Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1872-10-18

'although I believe I never had the
pleasure of meeting you before. re.
cognized you in moment, from the
strong resemblance you bear to your
father, whose portrait adorns the wall.
And our hero waved his hand at the
very lifelike representation Gin oil'
Of the departed Obadiah Magog, who
was scowling fercely at everybody in
point you looked at the portrait, those
ierce-looking eyes were fixed upon you
go, you did recognize me? And
you are quite right in supposing that
we never met before, sir, )" growled Mr..
Magog; "and if you know what is best
for yourself, we shall never meetagain. y
"On the contrary, my dear sir, [ hope
to have the pleasure of meeting you
quite often in the future. The truth
is, Mr., Magog, I am very much in love
with your daughter, and am happy
to inform you that she reciprocates my
love-"
''Ten thousand"
"Hold, Mr.. Magog! Don't excite
yourself, l beg. Hear me out, and then,
if you desire it, I will retire, for this
evening, at least"
Mr.. Magog flung himself intoa a chair,
quite overcome with rage, for our hero
was SO exceedingly cool that he didn't
know what to do or say; and he had
found that he couldn't frighten him.
'Go on, young man. Say what
you've got to say, and then leave the
house."
"Thank you. Believe me, I shall
remember this kindness, and repay it,
when have the right, as your son-in-
law"
Mr.. Magog glared, but said nothing.
'Look at me, sir. In form and fea-
ture [ am certainly not very objec-
tionable. AS for my family, whatever
they were, am the only representa-
tative of the family left.
'That's lucky" sneered Mr.. Magog.
'Perhaps So" continued Hugh. Il
have nothing to say about that
ssGo on"
"Well, sir, | have not so much wealth
as you, but what have I made my
self"
"And you're spending it yourself," /"
aal7 What are you driving lat
do You want?"
81 want your daughter" answered
McGonagle.
"And you can't have her."
"And your daughter wants me"
"But she can't have YOU"
jefferson !''
Mr.. Magog sprang half way across
the room. "What the dence was that ?
Who spoke ?" he asked; but no one
answered.
Della was staring at her grandfather's
portrait and trembling, while McGon-
agile was staring at the same portrait
and shivering.
"Who spoke?" stammered Magog,
looking wildly around him.
~ sp0ke"
"'Twas the portrait" gasped Della,
throwing herself into her lovers arms
for protection,
ella! what ?-the portrait ?-my fa-
ther ?" And Mr.. Magog trembled till
his teeth fairly chartered.
eyes, it is your father, Jefferson Ma
gog," said the portrait; and its terri
BILE eyes seemed to gleam fercer than
ever.
"Wha-what do you want of me %
asked Mr.. Magog in a hoarse whisper,
staring fixedly at the portrait; and
then suddenly gaining courage, cps
haw! what fool"
"Who do you call fool?" demand
ed the portrait, in a terrible voice.
"By heaven! I'll know the meaning
of this" cried Mr.. Magog, springing
forward and dashing his right foot in
to the middle of the canvas. Then he
staggered back. ''There isn't any one
hid behind there"
The portrait laughed, ella, ha, hal?
but it didn't smile. No, it looked just
as fierce as ever, and that terrible laugh
made Mr.. Magog's blood curdle in his
veins. The color left his cheek, great
beads of perspiration broke out upon
his face; he staggered back and fell
into a seat.
"This is no mortal business" he
groaned.
Jefferson" said the portrait, assum-
ing an injured tone, "aren't you a.
shamed to strike your poor old father p
"Great heavensr' cried Mr.. Magog
in agony, eff you are my father, tell
me what you want of me"
"List, o list, unhappy man," began
the portrait. "Have you not already
caused misery enough in the world
and do you wish to add to your mani,
fold sins and wickednesses by divid.
ing two loving hearts %
"What!" cried Mr.. Magog, spring.
ing to his feet, while his eyes rolled
from the portrait to the lovers.
''Hold! not a word, Jefferson" said
the portrait, in voice that struck ter.
ror to his heart, IF thou didst ever thy
dear father love"
"Shakspeare,'' muttered Magog.-
"The old man always was fond of Ham
let"
"Then step not between this young
man and this fair maiden" continued