The true northerner., 1876-10-27


over again. Be generous, Gayl Gan
rob him TO give TO youf Remember
he is an old man without anything to
look forward to-with nothing to love or
| live for but me. What would be left for
him were / TO desert him." hsA
Her filial devotion, her tenderness for
her fathers desolation, called forth all
tho better qualities of Gayl Farnsworth's 8
nature. Taking her in his arms, he
said: am
"Forgive me, dearest, / no longer
urge you to become my wife against
your fathers consent. will not seek to
break down that very loyalty which is
most to be sought for in wife. can
but commend your devotion and love all
the more for it,"
"Oh, Gayl, / am 30 glad !" cried
Maud, Nesting in his arms. "We will
be true to each other, and he may re-
lent eventually. You are willing to wait,
Gayle"
"Not in inactivity. mean to re-
move the obstacle with my own hand. ;"
"But how can you, dear? You are rich
already, and you don't know how to
work."
cit isn't too late to learn, yet, is it ?"
1t was not until just at the end of the
season that Judge Copeland came to
the watering place to be met, on the day
following his arrival, by Gayl Farms
worth with the demand for his daughters 8
hand in marriage, and this was his re.
ply:
Mr.. Farnsworth, you are stranger
to me-a fact which, in matter of SO
much moment as my daughters happi-
ness for life, cannot be offset by even
such excellent references as you are able
to give me. There are matters of tenn
perament and manhood, generally Of
most vital importance in the relation
contemplated, which such reference
cannot attest but that is mere ques-
ton of time and acquaintance, an object
which might easily be surmounted. In
fact, / will say that am well pleased
with your appearance. But there is an
other matter, one seldom taken into
consideration, but to me of the last mo-
ment. You are q rich man-you have
always been rich.
"The experience Of long life, in a
position affording unusual opportunity
to observe men, taught me that nothing
is so precariors as wealth. Sir, sup
posing you were beggared tomorrow,
what would you do2-what could you
do2 Wait until have finished Youth
is sanguine but age teaches the reality
Of things. Mr.. Farnsworth, man VINO
has begun at the bottom of the ladder
and worked his way up has never any
thing to fear. His muscles are trained
and tense. But man whose muscles,
physical and mental, are all relaxed for
want of use is always broken reed in
adversely. This is your misfortune,
perhaps, more than your fault I; but
you cannot blame me for declining to
intrust my daughters future in the
hands of such man. You have my an
swer."
Assurances, argument, entreaty were
all lost on old Judge Copeland. He list
ened with no show of impatience, but
with compressed lips and mistaken firm
ness. In despair Gayl went from him to
Maud; and We have seen the result of
the interview. An hour later he stood
again in the presence of her parent.
"Mr. Copeland" he said, 81 have
just been urging your daughter to exer,
else the right which the law gives her
she being already of age-and marry me
without your consent"
"Ah!" replied the Judge, watching
him curiously from beneath his over
hanging brows. And with what re-
sultl z"
"She refused to be unflial, and
brought me to my senses by display of
her own noble womanhood. L have
come to ask your pardon, as 1 asked
hers, for approaching her in that way;
and to say that am more determined
to have her now than ever"
Gayl looked squarely into the Judges
face while speaking. The faintest trace
of grim smile stirred the grizzled
mustache of the parent at the announce
ment of his daughters loyalty, aud his
eyes contracted seeculativeIy as Gayl
expressed his determination to win her.
But he waited silently for the develop
ment of Gayl's plans.
Z" [ ask probation of fiv> years, with
an engagement conditional upon your
approval ut the end of that time. Your
daughter will then be % and 30."
Mr.. Farnsworth, l regret the neces-
sity of declining. A moments thought
will show you the unwisdom of no long
and so uncerta II an engagement.
"Will you consent to correspondence
between us2"
My dear sir, is that much better
than what / have just refused Z" asked
the Judge, with lift of the brows and
an indulgent smile. CT cannot consent
that my daughter be trammeled in the
least"
"Surely, sir, you will not intcrdict
my visiting her, when chance in the
city," pleaded Gayl despairingly.
mo-" smiled the Judge, thinking
the young mans visits might not be
mere chance. "No child of mine shall
be hedged about by anything more
tangible than preoept. With rational
beings, when this fats, coercion is USE
less"
"For this much, then, 1 thank you.
Five years from to-day, if not sooner, 1
shall renew my suit, and, depend upon
it, L shall win !"
81 tell you, Copeland, he's bound to
be an ornament to the profession And
he sought it from pure love of it. He
was independently rich before he saw the