Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-12-18
CHAPTER III.

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befallen us, but in approaching the
subject found thatit was more than she
could endure, and relinquished the eff
fort in despair. To my sister | VEN
tured to tell the truth, and she wept
bitterly, not for herself, but for our only
parent, whom she assured me would in
evitably expire on hearing the news.
us there nothing on earth that you
can do, Edward, to prevent this?"
| Yes"
| "And won't you do it?''
II cannot bring my mind to it,"
as it dishonest"
"No-o; l don't know that 1t is, but
very repugnant to my feelings"
Il am sure | would do anything for
mother"
"Would you marry the man you alb
hor ?"
''To save mothers life-yes.''
"Well, then, will not be outdone by
you in filial affection;''
''What do YOU mean Edwards
81 will tell you tomorrow. In the
meantime, cheer up. | will save
mother and you, but at great sacrifice
heaven only knows how great"
My sister flung her arms about my
neck, and kissed me affectionately, call
ed me by many endearing names, and
felt as if I almost deserved them, ex-
aggerated as they were.
[ communicated my decision to my
lawyer the next day, telling him that
since | could not larry for love, | would
marry for hate He uttered SO TT of
grunt, and replied:
"Few marriages begin in that way
but with too manly love is merged in
antipathy as soon as the honeymoon is
well over. Your prospect of connubial
happiness is the brighter, as it cannot
change but for the better. If you knew
the lady as we'll as [ do you would en-
terrain no misgivings on the subject. ="
On the second day after the interview
| received Mrs. Barrington's card, and a
written request from my lawyer that [
would call upon her without delay, as
he had settled the preliminaries in the
most satisfactory manner. [ did not
fly on the wings of love to the stately
mansion Of my bride elect, but stalked
thither like man who had volunteered
to be hanged. On my arrival [ was
ushered into handsome drawing room,
into which [ was kept waiting for about
a quarter of an hour, when, at last the
lady appeared She did not look hand
somer than when I had met her on the
stairs leading to my lawyers Office.
On the contrary the relation she now
stood in with respect to myself, and the
inery she had piled upon her person
rendered her, in my eyes, more hideous
than ever. responded to her saluta-
ton, and remained silent for few mo-
ments. She appeared DESTROYS of man.
ifestlng certain measure OF maidenly
cOyness, and [ was disposed to al
low her all the leisure she required for
the performance of the part. When
she had enacted the role to her satisfac-
ton, and lost little patience, she open
ed upon me with the voice of dying
screech owl, that made me shudder:
Well, Mr.. Ingleton, the object of
your visit is, presume"
Yes, madam, it is as you say, to
propose Tor your hand and heart; they
are conventionally supposed to 60 to-
gether-"
MY hand and hearth" she exclaim-
ed, laughing.
Momus, god of mirth, what a laugh
it was A ruined hurdy-gurdy, a
maniac's scream and the 'serenade of a
starving cat combined were music to it.
eyes, madam; and does this appear
SO absurd to you?"
" Extravagantly So"
"My lawyer has been authorized by
me to make formal proposition, which
he has given me to understand has been
favorably received Has he deceived
me"
| |" Not at all; but you have made a
slight mistake in the person"
Are you not Mrs. Darlington - =
That Is my name, but presume
you refer to my niece" ii
This is very ridiculous. Shall I
nave the pleasure of seeing the right
lady?'
''In a moment She sent me to pre-
pare you for her coming"
| do not see the necessity"
presume not. [ will explain, al
| tboruh tho ~, bi oct Is n Ia1iaato ono fo