Litchfield enquirer., 1878-02-07

''Here he is, mamma, tospeak for himself, /" I said, as he entered the room.
 "So, Mir. Tompkins, she abruptly commenc- ed, ''lt seems you and my daughter are engag- ed to be married?''
 ''Not without your consent" he replied, camly.
 This rather took mamma by surprise she did not expect so meek a response, and contin- ued in milder tome
 ''1ou know, we American mothers have a strong prejudice against our daughters marry ing foreigners"
 '1 was not aware of it," he said.
 '1 mean, of course foreigners who are not persons of distinction in their own country."\
 '1 am sorry can lay no claim to any such distinction" he observed.
 . Mamma got rather exaperated by these calm, brief answers.
 ''You are aware my daughter has large fortune of her own ?" she went on, with some- thing approaching sheer in her voice.
 ''lt has been a matter of regret to me for the last month that it is SO, he replied, Gas 1 am absolutely penniless? ?"
 This remark struck me not only as illogical but entirely wanting in common-sense, so in dignantly interposed ''This is matter be- tween Mr. Tomkins and myself, mamma, with which neither you nor papa has any concern whatever"
 ''Well, my dear, will leave you to discuss that question with your father. And now, Mr. Tomkins," continued mamma, ''as you have told us so frankly that you have nothing in the way of money, would kindly inform us what you have in the way of family?"
 l again rushed to the rescue before he had time to say anything.
 ''All the Tomkinses belong to the same fam fly, mamma. You know the Virginia Tomp- kinses spell their name with 'y,' and claim to be descended from the original Tompkyns who came over to Virginia with Captain Smith. It is now historically proved that he was best man on the occasion of the Captains marriage with Pocahontas don't you remem- Der, dear mamma :?
 I knew the history of her own country. was not her strong point, and that she could not contradict me- Obadiah is ayounger branch of the same family" I continued; 'are you not?" And I turned to him with an express ion as nearly conveying wink, as l thought safe.
 ''Very much younger indeed" he replied 'I am afraid my branch only goes back one generation"
 "Only one generation '" exclaimed mamma. ''What do you mean? you must have grand father!"
 Two madam" said Obadiah, very stiffly; ''but 1 only know the name of one, and it was not Tompkins, it was Jones, which was my mothers name."
 ''Then you don't know who you fathers fa- ther was?"
 q do not, said Obadiah, and he drew him. self up with an air of naughty dignity which made him look superb, as if in his absence of pedigree he defiedthe world. It proved to me that the pride of no birth could be more con- manding even than the pride of birth. It seem- ed to COW mamma for an instant, and l took advantage of the pause to exclaim enthusiast cally, "Why, know my grandfather was on- ly gardener; and though you don't know it, perhaps yours was a lord" Then 1 got very red, and felt somehow 1 ought not to have said it.
 'Irene, am ashamed of you," said man. ma, sternly. "You see, Mir. Tompkins," she went on, "while in our own democratic coun- try we are not usually very particular in mak ing inquiries into the origin of the families with which we contract alliances, provided the money is forthcoming it is not the same where foreigners are concerned. We wish our daughters to move in the very highest circles in the country of their adoption by marriage With our democratic views it is very disagree able for girl to encounter the possibility of having to walk in after anybody because of the accident of her husbands birth. This is why really no American girl should by rights ever marry any less than duke and then," she added, thoughtfully, ''supposing he was not the premier duke, she might still be placed in an inferior position to the premier duchess. Now here is 1rene's own cousin Flora married to Lord Huckleberry just think if she were to meet Irene in society as Mrs. Tompkins, what difference there would be in the posi- tion of the two girls I am quite sure Irene, you could not bear it." and she turned to me.
 our daughter would never be called upon to bear it." said Obadiah; ''she would never, as my wife, be likely to move in any society where she would meet Lady Huckleberry."
 Worse and worse," said mamma-and confess did not much relish the prospect but it was far better than that other fate had nerved myself to encounter for Obadlah's sake so determined to put a bold face on the mat ter.
 If ex-President Grant could stand going in after people, suppose I could," I said, with pOut; ''at any rate, l am not going to give up Obadiah for all the Lady Huckleberrys in the world.' You see was becoming desparate was rewarded by the grateful look my lover turned upon me.
 "Well, my dear" said mamma, with bit ter sheer, 1T have said everything that as mother it was my duty to say; you may please yourself-only don't reproach me if you are unhappy in your degradation, and don't ex- pect me to come and pay you a visit, to be looked down upon as the mother of Mrs. Oba- diah Tompkins. 1 shall go and stay with Flora at Huckeberry Castle, and we can meet at railway stations or in picture galleries"
 With this my mother marched solemnly from the room, and left me to console myself with my darling. Obadiah was good deal surprised at the suddenness with which she and said English mothers did not give in so easily; but 1 explained that as the daughters here never gave in at all, and as, after all, it was l. and not she who was going to be married, she knew very well that sooner or later she would have to beat retreat. and, like wise woman. she saved her dignity by not allowing herself to be drawn any further into struggle which could only end in defeat He was very much relieved at the unexpected turn affairs had taken, "nd we sat together on the couch and had a lovely time.
 In spite of my mothers threat, my father directly avoided any encounter with me on the subject of finance. Where she had been van pushed, he felt that he had no chance, and he himself with behaving as rudely as possible to my intended upon all occasions.
 Obadiah at once agreed to postpone indefi- nitely his journey to the country of the Flutes, and content qlmself with the skull which of fered him as a substitute and in order to avoid dHy plOtldCIOo SOSSlp HI AcSdlu IO OuI dldlIS we determined that our marriage should take place with the least possible delay, and in the most private manner. Mamma, of course would have nothing to do with the prepara- tions, though my parents were both to be present at the ceremony and oontented my self with Rose Poppinjay and Edith Persim- mon as bridesmaids while Charlie, who, must say, is always willing to make himself useful, did duty for Obodiah, to whom had him some time before, in the hope that he might take advantage of the opportu- ty to improve his mind.
 We were were married in the little church round the corner, and started immediately af- forwards to spend quiet fortnight at Levox. As my fortune produced an income of about e12, 900 sterling year, Obadiah agreed with me that there was no spot better adapted than London for spending it. So in due time we took our passage in Cunarder; and I once more turned my back upon my native city, to begin life under entirely new conditions AL most the first person l met upon the deck was, to my amazement Edith Persimmon.
 "Why, Edith '"
 ''WhY Irene !'