Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-03-17

to any other young man l know, would
be my choice for son-in-law."
'And what may that be?" eagerly
demanded Henry. .'Ifit is huge as
high Olympus it shall be removed"
''If you can remove that one objec.
ton, your road is clear" was Mr.
Moreton's reply: but. if you cannot,
you must relinquish all hopes Of OBJ
tanning my daughter in marriage, even
though it break her heart and yours
DO you knou rho you arei'
Had those last terrible words been
molten lead, they could not have drop
ped more crushingly upon the heart OF
the stricken Henry.
He we'll knew the proud man who
stood before him, and he knew, equally
well too, that he must present clear
record Of his family origin. or blot out
his long cherished dream of bliss.
"Alas no." he answered; farther
than Mrs. Doan's account. / know
nothing"
(which may be true. or not. l have
recently written to the authorities OF
st. Johns concerning this James Hos
ford, and am informed, that, to the
best of their knowledge. no person of
that name was q resident there at the
time of which YOU speak. love my
daughter as well as father can love
an only child; and intend never TO
interfere with her choice for life part
ncr. provided he he man Of good
character and respectable parentaec.
Now, if were TO sanction this union
between yourself anu my daughter. it
might turn up, hereafter, that you were
of dishonorablc birth.
Many persons, | know. look with
contempt upon what they are pleased TO
term family caste perhaps should if
I lived under a republican form of gov.
ernment, where all men are equal. at
least in theory but TO the feeling and
usages Of the society in which we hap
pen TO move. Now. a family alliance
with person Of disrcputable or even
doubtful origin means social dishonor,
social ostracism but he assured Of
this-if you can prove that you were
born in honorable wedlock, Of respect
able parentage. ! pledge nv honor, as
. gentleman, that l will throw no i'm
peiiment in the way Of your suit, even
though you be the son Of the poorest
burgher."
unalterable
MY ultinatum, sir: YOU no doubt
perceive the justice of my decision"
II 10 not. sir; but understand your
prejudices: YOU shall not. however,
have cause TO be ashamed of nv relation
ship" continued Henry, proudly draw
ing himself up to full height; for some
thing tells me that am socially, at
least the equal of yourself. When can
show, to your satisfaction. that it is so,
We shall meet again-until then fare
we'll"
He then walked out of the room. and
sought the apartment Of his betrothed.
The interview between the lovers was
brief. and we pass il over In silence
But vows ofendless fidelity were spoken.
They could wait long years, but they
would hold sacred their plighted faith.
So they parted.
Henry, having found no trace Of the
object of his search in st. Johns, and
hearing that there We're some persons
Of the name Of Hosford living in the
vicinity of Millridge, accompanied
Charles Edwards to the latter place on
his return.
The reader is probably aware of the
motives which induced Henry to visit
st. Johns.
His purpose was to gain some intelli.
gence concerning James Hosford, his
rcputed father, or to light upon some
clue. which might lead to the discovery
OF his relatives.
He had no difficulty in finding per-
sons who remembered Mr.. and Mrs
Doan, also, the sudden disappearance
OF the latter; but Of James Hosford, hi.
connections, or even the existence OF
such man at that time, nothing could
be ascertained, Notwithstanding weeks
were spent in diligent investigation
Soon after reaching the home of Charles
and Mary, he was prostratcd by fever
during which he was carefully and
tenderly nursed, as if he were brother
If any Of our readers, like young
Henry, far from home, among st strangers
wearied and Fad at heart by disappoint.
ments and hope deferred, languishinp
with sickness and pain, have found &
true friend, to smooth their pillow, tt
sympathize with their sorrow, to enlivsI
and cheer their dropping spirits, the,
can appreciate the feeling Of gratitude
awakened in his breast toward his kline
entertainers.
~ have often," said he to Mary, ''il
my day dreams, had before me an idea
sis'er, and have laughed to find my ar
dent fancy adorDing her with such a,
array Of happy qualities as. l supposed
could never exist in any living mortal
but, since have come under your hands