The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-06-18

throwing her arms about bis neck eye
shall never be driven to that strait, sac LANG
as the means are in my power O. preventing
it! Mother, mother, dear mother" she
added-and now turning to the parent she
named, and throwing herself on her knees
before her--" | can stand this nae LANCER
I'll marry John Maitland, mother, and bell
lend as muckle siller as, i'll tax ye out O
this difficulty. He has often said that he
wad help my father, if / wad promise tc
become his wife,"
"My BARN, my bairn!" replied her
mother, overcome with this instance of her
child's devoted affection for well she
knew the fearful extent Of the sacrifice
she had offered 10 make. " My BARN,
my BARN p she said, bursting into tears,
and clasping her daughter closely in ber
arms" Gods blessing be wi ye for this
dutifu conduct to your puir parents, al
though it grieves me to the heart, my Pur
lassie, to see ye driven by COR necessities to
become IN unwillin BRIDE But ye see,
my bairn, there is nae ither way o savin
us frae beggary in our auld days"
Il ken it, mother-I see il" replied
Marion, weeping, and as pale as death /;
land my minds made up. Onything,
onytbing will l endure rather than see ye
turned cot o yer ain house, and thrown
destitute on the world"
"a father's blessin and the blessin O.
God be wi ye, my docthter, for this I"
said her father. now interfering for the irst
time, and laying bis hand upon her head az
she kneIt before her mother. eye Gamma
but prosper, my BARN, for such conduct as
this and your marriage, though in the
meantime it mayna seem to you to promise
much felicity, maun in the end be happy
ane. It Gamma be otherwise. But.
Marion" be added, :" / Wilma let vet max
this sacrifice till a ither mems hae failed
me, and till l find that the factor is really
determined to carry bis threats into exc
cution.'
At this moment the latch of the outer door
was raised, and Richard Spalding, wholly
unaware of the state Of matters in William
Waterstone's, suddenly walked into the
midst OF the sorrowing family; and great
was his surprise on witnessing the scene Of
disconsolation which presented ITSELF He
guessed, indeed, in part of the cause-for
bis father, as has been already said, was
also under the ban of the new factor; but
be little dreamed of the resolution 10 which
il had driven bis beloved Marion.
This was now, however, soon to be made
known to him. On Richards entrance, her
father, who, as well as his wife, knew well
Of the attachment between the young couple,
after hastily saluting him, left the apart
ment, and was speedily followed by Marion's
mother; their object being to give their
daughter an opportunity of informing her
lover, with her own mouth, of the resolu-
ton she had come to regarding his rival.
On being left to themselves, Richard
went up to Marion, who, seated in chair,
with her pale check resting on the back,
looked the very image of hopeless despair.
On Richards first entrance, she bad not
looked towards him at all, nor exhibited any
other symptom Of a consciousness Of his
preseu0U. Neither did she yet bffer any
signs Of welcome. Astonished and alarmed
at such unusual conduct, Richard took her
affectionately by the hand, and anxiously
inquired what was the matter. The poor
girl burst into tears.
Marion" said her lover, now greatly
agitated and perplexed, "what in all the
earth is wrongf Will you not tell me,
Marion ?"
90 Richard, Richard, do not ask me.
/ cannot, / will not tell you,' said the
distracted girl.
6 Then you desire to make me miserable
too, Marion" was the reply
"No, no, Richard but cannot tell you
what / knew will break your heart, as it
has already broken mine Ny peace is
gone for ever, Richard, but it has gone in
good cause"
For heavens sake, Marion" said her
agoinised lover, tell me, tell me at once
what you mean, and do not torture me
longer with this strange and unintelligible
conduct. It's not using him well, Marion,
who hopes to be more to you, one day, than
any other person on the face of the earth"
Never, Richard never. You can
never now be more to me than you are at
this moment. That's a owre, Richard. We
maun meet nae mair. I'm gauu to be the
wife O. anither."
Marion - said Richard, his face now
overspread with deadly paleness, and bis
lips quivering with emotion, " in Gods
name, what does this mean Have done
anything to offend you-anything to change
your opinion Of me p
"No, no, Richard, you have not" said
the weeping girl I" but I maun marry
John Maitland, to save my puir father
and mother frae ruin-to save them frae
bein thrown on the cauld charity O. the
warld in quest O. their bread.".
And she now went on to detail the par
ticulars of the situation in which thev stood.
and concluded by mentioning the promise
she had made her parents to accept of
Maitland's addresses.
(T0 BE CONTINUED.
The Policy of Railroad Land Grants.