San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-05-25

even ING ieas' 'iiy oi'' iet me have thu
comfort of hearing you say SO. Dons
you know that love you, my darlinas
loved you from the first moment &,
think-from the very day that Won .n
came to this old house. Could Won csr a
for me, dearestP viii you be my wife,S
"Perhaps-I could care" faltered
Hilda. "But-my father doesn't-n
Snow why should We talk of Won,
fatherP" broke in the impetuous lovsr
from overhead. "If love you, and
you-like me, all the fathers in N.
world sha'nt stand between us. Nv
way is all clear now, dear Hilda. can
make you comfortable, and OH WON'T
try to make you happy Just say .Yes.,
and the rest is easy. Only one word
dear love"
cit might be easy to say yes per.
haps"-began Hilda. But an austere
voice interrupted her:
"My daughter, what are you doing
here at this hour, and with whom ara
you conversingP" asked Pastor Lubke
There he stood behind her, dim and
appalling shape. Hilda shivered-her
voice failed. Erasmus, his courage ris.
ing with the occasion, answered in her
stead:
"She was speaking to me, sir-or
rather it was who was speaking to her,
l was telling Miss Hilda what should
have come this very evening to tell you,
sir, if this opportunity had not arisen
that have news which makes it need.
full for me to 60 away, and that can
not 60 without saying that love her,
and want her to be my wife, if she will"
His voice faltered and broke.
"And pray, sir, who are your" asked
the pastor grimly.
"My name is Erasmus Stockton. My
father was Judge Stockton, of Dan.
bury-all my connections are respecta-
ble," replied Erasmus, succinctly. 81
can refer you topeople whom you know
for my character and prospects. have
a little money now, and Smith & Petrie,
of New York, have offered S1o,0OOfor
an air-brake of my invention, which is
just patented. l can afford to keepa
wife, Mr.. Lubke."
"And pray where have you learned
to take so great an interest in my
daughter Hildap"
cover this fence,'' answered Eras-
mus stoutly. Pastor Lubke gave a
grim little laugh.
"Such things are not to be settled in
a minute, my young FRIEND" he said.
"Youth is always in hurry. Hilda,
you had better go in. If you will fol-
low me to my study, Mr.-ahem!-
Stockton, we will talk farther Of this
matter"
"Follow by way of the gate, was
what the good pastor meant; and he
was by no means prepared for what
namely, his young friends
vaulting the fence like an acrobat, and
gaining the garden at single bound.
Hurrah, darling!" he whispered to
Hilda as the pastor led the way through
the garden. " The fence is climbed. l
always vowed that would get over
some day or other, and 1 have"
And so it proved. There were some
bitches, some delays. Erasmus was not
allowed to marry Hilda next week, as
was his first wild proposition, or even
next month. "Sister's - wheel buzzed
like great bumble-bee all summer
long, and busy fingers toiled over the
outfit through winter days and
spring days, before Hilda was pro-
nounced by her family "ready" to be-
gin her new life. A years engagement
even seemed a disgracefully short one
% "Sister." Had not their own mother
oeen betrothed for seven before she
married papa? But at last, spite OF de-
avs and scruples, the long waiting
ended, and Erasmus bore away his
bride. He scandalized his sisters-in-law
greatly by proposing to carry her over
he fence, as the road by which he HIM
elf had come in, but this was over
'uled, and they departed prosaicallyin
banL lilo otbor LridaS and Ur0OnlS.
And so we leave our little pair, as like
y, for all can see, to "live happy ever
fter" as any prince and princess OF
airy tale. For fairy tales, however
anciful, must strike their roots always
n solid basis of every day content
nent, and, given the contentment, one