The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1868-02-14
Selfetea Talf.
THE TYRANNICAL FATHER.

"Jennie," said Mr.. Stacey one even-
ing, to his daughter, "Edward Wright
called at my store to-day. / suppose
you know what foa?" aee
s'How should know what for, pa
pa?" returned Jennie, with look of
Inconsistencies that was belied by the
vivid crimson that rose from her checks
to the temples. 81 suppose it was to
see about an order for some goods or
something" f1 TF F- r
''Not exactly" replied her father
smiling. "He came to see me about
you; in short, to ask my permission to
address you."
Jennie Redeemed again; but the sud-
den flash that cleaned out from beneath
the brown lashes spoke more of scorn
than satisfaction.
"Oi course I gave my CONSENT" con-
tinued Mr.. Stacey, after waiting his
daughter to reply. is tL8 a88
s'If you hadn't suppose that would
have been the last of it, SO far as he was
concerned" retorted Jennie, with sar-
castle touch that was quite lost upon her
matter Of fact father.
"Well, my dear, l don't know as there
is any need of raising the question. l
could have no reasonable objection to a
well-principled, intelligent young man
like Mr.. Wright, and who is, withal, do
ing an excellent business. SO it re-
mains for you to say whether you will
be Mrs. Edward Wright"
Jennie pursed up her rosy lips with
an air of great dignity. n@iaf
IL haven't been asked yet"
s'No. Isuppose not. But shouldn' t
wonder if he was here Tonight for that
express purpose"
Then, as glimmer Of the truth en-
tered his mind, Mr.. Stacey added:
81 trust that you are not so foolish,
my daughter, as to take offence because
he spoke to me about it first. III so do
ing he acted honorably, and as every
man should, and it ought to raise, rather
than lower. him in your esteem. Indeed,
| fancied from what he said, that he
was quite sure of the nature OF your
feelings for him, else he had not spoken
to me. s+t..r alr
Jennie's indignation now reached its
climax. She elevated her naturally
rather aspiring nose, until it stood at
right angles.
"Quite sure, was he? don't know
why he should be, then, L never gave
him any reason to feel confident"
Mr.. Stacey looked rather gravely at
his daughter.
81 don't know what you have said to
him, but know that he's been here a
good deal, and you've always seemed
glad to see him. 1 hope yon hav'nt
been trifiing with the young man, Jen-
ME Am to understand that you don t
intend to marry him ~
Jennie's round and rosy face assumed
lofty an expression as features could
be expected to wear, not formed exact
ly from the heroic mold.
"Mr. Wright is an excellent young
man, papa. I've nothing to say against
him. But would sooner perish than
unite my fate with one whose feelings
are SO antagonistic to the eholiest sympa-
thies of my nature" mt
The concluding sentence was quota
ton from her favorite nOrvel, "Astrea;
or The stony hearted Father" and was
pronounced with no little vehemence
of look and tone.
Mr.. Stacey started at the daughter
for a moment without speaking.
81 really did not see, my DEAR" he
said, dryly, ''any necessity for SO much
display OF energy; if you don't like Mr..
Wright we'll enough to marry HIM, all
that you have got to do is to tell him
so.
Here was a sscome down" to Jennie {
soaring Imagination. Her father abso-
Iutely refused to play the role of the
stony hearted Father, ruthlessly des-
troying the secret hope that had risen
in her heart, that some romantic INCL
dent. for which she had so often lonSed
was about to break the sameness ot hel
dull and proey life,