The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-01-28

May Warren made answer in ton,
of surprise, raising her sad, anxiou,
eyes to her fathers face
As If her gaze discomposed him, Mr.
Warren turned his head, and his glance
wandered restlessly around the apart
ment He was an old man, with tall
spare figure, thin, gray hair, and was
sitting in an armchair, by table GOV
cred with papers, while his pretty
daughter May sat beside him on an OF
toman. She repeated her words
6 In me, father2"
g Yes," he replied, starting from
moments abstraction EDO you re
member Col. Leighton, my dear!"
s'Col, Leighton An old man will
heavy beard, partly gray, and pleas
ant blue eyes. He dined with us few
weeks ago. Yes, remember him, ia
Their"
Not SO very old May,-not so old
as | am,-and one of the finest men liv
ing. He is wealthy,-very wealthy
too
He met his daughters questioning
gaze fully now, as if he had wished he
to read something in his face. Sh,
kept her dark eyes fixed searchingl,
upon his countenance, the ebb and flow
of the soft color upon her cheeks be
traying the quick pulsations of he
heart.
What do you mean, father2" sh,
asked, at length.
q saw him last night. He offered
to help me-save me, il"
g If what, father 2"
g Ii | would give you to him"
The words came hurriedly from Mr.
Warren's lips, as II he feared that if b.
deiberated he should not be able t.
utter them at all As they fell on hi
daughters ear she started to her feet
pushing her hair back from her pale
face, in a bewildered sort of wav. as i
she were half-stunned.
:, Marry me, father? Col Leighton? 2
she cried in a low voice.
Mr.. Warren took her hand, and drew
her down to her seat again.
May, Col. Leighton will be a gooc
husband to you / have known hin
from boyhood, and understand perfect
~ well his character and principles
He loves you-will be kind to you, anG
strive III every way to make you happy
And more-and more May, he will save
me from beggary."
He paused, but his child, with he1
face bowed upon her hands, made n,
reply, nor stirred The mute distres:
that her attitude betolened was not I'm
noticed by him.
: L do not force you to this, Nav, re
member; the matter is left to your ow,
choice. But you know what nv owl
wish ls-what the alternative will be /
you do not accept the offer"
She knew only too we'll Fully sh,
realized now how absolutely necessar,
the luxuries to which her father hac
been accustomed were to him. Absol
ute less of possession did not seem tn,
most dreadful thing in the world to her
but she knew what wreck it would
make of him. In her. youth ant
strength the future would still be brigh
and full of hope to her; but how coult
he, with his aged frame and burden o
sixty years commence life anew? TIL
hopeful thought that she could worl
for him and supply him with his &C
customed comforts, afforded her but
moments comfort To him, with hi
stubborn, aristocratic ideas, this would
be the most severe trial of all-his de
l1cately reared, petted child laborins
for his support He would never b,
reconclled to it. That was no alterna
tive she saw at glance Then with ,
desperate effort to think calmly, sh.
recalled the form of Col Leighton. Sh.
remembered his bowed head and sill
yered beard, his dark, deeply furrowet
face, and fifty years. She could pe
no further. A younger face, with mer
ry azure eyes, and tossing, sunny hair
sprang up In strong contrast. Stretch
ing out her hands to her father, as i
for pity, she cried out, Il cannot !
oh, father, cannot"
The old man sank back with a groan
" Lost-then [ am lost - he cried
shuddering. There were no reproach.
es, onl y those bitter words and that de.
sparng attitude. White and fearless
she sat at his feet, the agony of hel
heart written on her face The wild.
desperate thought that the sacrifice was
possible, occurred to her.
Father, dear father ~
He raised his head, whitened with
the frosts of sixty winters, and looked
at her with CLEAN of hope in his
sunken eyes. She crept into his arms
as she had done when child, and laid
her soft cheek against his wrinkied
brow
. You know that love you, father, )
she said. . can never remember you
but as kind, tender, and forbearine
with me. Your heart has been my
home all my life. viii work, beg,
suffer for you,-oh, how willingly, ii
need be /! But that-oh, father, you dc
not know what it is that you ask !"
lie dd not speak, but moan broke
uneontrollably from his lips, as he rest
ed his head upon her shoulder. The
struggle In her heart sent dark, shadow
waves across her face. Could She
could she ~
. Father" she whispered hurriedly.
let me go, now. / will see you again
answer you tomorrow" And she
left left him.
He could not see her face in the
gathering darkness, only a glimpse OF
something white, but he felt the aui-
vering of her lips as she bent to kiss
HIM, and reached out his arms to en-
brace, her but she was gone.
" Heaven pity me !" The words came
like wall from her lips. She was
alone in the chamber, flung PROSTATE
upon low couch, with her face hid in
the cushions The sound of the rust
ling foliage of the garden, and the
chirping of the birds, came In through
the open window with the damp eve
ming breeze, and the pale light of the