The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-02-18
The outwitted Father
PART FIRST .

donor, father, forbida any other"
"Do you mean TO say, cir, that you ar
engaged to the girl?"
mot exactly. await her decision"
Then you have proposed"
81 have"
"And you have resolved to marry Mis-
Cameron, and not Miss Dashwood?"
"lf Miss Cameron will accept me-"
Very we'll, sir; very WE'LL This is yonl
grahsude-thls 10 your flial duty! You self
Wild uugrstefal dog, in return for thu
trouble I've had with you-the efforts I've
made to secure you the best match IN thu
country. Hers 10 . fine, handsome, dsshint
Young woman; rich, and belonging to one o
she best families in the country, whom you
throw aside for the sake of pale.faced chit
of . clergymsn's daughter"
"Father"
'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 winch
you marry Lena Cameron, you WA cease 70
be q 500 of mine. I'll disnherit you, sEr
and leave all have to the new orphan asy-
luml"
Sncb VAS the scene enacted in Squire
Ches,er's parlor,. scene freq uently presented
upon the stage to sympathizing aud deligh.
ed crowds-sn irste father, portly, red faced
lond mou.hed, with hands beneath his Goa,
tails, Ia Pickwick, and eyes glazing
vr.rhfully through gold trimmed spectaoles,
upon handsome but undutifol son, bent
upon wedding the object of his souls idola-
try, against his fathers wishes. Yet in this
instance it was no mere acting, but, on the
part of each one, serious and resolute deter :
mination.
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
the sound of the angry voice, paused an
instant 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 already mentioned.
She turned then and gidsd swiftly up the
stairs to her own room. Locking the door,
she threw herself on q couch, and burying
her face in the pillow, remained locg time
quite notionlsss. She did not weep, but
when she at length arose her face was very
pale; and her sweet, blue eyes had q
haggard look of suffering painful to witness
il one 80 young.
Seating herself at the table, she drew
toward her q writing desk, and wrote as fol-
lows:
DEAR Cousin PHILIP Since our inter
view OF yesterday, have thought the matt
ter over and have come to the conclusion
that it will be best that We should not marry.
Do no, blame re-do not question me, ever.
have reason 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 Elm wood, sir, to her aunt,
Mrs. Page, | heard her say she would stay
there TIL her return to the city, which would
be In few days
Ar hour later, Philip Chester was on his
way to EImwood. The path was lonely,
leading through a seques'ered wood, and he
was consequently surprised when at an
abrupt turning, he came suddenly face to
face with young lad very tall, very hand
some, sttired 10 rich riding habit and
floating plume. Philip lifted his hat
respectfully, and would have passed on
but the lady paused full in the path before
him.
Excuse me you are Philip Ches,er?"
He bowed.
"And l am jose phne Eastwood"
In his surprise be hardly knew what to
say. 81 did not know WAS not aware of
Miss Dashwood's being in the neighbour
hood"
Il dare say not. You were expecting, |
perhaps, you and your hcnored father to
behold me for the first time 81 the residence
of my uncle and guardian, Simon Walker, |
ESQ bot you see / was too anxious to wait,
30 concluded to run down for dav or two
to Elmwood, on the strength of Mrs Page
being an old friend of mother, wanted to
see you, Mr.. Chester"
~ GU do me honor" said Philip. puzzled
IN what manner to treat this frank svowal |
The young lady, meanwhile, played with |
her ho,ses name.
II sm glad of this accidental meeting
she resumed, "for ! WAS thinking how i. |
would be possible to obtain a private inter
view"
Philip started.
II believe" she continued coolly, 'tha,
there has been some arrangement made, |
concerning us, by those two old mean
your much honored father and my highly
respectable uncle-s little matrimonial
scheme if am not mistaken. Very kind
of them, doubtless, thought 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
upon Phillip.
;
may trust your"
"If you will do me the honor" he replied
still coldly.
"Ah, l see you don't like me, but you will
after q while. This, then, is my sec ret
am in love-prsy don't be alarmed-not
with you"
Thank your said he, almost involun-
tarily.
with q very handsome, very clever, very
worthy and deserving young man" resumed
Miss Eastwood, with unmoved seriousness,
"but poor. And you are in love with one
equally perfect, but suffering under the
same stigma"
She looked at him seriously now, with her |
dark eyes, and he met the gaze frankly.
snow We understand each other" she |
said, resuming her former tone and manner;
"And now we can act seems best to us |
under the circumstances, 1t won't do to |
rebel openly against these two old fogies-
beg pardon-those wise and venerable old |
gentlemen; but We can manage quietly to
circumvent them, and have our own way
can't we ?"
"Perhaps you have 70 und some plan to
that effect?" said Phillip, half amused, and |
half interested.
You shall hear" she answered, 81 am |
told that your dear, delighted father admire.
ladies-wants q dsshing daughter
in law and mistress of his establishment |
You will dine tomorrow at Elmwood. Be
sure not to dissppoint Mrs. Page, who |
knows ell about it, and takes q motherly
interest in the affair. We will see whether
the old gentleman is satisfied with his
chosen daughter in-law. But whatever oc-
ours, your role, remember, is to be perfectly
charmed Will YOU accept your Part, Mr..
Chester p
Half Laughing, half wondering, he agreed
and SO they rode on together through the
shadowy wood-pa.h Phillip Chester liking