The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-04-27
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MAY WARREN.


ln me, father 2"
May Warren made answer in tone
of surprise, raising her sad, anxious ewes
to her fathers face
As if her gaze discomposcd him,
Mr.. Warren turned his head, and his
glance wandered restlessly around the
apartment. lie was an old man, with a
tall, spare figure, thin, grey hair, aud
was sitting in an arm chair, by table
covered with papers, while his pretty
daughter, May, sat beside him on an
ottoman. She repeated her words
" In me, fatherf"
eyes" he replied, starting from a
moments abstraction. DO you re
member Colonel Leighton, my dear p
" Colonel Leighton? An old man
with heavy beard, partly gray, aud
pleasant blue eyes He dincI with us
few weeks ago. Yes, l remember him
father"
" Not SO very old, May-uot as old
as | am--and one of the finest men
living. lie is wealthy-very wealthy,
too"
He met his daughters questioning
gaze fully now, as il he wished her to
read something in his face. She kept
her dark eyes fixed searchingly upon
his countenance, the ebb aud flow of
the soft color upon her cheeks betraying
the quick pulsation of the heart.
"What do you mean, father 7" she
asked at length.
:" saw him last night. lie offered
to help-save me, if"
4" II what, father 2"
If would give you to him"
The words came hurriedly from Mr.
Warren's lips, as if he feared that il he
deliberated he should not be able to ut
ter them ut all. As they fell on his
daughter's ear she started to her feet.
pushing back her hair from her pale
face, in bewildered sort of way, as if
she we're hali-stuuued.
Marry me, father? Colonel Leigh.
ton 7" she cried, iu u low tone.
Mr.. Warree took her hand, and drew
her down to her seat again.
May, Colonel Leighton will be
good husband TO you. ] have known
him from boyhosd, aud understand per.
iectly his character and principles. lie
loves you--will be kind to you, aud
strive IL every way to make you happy
Aud niore--and more, May; be will
save me from bcggaryl"
He paused, but his child, with her
face bowed upon her hands, made no
reply-nor stirred. The mute distress
that her attitude betokeeed was rot un-
noticed by him
l do not force you to this, May,
remember the matter is lcit to your
choice. But yeu know what my wish
is-what the alternative will be If you
do not accept the offer"
She knew only too we'll. Fully she
realized how absolutely uecessary the
luxurles to which her father had been
accustomed were to him. Absolute loss
Of possessions did not seem the most
u'cauius shine iu Tue worid 10 ber, out
she knew whata wreck It would make Of
him. In her youth aud strength the
future would still be bright aud fall Of
hope to her but how could he, with his
aged frame and burden Of sixty years,
commence life anew The hopeful
thought that she could work for him
and supDlv him with his accustomed
comforts, offered her but q moments
comfort To him, with his stubborn,
aristocratle ideas, this would be the most
severe trial OF alL-his delieately, rcarel,
petted child laboring for bis support.
lie would never be reconciled to it.
That was no alternative, she saw at a
glance. Then with desperate effort
70 think calmly, she recalled the form
OF Colonel Leighton, She Remembered