The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-09-22
All's Well That Ends Well.
BY JUDGE CLARK.

1t was not runaway match. There
was not, in fact, any necessity for rum
ming away. Both parties had arrived
ut what the law calls the cage of dis
cretion," and, in such matters, might
freely consult their own wishes-pro,
vided, always, they were willing tc
take the consequences. -....
Henry Walton was the only son OF
a rich retired trader, who had spent
many years abroad in the accumula-
ton of a princcly fortune. AS Is apt
TO be the case with fathers who have
handsome estates to transmit, the elder
Walton felt that, in his sons case, tho
obligations of the fifth commandment
being founded upon valuable as well
us good considerations, were doubiy
binding. In one thing, especially, did
lie count on Il right observance of filial
duty; his sons right TO choose n wife,
and his own to choose n daughter in
law, he trusted might never come in
conflict: but in case they did, the for
mer must be held in strict subordina-
ton to the latter.
"Havc you ever thought seriously
VI Ii'ilIisiSc, liCiiJ . Was thC IuCi y
with which Mr.. Walton one morning
opened the discussion of a subject
which he felt had been somewhat too
long delayed.
"Marriagc, sir?"
Yes, marriagc-I sec nothing to oc-
casion surprise in the question.
"Nor /, except its novelty between
u.s."
"Wcll, having recovered from the
shock, L trust you are ready to favor
me with an anwer."
''Have ever thought seriously of
marriage? Upon my word, father, the
question is Il very general one"
every well, take your time: but
while you arc taking it, 1 may, per-
haps, alrldgc matters by being moro
explicit"
Henry nodded attention.
"An old friend,,' MIR. Walton rcsu-
med, "whom l have not seen since we
were fellow-clcrks together, but be-
tween whom and myself regular
correspondence has been kept up,
writes inc from Liverpool that he will
arrive by the next steamer"
''Pm sure shall be happy to see
him., s.. @ ....
"You would he an undutiful dog il
you weren't. Besides, he has beau
tiful niece somewhere hereabouts, who
will be his sole heiress, and Tom Hig-
gins will leave rather more than suffi-
cient to pay his just debts and see him
dccently buried"
"1Iave you ever scen Miss Hig-
gins?' ... ...ns
II didn't say her name was Hig-
gins. She's the orphan daughter of
Tcm Higgins sister, and don't know
whom she married: but what's that to
the purpose 2" :. !,
s.Rea1ly nothing that 1 can scc."
'But I'll tell you what is to the pur-
pose. 1t has long been as good as set
tied between Tom and me, in our let
ters, hat-that-that in short-that
marriage between his niece and my
son would be-in fact-eveFy way
suitable" ...-l -,. -Hf-
"But suppose the young lady should
object?" f I. .
"Impossible!-she can have no OBJ
JcctIOn iu' ...
Frhcn suppose your son should OBJ
ject?' .....a. "r
"Sir?" -5a. @ ......
"f there should be inseperablc rca-
sons"
"Don't talk to me of reasons!"
clear me, father: am prepared
to answer the question with which you
began this conversation, / have tho't
seriously thought-of the subject to
which it relates. L know nothing of
the young lady whom you would Sc
lect for my wife"
"Would select?-have selected, SIR"
'I entertain too good an opinion of
her, however" Henry continued, un-
mindful of the interruption, ''to think
her capable of accepting the hand of
one whose heart is in anothers keep
ing"
"Whose heart is in annther's keep
ing? Have a care, rash boy"
Crash 1 may be. but boy no longer
With all the ardor of mans purest,
strongest affection, / love one"
tEnough, sir! You are of age. L
have no power TO constrain your choice;
but the day that sees you welded
without my consent, sees you an out
cast and beggar-unless," he added,
with bitter sneer, "your wife's for
tune and charity may suffice to pre-
serve you from such fate"
1@a