The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-23

bis hold over himself for the FIRST time in Ven
dale's experience OF him. Sir" he exclaimed.
Indignantly, what sert of conduct is this
AS man of honor speaking to aman OF honor,
how can you Justify itp
81 can only justify it as one of our English
institutions" said Vendale, quietly. "You ad-
mire our English Institutions | can't honestly
tell you, Mr.. Obenreizer, that regret what
have done. can only assure you that have
not acted in the matter with any Intentional
d'srespect towards yourself. This said, may
/ ask you to tell me plainly what objection you
see to favOrIng my suit2
"I see this immense objecliou,n answered
Obenreizef that my niece and you are not on
a social equality together, My niece is the
daughter of a poor peasant; and you are the son
OF q gentleman. You do us an honor" he added,
lowering himself again gradually 10 his ousto-
mary polite level, (which deserves, and has
our most grateful acknowledgements. Bat the
inequality is too glarng the sacrifice Is too
great. You English are a proud people, Mr.
Vendale. i have observed enough of this couu-
try to see that such a marriage as you propose
would be a scandal here. Not hand would be
he'd out to your peasant-wiie; and all your best
friends would desert you."
One Moment said Veudale interposing on
his side. Il may claim, without any great AFRO
gance, to know more of my couniry-people IN
general. and of my own friends In particular,
than you do: In the estimation of everybody
whose opinion is worth having, nay wttc herself
would be the one sufficient justification OF my
marriage. If did not feel certain-obserye l
say certain-that / am offering her position
which she can accept without so much as the
shadow OF a humiliation 4 would never (cost
me what it mighty have asked her to be my wife.
Is there any other obstacle that you see? Have
you any personal objection to me W
HObenreizer spread out both his hands In cour-
teous protest Personal objection!" he eX-
claimed. Dear sir, che bare questonis painful
to me-"
1--WE are both men of business" pursued
Vendale, land you naturally expect me to sa-
tisfy you that have the means OF supporting
wife. | can explain my pecuniary position in
two words. inherit from my parents fortune
of twenty thousand pounds. In half of that sum
have only life-interest, to which, II die,
leaving widow, my widow succeeds. If die,
leaving children the money itself is divided
among them, as they come of age. The other
| Laf OF my fortune is at my own disposal, aud is
| invested in the wine business. see my way to
| greatly improving that business. As it stands
| at present, cannot state my return from my
| capital embarked at more than twelve huRdred
year. Add the yearly value of my life inter-
| est, and the total reaches a present annual
| income of fifteen hundred pounds. l have the
| farest prospect of soon making it more. In the
mean tune, do you object TO me on pecunary
| gIOunds!"
Driven back to his last intrenchment Oben-
| reizer rose, and took a turn backwards and
| forwards in the room. For the moment, he was
| plainly at loss what to say or do next.
| Before | answer that last question" he said,
| after little close consideration with hImself,
| II beg leave to revert for moment to Miss
| Marguerite. You said something just now
| which seemed 10 Imply that she returns the SEN
| herr"
Il have the inestimabe happiness" said Ven
| dale, "of knowing that she loves me-"
ObenreiZer stood silent for moment, with
| the flm over his eyes, and the family percepti-
bic beat becoming visible again in his cheeks.
'Ifyou will excuse me for a few minutes" he
| said, with ceremonlous politeness, II should
! like to have the opportunity of speaking to my
niece" With those words he bowed, and quilted
the room.
| necessary result the interview
! turned instinctively to the consideration of
! Obenreizer's motives. He had put obstacles in
the way of the couftshp; he was putting
| obstacles in the way OF the marriages. mar
| rlage offering advantages which even his ingc-
| nuity could not dispute. On the tace of it,
his conductwas incomprehensible. What did it
| mean?
Seeking, under the surface, for the answer to
! that Question-aud remembering that Obenrei-
| zer was man Of about his own age; also, that
Marguerite was, strictly speaking, his half
niece only-Vendale asked himself, with
| lovers ready jealousy, whether he had a rival
| to fear, as we'll as q guardian to conciliate. The
| thought just crossed his mind, aud no more.
| The sense of Marguerite's kiss still lingering on
his cheek reminded him gently that even the
jealousy oil moment was now u treason to her.
| On rejection, il seemed most likely that O
personal motive of another kind might suggest
the true explanation of Obenrezers conduct.
Mareuerite's grace and beauty we're precious
ornaments in that little household. They gave
it q special social attraction and special social
importance. They armed 0benreizer with a
certain influence In reserve, which he could
always depend upon to make his house attrac-
tive, and which he might always bring more or
less TO bear on the forwarding of his own pri-
vate ends. Was he the sort of man to resign
such advantages as were here implied, without
obtaining the fullest possible compensation for
the lossr A connection by marriage with Ven
dale offered him solid advantages beyond all
doubt. But there we're hundreds of men in
London with far greater power and far wider
influence than Vcndale possessed, Was it pos
sibe that this mans ambition secretly looked
higher than the highest prospects that could be
offered to him by the alliance now proposed tor
his nieceY AS the question passed through
| Vendale's mind, the man himself reappeared
to answer it, or not to answer it, as the event
might prove,
A marked change was visible in 0benreizer
when he resumed his place. His manner was
less assured, and there were plain traces about
his mouth of recent agitation which had not
been successfully composed. Had he said
something referring either to Vendale or to
himself, which hal reused Marguerites spirit,
and which had placed him, for the first time,
face to face with resolute assertion of his
nieces will? 1t might or might not be. This
was only certain-he looked like man who had
met with a repulse.
al have spoken to my niece" he began. 81
find, Mr.. Vendale, that even your influence has
not entirely blinded her to the social Objections
to your proposal"
fMay ask )" returned Vendale, 'if that is
the only result Of your interview with Miss
0benreizerW
A monentary flash leapt up through the Oben
reiZer film.
You are master the situation, ,nhe answered
in a tone of sardonc submission. "If you insis
on my admitting it, l do admit it in those words
NV niece's will aud mine used to be one, Mr.
Vendale. You have come between us, and he