The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1879-10-08
IN THE SHAWANGUMS.

Mr. Slingerland Valentine sat in his
capacious armchair, his hands resting
on its broad arms, his forehead puck
cred up in nest of wrinkles, his eyes
staring with intense, puzzled thought
fulness out through the window OF his
room into the beauties of the park be-
yond. -.
81 wonder what ever possessed me, !"
he thought 81 do wonder what ever
possessed me? Here am, fifty
years old, and fool enough to imagine L
couldn't get along the rest of my life
as well as heretofore, and must go and
actually ask pretty little Effie Herman
to marry me-marry me v
As if. the idea was appalling, Mr..
Valentine arose from his chair and
begun a restless, desperate sort OF
promenade around the room.
",Not that she isn't the sweetest lit
- sesture that ever lifted pair OF
blue ewes to mans face-a dainty,
flower like girl, whom anybody would
love: but to think-why, what con-
founded fool I've been, and L old
enough to. be her grandfather Fl"
A stern, half-indignant look came
to his eyes, and he paused minute
as if to more fully appreciate the folly
of his position
"Of course it's impossible the child
cares for me; of course it's my money
that has won her, and the consent
of her mother. Well, and the hale
robust old gentleman drew long
deep sigh, and plunged resignedly
into the depths of his Turkish chair
again. "Well, there's no getting out
of it now. I'm not the first man thai
has made a fool of himself over q
pretty face, but at fifty seven, Singer
land Valentine, you certainly wer'
supposed to know betterl"
And then he solaced himself witt
mans infallible comfort, choice cigar
while, in another room in a prett,
little cottage not very tar away, Eff
Herman was sitting. in the vine
wreathed bay window, making an ex
quisite picture of herself among tn
swaying foliage, and looking very be
witchingly frowning, as she flashed
glance from her blue eyes across tn
~tySs-at her mother sitting stately an
v giant in her gothic back chair.
I" never hoped to hear such noI
sense from child of mine, Effie. Tn
idea of not wanting to marry Mr.. Va
entinel Why, he can give you every
thing in the world YOU can think o
To be his wife means a bridal tour t
Europe; to be mistress of his mag
nificent mansion on Fifth avenue;
dispense hospitality at his Lon
Branch villa; to have command OF a
that is luxurious, elegant, in ever
sense. And you don't want to MARI
himl"
Fife pouted her red lips.
"No, | don'tl Mamma, your sid
of the picture is very tempting, bl
my side all the time keeps shown
me a fat, bald-headed stumpy oil
man, who wears false teeth and paC
his coat, and tries to look and act ,
if he were twenty years younger tina
he is. Mamma, | don't want to MARI
him at all /"
And something very like sob can
piteously from the girls lips.
"You ought to be ashamed of you
SELF" Mrs. Herman said, severed
You shall not be allowed to thro
away such a chance for the sake
sickly sentiment. You know what
struggle my life has been on accou
and obscurity; and l I
solved, years ago, to save you from
like fate"
Fife opened her blue eyes widely
poverty, obscurity, mammal WI
/ think we have a lovely home, al
enough of everything"
"That will do, Effiel You ne
bring no imaginary arguments to co
flute my assertions; and, as far as N
Valentine is concerned, your word
pledged, and the wedding day set
July twenty-fifth."
Z Then sudden little resolution sho
8 in Efie's eyes, and she ceased toyi
with the swaying spray of strawber
plant.