The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-12-25

back instantly"
Vendale stopped him.
81 beg you will not disturb Miss Obenreizer,"'
he said. "You have returned, l see, without
your friend? 2"
"My friend remains. and consoles our afflicted
compatriot. A heart-rending scene, MIR. Vendalel
The household gods st the pawnbrokers-the
family immersed in tehrs. We al embraced In
silence. My admirable friend alone possessed
his composure. He sent out, on the spot, for o
bottle OF wine."
"Can 1 say q word to you in private, MIR.
"Assuredly." He turned to Madame Dor.
"My good creature you are sinking for want OF
reposo. Mr.. Vendale will excuse you."
Madame Dor rose, and set forth sideways on
her Journey from the stove to bed. She drop
ped q stocking. Vendsle picked it up for her,
and opened one of the folding doors. She ad-
ings. vendale, STOPPING to recover them as be-
fore, Obenreizer interfered with profuse apolo-
gies, and With q warning look at Madame Dor.
Madame Dor acknowledgment look by dropping
the whole Of the stockings in q heap. and then
shutting away panic-stricken from the scene Of
disaster: Obenreizer swept up the complete
collection ferceIy in both hands. "GoT" he
! cried, giving his prodigious handful q prepare
tory swing in the air. Madame Dor said Mon
Dieu," and vanished into the next room, pur-
sued by q shower Of stockings.
"What must you think, Mr.. Vendale," said
Obenreizer, closing the door, "of this deplorable
intrusion Of domestic details For myself, I
| blush at it. We are beginning the New Year as
badly as possible; everything has gone wrong
tonight. BE seated, pray,-and say, what may
another of your noble English institutional It
is my study to be, what you CALL Jolly. PRO
pose a grog.".
| spect for that noble institution.
"I wish to speak to you on q subject in which
have observed, Mr.. 0benreizer, that I have,
from the first, felt no ordinary admiration for
your charming niecep"
"You are very good. In my niece's name, I
thank you"
"Perhsps you may have noticed l~atterly, that
my admiration for Miss Obenreizer has grown
into o tenderer and deeper feeling"
sShall we say friendship, MIR. Vendale2"
essay love-and we shall be nearer to the
TRUTH
Obenreizer started out Of his chair. The family
discernible beat. which was his nearest approach
to q change Of color, showed itself suddenly in
his cheeks.
"You are MISS Obenreizer's guardian" pur-
sued Vendale. 81 ask you to confer upon me
the greatest OF al favors--I ask you to give me
her hand in marriage"
Obenreizer dropped back in his chair. "Mr.
Vendale," he said, you petrify me-"
az will wait" rejoined vendale, "untl you
have recovered yourself"
some word before I recover myself. You have
said nothing about this to my niece |"
"I have opened my whole heart to your niece.
And l have reason to hope"
"Whatl" interposed 0benreizer. "You have
made proposals to my niece, without first ask1ng
for my authority to pay your addresses to her =
He struck his hand on the table, and lost hs hold
over himself for the first time in Vendale's expert
ence Of him. "Sir |" he exclaimed, Indignantly,
"what sort of conduct Is this2 AS aman Of hon.
oY, speaking to q man Of honor, how can you
justify 1t z" &C.,
I can only justify it as one Of our English
institutions" said Vendale, quietly. "You ad-
mire our English institutions. I can't honestly
tell you, Mr.. Obenreizer, that I regret what l
have done. I can only assure you that / have
| not acted IN the matter with any Intentional dis
respect toward yourself. This said, may ask
you to tell me plainly what objection you see to
favoring my suit I"
~ see this immense objection" answered
Obenreizer, ''that my niece and you are not on
q social equality, together. My niece Is the
daughter OF Q poor peasant; and you are the son
Of o gentleman. You do us an honor" he added,
| lowering himself again gradually to his custom
| ary polite level, (which deserves, and has, our
| most grateful Acknowledgements. But the in
| equality Is too glazing: the sacrifice Is too great.
| You English, are o proud people, Mr. Vendale,
I have observed enough Of this country to see
that such q marriage IS you propose would Dc
q scandal here. Not Q hand would be held out
~ IOU4 S0SsA
would desert YOU"
Zone moment" said vendale, interposing on
lis side. 81 may claim, without any great ar
rogancs, to know more OF my country-people IN
general, and Of my, own friends in particular,
| than you do. In the estimation OF everybody
whose opinion is worth having, my wife herself
would be the one sufficient justification Of my
marriage. II 1 did not feel certain-observe, l
say ~certain-that I am offering her q position
which she can accept without so much SIS the
shadow Of o humillation-I would never (cost
ne what it mighty have asked her to be my
wife. IL there any other obstacle that you see Z
Have you any personal objection to mel"
Obenreizer spread out both his hands In
courteous protest. Personal objectionl" he
exclaimed. '"Dear sir, the bare question Is
painful to me-"
1--WE are both men Of busineis," pursued VEN
dale, "and you naturally expect me to satisfv
| YOU that I have the means Of supporting q wife.
/ can explain my pecuniary position in two words.
I inherit from my parents q fortune OF twenty
thousand pounds. In half Of that sum l have
only 0 life interest, to which, if I die. leaving q
widow, my widow succeeds. II 1 die, leaving
children, the money itself is divided among
them, as they come Of age. The other half OF
my fortune is at my own disposal, and isinvested
in the wine business. 1 seemy way to greatly Inn.
~ rnonn