Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-04-20

all, why, then, it was as a lover with q large
infusion of the man OF business. AT the
same time, it should be noted that as man
lof business, Ned Stone was strictly HON
ler4ble aud thorough going gentleman.
Stones love affair Migh5 not be very in.
Iteresting to looker-on; if itcould be call
ed a romance at all, it was unquestionably
q dull one. Yet there was something re-
spectable about it, too. His affection was
not all for display, but wholly for use,
solid and durable looking article, and in
that light commanding attention. 1t was
net wine that sparkled and effervesced,
bubbling over the glass's brim in rose
tinted foam; yet It might, for all that: be
of sound, still and potent vintage. Pos
sibly. too. it would be found to Keep better
than its more. dashing sumptuous rival:
.-s@Oh, haven't you heard ?H said he. quiet=
heard. The affairs off; our engagement
has come to an end.''
You don't mean that?"
ayes, the things broken OF, as people
say lisa bad job, and I'm sorry about it
but it can't be helped." !" a = + 49, 4 -
|opportunely dismissed himfI / asked myself.
AS though he had heard the question, he
tits the old mans doing. I hope he's
satisfied now. He's the most unreasona-
bic and disagreeable old fellow ever had
the misfortune TO meet WICus
"But what did he dO?"
-Iliked the man. His worthiness, indeed,
commanded the regard of all. Moreover,
he was staunch, generous fellow, most
trusty and resolute friend. To me the
progress of his love affair was matter OF
curious study. 1 was often considering
the question: Would it change him much?
would his praetibilify untimeatly succumb?
was bis philosophy wholly proof against
passion? would he not rather, like most other
men, however coolly he might enter upon
the matter, find at last an unexpected fire
kindling and cracking in his breast?
called upon him one evening. He was
held ia his hand a small sealed packet. We
discussed various Indifferent topics; then
inquired concerning Miss Georgina War
rem.
well, we fell out about the settlements;
that was where the hitch arose. I'm sure
| l did all could to please him. / gave up
condition after condition, quite in opposi-
ton to the advice OF my solicitor. 1 told
| him to settle what money he proposed TO
settle upon his daughter-it wasn't much,
after adjust as he pleased; didn't want
to touch a half-penny of it.. He might set
tie it, told him, just as strictly as ever he
pleased, or he might, settle nothing at all
1 upon her, if he liked that better. 1t was
! his daughter wanted, and not his money.
And, TOR my part, I'd take care that my
i wife didn't come to want. undertook to
4 insure my life for large amount, and to
| assign the policy to trustees for her bene-
fit, in case of my death, convenanting. of
course, TO pay the premiums egularlY, and
/ to keep up the insurance in the usual way.
thought that fair arrangement enough;
/ but it didn't content him. He wanted To
tie my hands completely. He hadn't ha'-
i p'Orth OF confidence in me. He gave me
credit for no sort of affection for his daugh-
1 ter. He insisted that any money that l
/ might in future become possessed of should
covenant to bring into the settlement. 1t
was most absurd. OF course Icouldn't con-
/ sent to it. / had my business to consider.
It may be very desirable by and by to in
vest further capital in it. Why should
be hindered from investing my own money
i i'm the way / might deem best? OF course
my wife and my children-if L, 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. He wouldn't give in, aud l
wouldn't. / told Georgina exactly how
i the matter stood. She's of age. l asked
/ her whether she'd marry me without the
I old mans consent. Poor girl she was in
dreadful way. But she didn't dare do that.
She shrunk from offending her father; so
there's no help tor 1.-THE things broken
off, and Pm not to be married, it seems
5hfs time, at any rate. n
He spoke rather sOrrowfully, but still
without the slightest trace of temper. /
endeavored to console him in common
place sort of way. 1t was a difficult mat
ter to know what to say upon such anoc-
Ieasion, and consolation, at all times, is apt
, to run into rather commonplace forms.
He opened the small packet he had been
I holding in his hand.
J ''This is pleasant" he said. "Here are
all my letters to Georgina. And here's a
little present 1 gave to her, sent back to
me-"
There were not many letters. They were
written, could see, in my friends usual
bold, plain. legible hand. Their contents
could guess; little enough like convention
al love-letters, prebably-very unecstatic
| compositions-yet simple and to the pur-
. pose, and unmistakable enough. The pres
ent was ring, large diamond heavily
: set i'm plain gold-just the valuable, sub
staBtial, simple present could have tan
} cied Ned Stone selecting for his betrothed.
II suppose they'll expect me to send back
Georgina's letters to her," he said.
J '-Undoubtedly."
"It's the usual way when engagements
come to an end like thiS?"
"Certainly, it's the usual way"
! He rubbed his chin, and seemed to reflect
! little.
4 ''Have cigar?n he said, presently, land
j let's talk about something else; this is not
i, the most agreeable subject in the world
! Tell us what you have been doing with
i yourself lately.n
!, So we fell to talking again about this
!, that and the other. Presently / left him
| AS went away he said quietly;
j 81 think L shall try and see Georgina
once more, for particular reason"
] 1 did not ask what the particular reason
J was, and he did not tell me.
+ A few nights afterward saw him again
He was at no time subject to much change
of mood. or at any rate seldom betrayed
! any variation OF that kind. Yet it strucl
me that if any thing, he was in rather bet
J ter spirits.
You didn't mention,'' he said, 'what !
told you the other night-that my engage
] ment was broken off" ..s
Lexpiained that 1 had not mentioned il
] for particularly good reason. l had not
. seen any person whom it would interest tt
] be informed of the fact.
) 'It's just as well,' he said, "because, al
& it happens, the engagement isn't broken
3 off; or rather it's on again"
0 Indeed! Pm sure Pm very glad to hea
$ lit"
l 81 told you should try and see Georgi
q ma again. "WeH, l know that she oftel
3 went with her father and other relation
: and friends to the Geological Gardens oil
o Sunday. l couldn't call at old Warren
. house, you know, because understood tina
a was as good as kicked out of that. So
n went to the Geological. I've friend who
s. a fellow who gives me ticket tor Sunday
= whenever 1 ask him-and l looked abou
te for Georgina. l soon discovered her, will
" Warren and lot of other people. ShC
q saw me, and understood by my signs tha
q wanted to speak to her on the quiet. Well
a she fingered behind little. and when th
,s rest of her party went to look at the kanga
> reos she slipped with me into the snake