Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-11-14
MAUDE'S ORDEAL

do but Charley May had dsns it well and
bravsly, like = man. lie vas nothing but
. clerk ct $500 . year, nevertheless. he had
boldly cravsd audience Of the Pertly o d
millionaire. and asked him for his daughter.
- he might have asked foy the miUinu
girl around the corner.
Mr.. Bryant coelly wiped his pen and laid
Il in the carved bronze rack he moved
back his chair . pace or two, locking Char.
lee May full 10 the face - be did so, with
curious, mseking light in his cold blue eye.
''Se .su want 10 marry my daughter,
chi ?"
al do, air. said;Char!sy.
Provskingly handsome he looked ~ be
stssd there, with the reddish brown hair
throwa back from HE square, white fore
head, the hazel eyes, clear and confident
and the perfectly cut lips, little apart.
Somehow, in the midst Of his wrath and
dssision. old Richard Bryant could net help
thinking that ssrs he girl Of eighteen, he
he might possibly have fallen 10 love with
such young man ~ Charles NAV.
"ls there any other little trife ] could lot
YOU have ~ sneered the eaus,ic old man.
"a block Of houses, or a Broadway lease or
90, Or Any.othsr small favory"
"You are laughing At me, sir" said Cha-.
ley, csloring. yet speaking with a certain
| quiet dignity. 81 have asked you simpl.
question surely have Alright TO frAnll
answer.
| "Then listen to mo. Young man." said
Richard Bryant, with sudden abrupt stern
ness. "You are aspiring 100 high-yo,
cannet have my daughter Maude. Nov
yeu have your answer-go"
Charles May stood for . moment like on
upon whom thlndsrbolt had fallen will
sudden blighting power, then he turne
and walked quietly cut Of the handsom
Gothic library where the blue and gol
circles Of light frsm the orial windows quiz
cred over the deep crimson Of the VIII %
carpet, and the pure marble faces Of Pallu
} and Venus de Milo watched him % he ven
"Mauds, my love, my darling, what
the matter p
The red glow Of the November suns.
could scarcely pierce the folds Of ruby vel
I vet in the odsrous twilight. Mr.. Bryan
saw his daughter. with her face hidden
the satin sofa pillows, and the heavy ,blusl
black curls dropping low ever the earss
| rose wood.
Tell me, little daughter, what troubl,
D you" whispered the merchant, bsndlr
!. fsndly ever the girl. Mauds had new
known . mother. and there was . tsnds
ness in the old mans tones At that instaI
that was almost maternal. She leok,
c up, With the stain of fresh tears on h.
y crimson cheek.
"Hs has gone, pspa-he has gone Ar
left me 7"
"Hes Whs,"
"Charley May"
. And Maud Bryant, who had spoken q
her life long to her father 20 If lie had bea
10 | a loving mother ais }, hid her face on Il
knkly breast AMI cried afresh.
"Whew-w-w ~ was the merchants sol
y y hrsathed comment.
y Il have been trying to convince her no
A. very Assured all this is.' said Aunt Elsls
portly wrdsw, in garnet silk and carbu
Gle jcwcey, who sat by, alternately quotir
u trufsm ut her ~ ice, and shifting At 4 20
70 cas- ,icttc that hung at her waist.
4 "Maudc,H sad Mr.. BRYANT, eravely, q,
YOU mean to tell me that you actually ca
for that poung snip OF clerk 4.
y Mluds sat up Indignantly. with ligh
ning IN her black eyes.
70 ',Cars for him, papa love him -
;. "Ncry improper y greaned Aunt L ois'
"Aunt, | wish you'd bold yeur tongue
spu,tcrsd Maude, growing prettier ever
moment in her bright ind ,nation. II {
10 love him, papa, wi h all my heart az
: soul"
:, Aunt l.lose ut ere, a hollow sigh, All
= Mr.. Bryant lo,ks at hi. daughter with
h fac that was half uoahlsd, half amused.
| uMv l,fla i,llv law.r L. s.,i
n "all this sounds to me like girls romano
Mauds Bryant il scarcely fitted to be 4
~ wife Of young man like Charles May
"But why not, papa ?" pleaded Maud
pi.eously. al love him, and IL thitk
4 loves me-"
:, very probably" said Mr.. Bryant, smi
ing. But did II ever occur to you ho
y very unsuitable 4 wife ysu would make
= man who has his own way to win in Il
h wor d?'
mo, papa said Maude, eagerly.
can dust furniture. and ican make jell
cake, and once | baked q cranberry tart
e Most important qualifications. yet n
vuito all-suificisnt, sad her father, wi
the utmost gravity. But just consider, II
dear: here on the ono hand is salary OF fSt
agar, or nlnc. well say. It's just posHib
8 that out in Chicago, where he has gone, tn,
e pay 5000 year, and here on tho other han
IS Miss Bryant, with her little, luxurio,
hands. and her luxurious ideas. and h.
diamonds, and her silk dresses. Why, n
: child, don't suppose you know what ca
r. CO means"
Yes, indeed, pspp.' interrup,e
Maudc, earnestly. had apink frsnt
= calico once, with pink coral buttons thu
y were three dollars each-don't you r
4 member r
Yen poor mans wife, went on h
r father" patting her little feversd han,
"Maude. it wsuld be like taking one
the white japonicas sut Of tho conssrv
s tory, ann planting it on bleak New EoI
. land hill. What idea have you 81 the tri
. ale and sacrifices Of life, my little petite
child p
"Papaw sebbed the young girl pa,
9 sionatsly, 81 am ready to endure an
ordsal-to make any sacrifice What do
, care for diamonds and drsssssr Papa
!. shs exclaimed. suddenly starting up, Wit
! nha IL that ,uadA Amt Eln;s> Jro