Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1867-05-29

question, he went on
'It's the old mans doing He's the
most unreasonable and disagreeable old
fellow ever had the misfortune to meet
with" a
"But what did he do p
I liked the man. His worthiness, in
deed, commanded theregard ofall. More
over, be was a stauneh, generous fellow,
a most trusty and resolute friend. To
me the progress of his love affair was a
matter Of curious study. I was often
considering the question Would it
change him much ? would his practibili-
ty ultimately succumb? was his philos-
ophywholly proofagainst passion ? would
he not rather, like most other men, how
ever coollyhe might enter upon the mat
ter, End at last an unexpected fire kind
ling and cracking in his breast2 2
I called upon him one evening. He
was alone. He looked little grave, and
he held in his hand a small sealed pack
ct. We discussed various Indifferent
topics then inquired concerning Miss
Georgina Warren. E... a .esaE So.
swell, We fell out about the settle
ments; that was where the hitch arose.
I'm sure I did all I could to please him.
I gave up condition after condition, quite
in opposition to the advice Of my solicit
or. told him to settle what money he
proposed TO settle upon his daughter
it wasn't much, after all-just as he
pleased I didn't want to touch a half
penny of it. He might settle it, I told
him, just as strictly as ever he pleased,
or be might settle nothing at all upon
her, if he liked that better It was his
daughter | wanted and not his money.
And, for my part, I'd take care that my
wife didn,t come to want. undertook
to insure my life for a large amount, and
to assign the policy to trustees for her
benefit, in case of my death, eonvenant-
ing, of course, to pay the premiums reg
ularly, and to keep up the insurance in
the usual way I thought that a fair
arrangement enough; but it didn't con-
tent him. He hadn'ta ha'-p'orth of con-
fdenee in me. He gave me credit for no
sort of affection for his daughter. He
insisted that any money that / might in
future become possessed of I should COW
enaDt to bring into the settlement. tt
was most absurd. Of course [ couldn't
consent to it. I had my business to
consider. 1t may be very desirable By
and by to invest further capital in it
Why should I be hindered from invest
ing my own money in the way I might
deem best? ? Of course my wife and nv
ohildren-if [ ever have any-will reap
the benefit of it just as much as I shall.
he wouldn't listen to me so
there was nothing more to be said. He
give in, and I wouldn't. I told
Geoagina exactly how the matter stood.
She's of age. I asked herWhether she'd
marry me without the old mans consent.
Poor girl she was in dreadful way
But she didn't dare do that. She sbrunk
from offending her father; so there's no
help for 1.-THE things broken off, and
I'm not to be married, it seems-this
lime, at any rate"
He spoke rather sorrowfully, but still
Without the slightest trace of temper. I !
to console him in common
place sort of a way. It was a difficult
natter to know what to say upon such |
IN occasion, and consolation, at all times,
5 apt TO run into rather commonplace
orms. -.. ... nv
He opened the small packet he had
,een holding in his hand r.
"This is pleasant, " said he. "Herear
II my letters to Georgina. And here's
little present I gave to her, sent back
o me-" I.r Pie. |
There were not many letters They !
7ere written, I could see, in my friends
isual bold, plain, legible hand. Their
ontents 1 could guess little enough
Ike conventional loYe-letters, probably
very unestatie eompositions-yst sim
lie and to the purpose, and unmistaka-
lie enough. The present was a ring, a
arge diamond heavily set in plain gold
just the valuable, substantial, simple
resent I could have fancied Ned Stone
electing for his betrothed. ., --,.r
81 suppose they'll expect me to send
,ack Georgina's letters tc her" he said.
Undoubtedly" r.a.. .,...- a.. .--.
cts the usual way when engagements
ONE to an end like this?" RI. ......
Certainly it's the usual way" III
He rubbed his chin and seemed to re-
ect little.
"Have a cigar" he said, presently,
and let's talk about something else
his is not the most agreeable subject in
he world. Tell US what you have been
oing with yourself lately"
So we fell to talking again about this,
hat, asd the other. Presently I left
i'm. AS I went away he said quietly:
81 think I shall try and see Georgina
nee more, for a particular reason"
I did not ask what the particular rsa-
on was and he did not tell me.
A few nights afterward I saw him
gain. he was at no time subject to
luch change of mood, or at any rate sell
ON betrayed any variation of that kind.
let it struck me that if anything, he
-as in rather better spirits.
"You didn't mention, " said he, "what
told you the other night-that my en-
agement was broken OFF,"
I explained that had not mentioned
for a particularly good reason. I had
OF seen any person whom it would in
crest to be informed of the fact. h
"It's just as we'll, he said, "beeause,
5 it happens, the engagement isn't bro
en- off; orratheF it's on again"
Indeed I'm sure I'm very glad to
ear it, -..
''I told you I shouldtry and see Geor-
ina again. Well, I knew that she Of
IN went with her father and other Tela-