease or
| so, or any other small favor?"
''YOu are laughing at me, sir" said Char
| ley, coloring, yet speaking with certain
| quiet dignity. ~ have asked you simple
question; surely l have a right to frank
answer" ............. ,....... ........
''Then listen to me, young man." said
Richard Bryant, with sudden, abrupt
sternness. "You are aspiring altogether
too high--you can not have my daughter
Mande. Now you have your answer
gon ..... '.... ..-.
Charles May stood for a moment like one
upon whom thunderbolt has fallen with
sudden blighting power, then he turned
nd oil -nI tatl rtVk - tl,Ak knn
| Gothic library, where the blue and gold
circles of light from the oriel windows
| quivered over the deep crimson of the Will
ton carpet, and the pure marble faces of
Pallas and Venus de Milo watched him as
| he went.
"Maude, my love, my darling, what is
the matter?" ..
The red glow of the November sunset
could scarcely pierce the folds of ruby vel
vet that hung over the plate-gla windows,
yet in the odorous twilight Mr.. Bryant saw
his daughter, with her. face hidden in the
satin sofa pillows, and the heavy BLUSH
black curls dropping low over the carved
rosewood.
"Tell me, little daughter, what troubles
you" whispered the merchant, bending
fondly over the girl. Maude had never
known mother, and there was a tender
Ness III L0e Olu man ) tones dD UIlaL Instant
that was almost maternal.
She looked up with the stain of fresh
tears on her crimson cheek.
He has gone, papa-he has gone and
left mel l'
HE? Who?" .........
'Charley May" ............. ...
And Maude Bryant, who had spoken all
her life long to her father as if he had been
loving mother also, hid her tace'o on the
kindly breast and cried afresh.
Whew-w-wm was the merchants soft
ly breathed comment. ....
al have been trying to convince her how
very absurd all this is" said aunt Eloise, a
portly widow in garnet silk and carbuncle
jewelry, who sat by, alternately quoting
truisms at her niece, and sniffin at gold
cassOlette that hung at her waist. .....-.. 4.
" Maude,p said Mr.. Bryant, gravely, 'sdo
you mean to tell me that you actually care
for that young snip of clerk?"
Maude set up Indignantly, with light
ming in her black eyes. '''''.,'... ..........'T
"Care for him, papa! / love himw
every improperw groaned aunt Eloise.
sputtered Maude, growing prettier every
moment in her bright indignation. 81 do
love him, papa, with all'my heart and soul"
Aunt Eloise uttered u hollow sigh, and
Mr.. Bryant looked at his daughter with a
face that was half troubled, half amused.
"My little illy-flower," he said, gently,
sail this sounds to me like girls romance.
Maude Bryant Is scarcely fitted to be the
wife of young man like Charles May"
"But why not, papa?" pleaded Maude,
piteously, II love him, and IL think he
loves me-" H
"Very probably" said Mr. Bryant, smil-
ing. "But did it never occur to you how
very unsuitable wife you would make to
man who has his own way to win in the
world ?" '''
,f'No, papa" said Maude, eagerly. can
dust furniture, and can make jelly-cake,
aud once baked a,erapberry tart" :.
"Most important qualifications, yet not
quite all sufficient" said her father, with
the utmost gravity. "But just consider,
of eight hundred dollars a year, or nine
we'll say. It's. just possible that out in
Chicago, where he has gone, they may pay
him nine hundred dollars year; and here,
on the other, is Miss Bryant, with her little,
white, useless hands, and her luxurious
ideas, and her diamonds, and her silk
dresses. Why, my child, don't suppose
you know what calico MEANS"
"Yes, Indeed, papa," Interrupted Maude,
earnestly. II had q pink French calico
once, with pink coral buttons that were
three dollars each-don't you remember?"
""You poor mans wife," went on her
father, patting her little fevered hand.
"Maude, it would be like taking one, of the
white iaponicas out of the conservatory,
and planting it in a bleak New England
hill. What idea have you of the trials and
sacrifices of life, my little petted child?"
b FPapa!n sobbed the young girl passion
ately, am ready to endure any ordeal-to
make any sacrifice. What do I care for
diamonds and dresses? ..Papaw she ex-
claimed, suddenly starting up with an en-
phasis that made aunt Eloise drop her gold
essence bottle, ''you thinkme mere but
terfly that cares for dress aud jewels only.
Now listen to me: For one year from this
time-for one year, mind-I pledge myself
to wear no silks or jewels. viii you be-
lieve In me at the years end?n sifq5 a.
p, II shall think you avery extraordinary
young lady, Maude,, but--excuse me, dar-
lingEL have no Y very very strong faith in your
S"You viii see, said Naude, shaking her
-curls triumphantly. "And oh, papa
if"
"Maude," said Mr.. Bryant, with quiet
decision, II have already answered you
my decree admits of no appeal y 80, NJ
a Z She would notery any more, this naughty
little girl-she was too proud to cry; but
she rose up and went away. with compress
ed lips and eyes whose glitter was far sad
der than. tears os1,s uo -sii3,.,t ..e,. .I.,.
"I won't be discouraged, for all this"
she thought. ~ tcil show papa that 1 am
something more than doll.n go oili h9i
aa 'Maude, you are not going to Mrs Hem
lingway's In that dress rs,s1a E.ta .sif.n