Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-05-09
THE PRACTICAL LOVER.

very poor at one time in his life, and had
to work very hard. His industry had in
the end however, met its own reward. At
middle age he was comfortably circum-
s1anced. When he announced to his
friends, therefore, that he thought of TAX
ing to himself a wife, it was thought gem
orally that the step he meditated was n
prudent one. And when he further stated
that he made an offer of his hand to one
Georgiana Warren, the daughter of a
wealthy merchant, and that the offer had
been accepted by the lady, we, of course,
fastened to tender our hcartiest congratu-
latons on the occasion.
Ned Stone spoke about the matter in
his own simple, sober way.
Well, you know, I'm getting on"
he said, "and if I'm to marry it's about
time | should think of setting about it.
You're very kind. L think l shall be
very happy-in fact, I've no doubt of it
as happy as fellow has right to expect
to be. One has no right to expect too
much, of course, But Pm quite fond in
my way of this Georgiana Warren, and |
think that she in her way is fond of me.
She is not too young or too old, not too
good looking, nor yet too plain; she is
sensible and accomplished enough; and |
don't see why she should not make good
sort of a wife, and similarly, l don't see
why | should not make very good sort
of husband Perhaps Pm not very
fond Of old Warren, the father, and per-
haps he isn't very fond of me. But
don't know as that matters much. dare
say we shall understand each other better
by and by; meantime, l must try and
make the best of the old mans humor,
and not run counter to him more than |
can avoid. And it seems to me that the
old fellow would be no fondcr of anybody
else who might want to marry his daugh-
ter than he is of me. You see it's our
atfair-Georgiana's and mine-and not
his; though it's hard to make him see it
in that light. But | dare say it will come
right in the end That's what | tell
Gcorgiana when she takes up with rather
gloomy views about her fathers temper.
She has good sense, and | think, looks
at the matter very much as | do-only of
course, she can't help feeling that he is
her father, whereas thank goodness, he
ain t mine.o
1t will be seen that led Stone was not
a lover to "sigh like furnace" As to
writing woiul ballad to his mistress
eyebrows, he never could have accom-
plished such feat even if his life depended
on his doing so. The thermometer Of his
love stood at temperate, with no tendency
towards an upward rise. The "marks of
love-" as they are generally understood,
were not disccrnible upon him.
He never said word as to the agitated
state of his breast, nor to the excitement
Of his feelings. He did not regard Miss
Warren as an angel or Il goddess. Prob
ably he would have been the first to con
tradict any allegation that might have
been made to the effect that she was any
thing of the kind. Miss Warren appeared
to him what she seemed to everybody
else-a nice, sensible English girl.
/ called upon Stone one evening. He
was alone. lie looked little grave, and
held a small sealed packet. We ediscussed
various Indifferent subjects; then | in
quired concerning Miss Georgiana.
"Oh, haven'tyou heard ?" he answered.
"But of course, you couldn't have heard.
The affair is off. Our engagement has
come to an end"
You don't mean that ?" l asked in
surprise.
Yes, the things broken off, as pco-
pie say. It's a bad job, aud I'm sorry
for it, but it can't be helped"
Had the lady resented his serenity and
discharged him, | asked myself.
As though he had heard the question,
he went on Its the old mans doings.
hope he's satisfied now. He's the most
unreasonable and disagreeable old fellow
ever had the misfortune to meet"
But what did he do ?''
"We fell out about the settlement
that was where the hitch arose. I'm sure
| did all | could to please him. | gave
up condition after condition quite in op-
position to the advice OF my solicitor. /
told him to settle what money he proposed
to settle on his daughter-it wasn't much
want to touch half penny of it. lie
might settle it, | told him, just as strictly
as he pleased, or he might settle nothing
at all upon her if he liked that better. 1t
was his daughter wanted, not his money
And for my part I'd take care my wife
never came to want. L undertook to in
sure my life for large amount, and to
assign the policy to the trustees for her
benefit, in case Of my death, covenanting,
of course, to pay the premiums regularly,
and to pay up the insurance in the regu-
lar way. l thought that a fair arrange
ment, but it did not suit him.
'' lie wanted to tie my hands complete
ly. He hadn't hap p'orth of confidence
in me. He gave me credit for no sort OF
affection for his daughter. lie insisted
that any money that | in future might
become possessed of / should covenant
into a settlement. 1t is absurd. or
course | couldn't consent to it. | had
business to consider. OF course my wife
and children-if had any-would reap
the benefit of as much as l shall. How
ever he wouldn't listen to me. | told
Goorniana nrncIlu h Au the nnIIar sInnd