Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-15

SdtISIdCGI0H W JOu 16II LIZ ~
you be only too happy to shed your blood
for your daughter?"
eyes, yes, 1 know; the pelican story
But it seems that it isn't true"
At this moment the young sutton walks
in. Seeing him, Madeleine runs up to
him, and takes him by the hand.
Come, Henry, come! Unite with US.
Papa is beginning to let himself be
touched"
az" said Desgranges.
ooh, sirr' commences the young man,
with emotion; but all at once NJ. Des-
oranges turns sharply upon him
"Zoundsl you come ID at the right
moment. You bring me back to myself
Why, you can't have any heart young
mani WHAT, to have so pretty girl IN
love with you, so good, so well informed,
so affectionate, and you're not willing to
marry her if she has only hundred thou
sand francsn'
"But, papa"
"He is bargaining for you. All, when
married your mother, she was worth
fifty thousand francs less than you are! !"
'FWhatl" exclaimed Madame Des.
oranges.
81 meant to say that she had fifty thou
sand less than you-and didn't hesitate,
Notwithstanding"
Neither do l hesitate a moment" re-
piled Henry, eagerly.
at is his father who refuses, my dear."
eyes" says Madeleine, sit is his father.
As for himself, he doesn't care the least
for your fortune. He has told me twenty
times that he would take me without any
dowry; that he would even prefer my not
having any"
"And it is true" cried the young man.
"Yes-yes; one says all that said it,
too, myself-but inwardly-"
"W6atn exclaimed Madame Des-
oranges, petulantly, cit wasn't true,
them"
"What is true is, that I hold the maxim
to be an extremely stupid one, which
says that fathers ought to sacrifice them
selves for their children"
Sacrifice yourselfr' said Madeleine.
Gust as if we would consent to that!
Why, wouldn't the money remain with
you?"
TIA, ia, tai money can't be in two
places at once. If [ give it to you, I lose
it; and if l don't give it to you, keep it.
It's as clear as daylight"
"But, papaw
MY views on this point are settled. a
father ought to be richer than his child
rem"
"What does it matter who is the richer?"
says Madame Desgranges. "Will not their
house be ours?"
"By no means whatever! A father never
ought to put himself into state Of de-
pendence on his children; and this for the
children's own sake, to prevent tier be
coming ungrateful."
90 papa" calculated Madeleine, chow
can you dare to say so?'
"Your good little heart, child, revolts at
such word"
eyes, indeed; you hurt my feelings
saalym
II believe so; believe in the sincerity
of your indignation; but"
'For whom can you take US, sir? asked
Henry.
''For young persons of good heart and
right feeling; and it is for that very reason
that am unwilling to spoil you. DidyOu
ever hear speak of a play called King
Lear?''
"By Shakespeare"
"Precisely. Well, do you know what
he is, this King Lear? An old fool, who
only met with the fate he deserved. AS
for the ladies' his daughters, Shakespeare
all Shakespeare as he is-made one
grand mistake, which was in piCturing
them wicked from the outset. What
ought to have been, was to have shown
them corrupted by the absurd prodigal-
ity of their father, and led on to ingTat-
itude by what he did for them. That is
the truth; for, in fact, if you suppress the
benefits conferred, there is no more in
gratitude. Now, as have as much sOlici-
tude for your perfection as my wife has
for my improvement, [ refuse, out and
out, to impoverish myself for you, lest you
should be exposed to temptation.'
But"
"There are no butts. My mind is made
up. Henry, go and talk to your father,
and try to make him renOunce his preten-
sion. What the deucel it is easier to alb
stain from ahundred thousand francs than
it is to give them"
But" said Madeleine, "if he does not
succeed in convincing his father?"
'1t will be because he does not love you
well enough. In that case | shall not
mourn for him."
N1ObolCA SSOtLNG- ISlIdllSJ! CIlSC
Madame Desgranges.
Away with you! away with you"
"Adieu, Henry!" said Madeleine.
mo, mademo-selle, al re001r! Your
father is right. should not be worthy
of you if did not win your
"Ay, ay, young man, that's well said
and replaces you in my regard. l won't
give you a sou the more for it, but l like
you the better. Be off-and come back
againn'
II.
a month after the above scene, the
young people were married. A year
after, Madame Desgranges was godmoth
er. Two years later, NJ. Desgranges was
father. At the end of three years
we find the young household
and the old, the parents and the children