The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1867-04-25

| tuOuS rival. ttr -
20, haven't you heard y he sal,
quietly. "But Of course you couldn'
hay heard. The affairs Off; our EN-
gagcment has come to an end
"You don't mean thaty''' .""
eyes; the things broken off, ~
people say. It's bad job, and In
sorry about it--but it cant be helped.
Had the lady resented his serenity
and dismissed him? I asked my self
AS though he Ind heard the question
he went on:
'lt's the old mans doing. l hope
he's satisfied now. He's the most un
reasonable and disagreeab!e old fellow
ever had the misfortune to mcc'
with" ..t
"But what did he do ~ 0f .a.
liked the man. His wor.hiness, in
deed, commanded the regard Of all
Moreover, he was a staunch generous
fellow, amost trusty and resolutc friend
To me the progress Of his love aitail
was q matter of curious study. l was
often considering the question, Would
it change him much? would his practi-
ca5ility ultimately succumb? was his
philosophy wholly proof against pas
sion? would he not rather, like most
other men, however coo!ly he might
enter upon the matter, find at last an
unexpected fire l:iuding and cracking
in his breast?
called upon him one evening. lie
was alone. He looked q little grave,
and he held in his hand small sealed
packet We discussed various indir-
ieront topics; tlen l inquired concern
ing Miss Georgina Warren.
"Wcll, we fell ont about the settle
ments: that was where the hitch arose.
I'm sure | did all I could to please him,
l gave up condition after condition,
quite in opposition to the advice otmy
solicitor | told him to settle what
money he proposedto settle upon his
daughter-it wasn't much, after all
just rs he pleased; didn't want to
touch halfpcnny Of it, lie might set
tie it, l told him, just as strictly AS ever
he pleased or he might settle nothing
at all upon her, if he liked that better
1t WAS his daughter l wanted, and not
bis money. And for my part, I'd take
care that my wife didn't comet to want
| undertook to insure my life for large
amount, and to assign the policy to
trustees for her benefit, in case Of my
death, covenanting, of course to pay
the premiums regularly, and to keep up
the insurance in the usual way. |
thought that Il fair arrangement enough,
but it didn't content him. lie wanted
to tic my hands completely. lie hadn't
4 hail forth Of confidence in me. lie
gave me credit for no sort Of affection
for his daughter. He insisted that any
money | might in future become pos,
sesscd Of l should covenant to bring
into the settlement. 1t was most ab,
surb. or course ] couldn't consent to
it. ! had my business 70 consider. 1t
may be very desirable by and by 20 in.
vest farther capital in it. Why should
| be hindercd from investing my own
money in the way might deem best
OF course my wife and my children-ii
| ever have any--will reap the benefit
Of it just as much as shall. However,
he wouldn't listen to me; so there was
nothing more to be said. Uawouidn'
give in; and wouldn't. told G.pr.
gina exactly how the matter stood
She's Of age. I asked her whether
she'd marry me without the old mans
consent. Poor girl she was in q
dreadful way. But she didn't dare do
that. She SHRINK from offending her
father; 50 there's no help for 1.-THE
things broken OFT, and I'm not to be
married, it seems this time at any
rate"
lie spoke rather sorrowfully, but still
without the slightes. trace of temper.
cndeavorcd to console him in CON.
monplace sort ofa way 1t was dit.
iuult matter to know what to say upon
such an occasion, and consolation at
all times is apt to run into rather com
monplace forms.
Ho opened the small packet he had
been holding in his hand
This is pleasant he said. "lItrc
are all my letters to Georgina. Ant
here's little present | gave to her, sent
back to me"
There were not many letters. They
were written, | could see, in my frie. d.
usual bold, plain, legible hand. Thcil
contents | could guess : little enough
like conventional love-!ettcrs probably
very unecstatic compositions-yc
simple and to the purpose, and unmi5
taxable enough. The present was ;
ring, a large diamond heavily set il
glain gold--just the valuable, substau
tial, simple present | could have fanci
cd Ned Stone selecting for his betroth
ed
II suppose they'll expect me to SEN
back Georsina's letters to me- he sait
"Undoubtcdly."
"lt's the usull way when engage
me It's come to al end like this 7"
"Certainly it's the usual way"
He rubbed his chin and seemed
reflect little.
"Havc q cigar he said present..
sand let's talk about something else
this is not the most agreeable subje'
in the world. Tell us what you ha'
been doing with yourself lately"
So we fell to talking again about thi'
: that, and the other. Presently le
him. As I went away he said Quietl!
~ think / shall try and see Georgin
once more. for a particular reason"
, did not ask what the particular res
son was, and be did not tell me.
A few nights afterwards ] saw hiI
again. He was at no time subject uiGc
to change of mood, or at any rate Sc
dom betrayed any variation Of tha