The Sweetwater enterprise. (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1869-187?, 1870-02-03
SWEETWATER, TENN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY s. 187O.


of Shadestown is worth two thousand
pounds. All, isyou had that Mr.. Yentnor,"
sYes, if had," said Paul, his voice
trembling, al know what l would do
them" .I .yAtrs s,t 0
He averted his face to stiAe his emo
tion. Grace knew what he wanted to say,
and woman like, she determined to make
him say it. With her eyes fixed upon
him, and tapping the floor with her dain-
ty slippered foot, she said in low, sweet
voice: ls f d 40 tsdgIol5
"What would you do 7" cg oai l.e
He turned full upon her, his dark,
handsome face all aglow. He caught her
hand, and, in thick, husky tone said y
"What would,I do thenlnIwonld hold
your hand thus, and say, Grace Ilove you
with my whole soul--I cannot live. with
out you'll Will you be minep' 3i
Paul was trembling, and Graee's face
flushed with pleasure. sa 8 -
"It strikes me that you have said it
now," she said with little gay laugh,
and Withdrawing her hand. "When you
are rector of Shadestone | will hear you
with more complacency. Good night, Mr..
Ventnor." uaf.l
The young curate went away from Fo-
ley Hall with heavy heart, and thenext
Sabbath was a dull and heavy one indeed.
But on the next Monday following, he re-
ceived very great surprise, in the shape
of q document bearing an Earl's crest,
which read as follows:
To Paul VsntnOr, CurGts of Blades
burg-Reverend Sir-The Rectorate Of
Shadestone awaits your acceptance. BY
Christmas we would expect to find you in
charge. Yours in haste, ~. I'D
JOHN TEMPLEToN.
TEMPLEToN's PLACE, Dec. 8, l849.
Then followed one of the Earl's blunt
postscripts:
"My daughter Grace has recommended
the appointment"
Paul Ventnor was almost dumbfounded.
He sank into chair and burst into tears.
He was appreciated at last, and the rec
torate of Shadestone was his How was it
to be explained Was the fair mendicant
at the Lodge gate an Earl's daughter
Had the crown piece he dropped into her
hand brought him an anuity Of $4,000 a
year. ~ sfa
He accepted the offer, and by the holi-
days he was in charge. In course Of time
Grace explained all to him then he re-
newed his proposition, which she enter
tanned with very gratifying ''complacency."
But when he applied to the Earl he was
bluntly refused Grace interceded and
was also refused. l5a '9
"Father," she said, "what's Temple
toms word worth %
"As much as his bond, child, and rigid
ly kept from father to son down a proud
ancestral line" a.as.I ..a.i ~ .s.a
Grace laughed softly, with sparkle of
triumph in her eye. She took from her
bosom the letter the Earl had written to
her. .as aa
"See," she said, ~ hold your written
word--a terse bond, indeed, with your
crest and name attached. In it you say,
81 shall marry whomsoeyer it shall please
me to marry" WE'LL please to marry
Paul Ventnor, the Rector of ofShadestone. !"
The Earl's face clouded and then rela-
ted. Fair and proud as queen his
daughter looked, with the brown, expect
ant eyes fixed upon him. He went to her,
put his arm round her, kissed her and
said: aa
"Be it SO, child, / am fairly caught.
Although Ventnor is not titled, he is a
handsome, good-hearted fellow. He will
be Dean before he dies. May you ever
be happy together"