The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-01-12
CLOS FATHER.


not particular about dates, nor Is my
memory regarding them remarkably
good, for ] can never remember them
10 connection with some par
fact, and that generally ar
entirely different one from that with
W hich Ire date mas to deal. For in
siaDce ] can always recall the fact
/ bat 1906 is the date Of the Norman
conquest Of England. aud that | do
remember it is due TO the circum-
stance that | was taught it by a
red-bearded man who visited It my
fathers house when / was a boy.
Not only do ! remember that | was
late at the Office on the 9Th, but also
recolleet thai the day before il was
Sunday. Ny mnemosyne for these
dates is the sermon ofthe Rev. David
Kowdahr, native missionary from
Bungaroo, who preached from the
text Love One Another" This
circumstance staading alone it is
most likely would not have~made a
very lasting impression, but the
words Of the text suggested some
thing, aad that Something led on to
something else, and the upshoJ of the
whole matter was that i asked Clio
Holmes, as we walked home after
service, if she would marry me. She
said she loved me dearly, but that l
must talk to her father about any
engagement. The first part Of her
reply made me a happy man. but the
last part changed my Joy to misery
The matter Of asking her father
never appeared serious to me before.
In the delightful romance and long
reyeries ! had often dreamed, that
part Of the programme had always
gone of in the easiest possible man
ner. any dear Professor" / would
imagine myself saying, Il have long
ana d~evotedly loved your daughter
sbs returns my affection, and | come
to ask your consent to our marriage.
aad your blessing
And then the Professor would an
swer: Take her, my boy; take her
and my blessing"
All the way from the church to
/ Clos house we were quite silent,
She most likely thinking ofhow many
bridesmaids could be got in between
the front pew and the pulpit rail, and
| Eliminating on the probable result
Of the impending interview with Ter
father, the Professor. ] can remem-
Der dismissing the subject from my
mind as | bid Clio goodnight, and
stood waiting at he gate to see the
light appear in her window. But an
impertinent policeman and my mis-
cry came upon me, and ! wandered
away TO ny room.
When | entered my room | did not
light the gas, for the chambermaid
knew my wishes, and there was no
fear of my sitting down in the slop-
jar or falling over the bed. | filed
and lighted my pipe, and drew my
chair before the window. 1t was q
wonderful night. The sky was
cloudless, and the moon flooded the
view with its ivory light. The full
foliaged trees stood u like black
~silhouettes against the brightness be-
yond them, and a light breeze that
came yelling up from the south,
stirred their leaves into life and mo-
lion. But moonlight and beauty ill.
ed no place 10 my thoughts As
smoked | mentally drew up a triaI
balance Of probabilities and possible
ties. In the first place, l was 6
young nan with a future before me
and, like . youEg bear, with all my
troubles in the same direction.
was a reporter on the Herald, doing
a great zeal OF work for q very small
/, salary. / had written a story for th'
Atlantic which was eventually pub
| lisheI in the NeW York Weekly, ant
had been complimented by the cit,
editor of the Herald, who said
; wrote up a cattle-sale s~plendidly. S.
; far for myself. On the other hand
the Professor was an elderly mar
prone to statistics and dry, hard fact:
and in whose breast the milk of ku
e man kindness either lay very deep @
0 was completely dried up. He wa
engaged in writinga work on th
e Probable Course taken by Fenis
: in His Expedition From Phenici
to Ireland" ana | suspected that l
did not like me, for be always rea
g the advance sheets to me when
went to call on Clio.
D. Clos mother had been dead son
a. wears, and the Professor, freed fro
&c her control, which report said hs
been of a rather vigorous descriptIe
S felt his liberty, and on that acccu.
D. was a somewhat difficult man to q
preach. Several times | went ovl
IL nv balance-sheet, each time makiI
D. additions; bat when | footed il up,
n found that | was debtor to a ere
n deal, and was credited with very ]
tie.
I'D TWAS a very disagreeable SD
D. ject, and | dismissed it TO turf n
!! attention to the best way ofapproac
ing the Professor on the, TO me, i.
rs portant subject.
His liking for statistics a7d mstt
matical facts made il probable thar
tabular statement of my love aad
'e lection for his daughter would me
his favor; but l had no data up
which TO figure the percentage Of
increase after marriage, and | ga
it up. Ny pecuniary prospects b
We the some fault, but l thought / cou
'v make q fair presentation of nv fan
an ly after the manner of the statemer
~ required By the life insurance men |
III fore they allow you TO contribute
io' their income, like: Age Of uncle,
'ee living. how many and of what 81
give color and occupation"
/ had just filed and lighted L
pipe for The 9th time when o hap
idea came TO me. Why not call l
"a on the Professor that very nigt
Was it very late? Eleven s;rok
be from the clock on the mantel answ,
ell ed that question. | had often c
Id served a light in the Processes
e. study later than that, for | had Fl
n quently made q mistake Of an hour
on two when Clio asked me what I
% time was, rs we stood talking ov
on the gate on which occasion b