New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-10-09
THE OUTWITTED FATHER.
PART 1.

land so, sir, this is your decision I"
~lIonOr, father, fOrbids any other
~Ds you mean to say, sir, that you are ell
gagged to the girl y
mot exactly. await her decision"
Then you have proposed
81 have"
"And you have resolved to marry Mis-
Cameron. and not Miss Dashwocd y
IF Miss Cameron will accept me-"
-'Very well, sir; very well This is youl
gratitude-this your filial duty! You self
Wi1led, ungrateful dog; in return for the
the trouble I've had with you-the effort.
I've made to secure the best match in the
country. Here is a fine, handsome, dashing
young woman, rich, and belonging to one OF
the best families in the country, whom you
throw aside for the sake of a pale-faced chit
of a clergyman's daughter"
"Fatherw
Don't father me, sir-don't interrupt
me-don't speak to me again! Get out OF
my sight But, remember. the day on
which you marry Lena Cameron, you will
cease to be son of mine. will disinherit
you, sir. and leave all have to the new Or
.phan. asylum"
Such was the scene enacted in Squire
Chester's parlOr-a scene frequently pre-
scented upon the stage to sympathlzing and
delighted crowds-an irate father, pOrtly,
ned faced loud-voiced, with hands beneath
his coat tails, q la Pickwick, and eyes
gIaring wrathfully through gold-rimmed
xpectacles upon handsome but undutiful
son, bent upon wedding the object of his
souls idolatry, against his fathers wishes
but, on the part of each one, serious and
resOlute determination.
To add to the dramatic effect, at the mo-
ment in which the Squire's last words were
spoken, fair, delicate looking young girl,
who was about entering the room, catching
H., l>f41 a, raI -,
slant with her hand on the door knob, as if
hesitating whether to enter. And thus it
happened that she heard her own name
coupled with the threat alIeady mentioned.
She turned then and glided swiftly up the
stairs to her own room. Locking the door,
abe threw herself on a couch, and, burying
her face in the pillows, remained long time
quite mOtionless. She did not weep, but
when she at length arose her face was very
pale, and her sweet, blue eyes had haggard
look Of suffering painful to witness in one so
young.
Seating herself at the table. she drew to-
ward her q writing desk, and wrote as fol
lows:
"Dear Cousin Philip-Since our interview
Of yesterday l have thought the matter
over, and have come to the conclusion that
it will be best that we should not marry.
Do not blame me-dO not question me, ever.
1 have reasons which | can not explain. but
act as think will be the best for us both.
LENA"
"Where is Miss Cameron questioned
Philip Of the servant who handed him this
note.
"Gone over to Elmwood, sir. to her aunt,
Mrs. Page. heard her say she would stay
there till her return to the city, which
would be in few days.
An hour later Philip Chester was on his
way to Elmwood. The path was lonely,
leading through a sequestered wood, and
he was consequently surprised when, at an
abrupt turning, he came suddenly face to
face with young lady, very tall, very
handsome, and attired in a rich riding
habit and floating plume. Philip lifted his
lat respectfully, and would have passed
on, but the lady paused full in the path be-
fore him.
Excuse me; you are Philip Chester"
"And am Josephine EASTWOOD
In his surprise he hardly knew what to
say. II did not know was not aware of
Miss Dashwood's being in the neighbor
y LOod."
al dare say not You were expecting,
perhaps, you and your honored father to
behold me for the first time at the residence
of my uncle and guardian, Simon Walker,
ESD; but You see | was too anxious to wait,
80 | concluded to run down for a day or two
to Elmwood, on the strength of Mrs. Page
being an old friend of mother. wanted to
see you, Mr.. Chester"
"You do me honor" said Philip, puzzled
in what manner to treat this frank avOwal.
The yonng lady, meanwhile, played with her
horses name.
81 am glad of this accidental meeting
she resumed ''for l was just thinking how
it would be possible to obtain private in
Eerview."
Philip started.
volo
Ehere has been some arrangement made,
concerning us, by those two old mean
your much honored father and my highly
respectable uncle-a little matrimonial
scheme, if l am not mistaken. Very kind
of them, doubtless, though it might have
been kinder to have left us to choose for
ourselves, and be happy in our own way"
faint CLEAN of hope began to dawn
npon Philip.
Il want to tell you secret, Mr.. Chester;
may | trust youW
..If you will do me the HONOR he replied,
still cOldly.
"Ah, see you don't like me, but you will, |
sitter while. This, then, is my secret: | |
AN In love-pray don't be alarlned-not |
Thank you" said he, almost involun-
ssriIy.
with II very handsome, very clever, very |
worthy and deserving young man. " resumed |
Miss Eastwood, with unmoved seriousness, |
''but poor. And yOm are in love with one |
equally perfect, but suffering under the |
came stigma
She looked at him seriously now with her
dark eyes, and he met the gaze frankly
"NOw we understand each other" she
xaad, resuming her former tone and manner;
~;and now we can act as seems best to us |
undcr the circumstances. 1t won't do to
leJcl openly against these two old fogies-
beg their pardon-thOse wise and venerable
OH gentlemen; but we can manage quietly |
tn "lrcumvent them, and have our own way,
can't we p
Perhaps you have found some plan to
that effect " said Philip, half amused and
half interested
"fon shall hear she answered II am
told that ,younlear, delightful father ad-
snires dashing 1adies-wants dasbing
Hanghtcr-ln-law and mistress of his estab-
nshinent; You viii dine tomorrow at Elm
Wood. De sure not to disappoint Mrs
Ea.:e, VINO KNOWS all about it, and takes a
mOtherly interest in the affair. We viii sea
whether the old gentleman is satisfied with
his chosen daughterln-law. But. whatever
occurs; your role, remem ber is to be nar
fectly charmed. VIII you accept your part
Mr.. Chester" p'-'
Half laughing, half wondering, he agreed
and SO they rode on together through the
xhadowy wOOd-path: Philip Cheste, l;king
Ills companion far better than he had pre-
viOusly thought possible of Miss Eastwood.
PART II.
Srene second, act first, transports us to
Vie drawingroOm, where sat that good lady,
AIRS. Page, in all the formal dignity of "a
country dinner dress, endeavOring to enter
s,.in some half dozen guests of whom Squire