The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-01-11
!EIAUDEsS ORDEAL.
The Reward Of Love and SeIEDeniaI,
Shall we wear paper Salts.

1t was rather an EMBARRASSING thing to
do but Charley May had done it well land
brayely, like man. He was nothing
but clerk at $500 a year, nevertheless
he had boldly carved an audience of the
portly old millionaire. and asked him for
his daug as he might have asked for
the miliiner girl around the corner
Mr.. Bryant cody wiped his pen and
laid it in the carved bronze rack. he NOV
ed back N his chair pace or two, look
ing Charley May full in the face as he
did so, with curious mocking light in
bis cold blue eye.
So you want to marry nay daughter
eh?'
Il do sir, said Charley
Provokingly handsome he looked as he
stood there, with the reddish brown hair
thrown back from his square, with fore
head, the hazel e. es, clear and confident,
and the perfectly cut lips, little apart
Somel ow, in the midst of his wrath and
derision, old Richard Bryant could not
help thinking that were he girl of elgh-
teen, he might possibly have fallen in love
with such young man as Charles May.
us there any other little trife | could
let you have?'' sneered the caustic old
man. "A block of houses, Or Broad
way lease or SO, or any other small
favor? 2"
You are laughing at me, SIR" said
Charley coloring,yat speaking with GER
tain quiet dignity. Il have asked you
simple question; surely haye right to
frank answer?"
Then listen to ne, young man." said
Richard Bryant, with sudden abrupt
sternness. You are aspiring too high,
you cannot have my daughter, Maude.
Now you have your ansWer-go! -
Charles May stood for moment like
one upon whom a thunder bolt had fallen
with sudden blighting power, then he
turned and walked quietly out of the
handsome Gothic library where the blue
and gold circles of light from the orial
windows quivered over the deep crimson
of the Wilson carpet. and the pure mar
bic faces of Pallus and Venus de Milo
watched him as be went.
"Maude, my love, my darling, what is
the matter?"
The red glow Of the November sunset
could scarcely picture the folds of ruby
velvet that hung over the plate glass win
dows, yet in the odorous twilight. Mr..
Bryant saw his daughter, with her face
hidden in the satin pillows, and the heavy
blush black curls dropping over the cary
cd rose wood.
Tell me, little daughter, what trou-
bles you," whispered the merchant, bend
ing fondly over the girl-Maude had
never known mother, and there was a
tenderness In the old man tones at that
instant that was almost maternal. She
looked up with the stain of fresh tears on
ner crimson cheeks.
''lLe has gone, papa-he has gone.
left me -
He? Who?"
Charley May
And Maude Bryant, who had spoken
all her life long to her father as if he had
been o loving mother also, hid her face on
his kindly breast and cried afresh.
'Whew-w-w !" was the merchant
softly breathed comment.
Il have been trying to convince her
how very absurd all this is" SAID aunt
Eloise, portly widow in garnet silk and
carbuncle jewelry. who sat by, alternately
quoting truisms at her niece and shifting
at gold cassoletts that hung at her
waist
'Maude, said Mr. Bryant gravely, "do
you mean to tell me that you actually
care for that young snip of clerk ?''
Maude sat up Indignantly, with light
ming in her black eyes.
'Care for him, papa? | love him"
Very improperl' groaned Aunt
-EIoise.
Aunt, [ wish you'd hold your ton
guel' sputtered Maudc, growing prefer
every moment in her bright indignation
Il do love him, papa, with all my heart
and soul ~
Aunt Eloise uttered low sigh, and Mr..
Bryant looked at his daughter with face
that was hall troubled, half amused.
E - Ny little hlly-fower,' he said gently.
all this sounds to me Ike girls 10
nance. Maude Bryant is scarcely fitted
to be the wife of a young man like Char
ley May
rs But why not, papa?' pleaded Maude,
piteously. Il love him, and IL think
he loves me-
Nery probably" said Mr.. Bryant,
smiling. But did it ever occur to you
how very unsuitable wife you would
make 10 man who has his own way to
win in the world"
No, papa" said Maude eagerly
Il can dust furniture, and | can make
jelly cake, and once | baked cranberry
TART
Most important qualifications yet not
quite all sufficient" said her father. with
the utmost gravity. 'tBut just consider.
my dear; here on the salary of $500 a
year, or 5000, We will say. 1t is lust
possible that out in Chicago, where he
has gone, they pay 5000 year, and here
on the other hand is Miss Bryant, with
her little luxurious hands. and her lux
urous ideas, AM her diamonds, and her
silk dresses. Why my child, l don't sup
pose you know what calico ,,o.ns p,