Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-12-23

you merry Christmas, my dear Katie,
give you leave to name the day."
A strange light comes into the brown
eyes; strangely resOlute expression
sets the pretty. soft-cut mouth.
:. Is he coming tonight. papap"
stYou will find him, l have not tbt
slightest doubt, at the house before you
1t would be hypocrisy for him to pro
fess any grief for that old skinfiint uncle
and Harry is no hypocrite-
you have seen him since his uncle's
deathP"
Certainly, Katie, and was the first
to congratulate bim. i trust you with.
draw your objections to my suit now,
sir!' he says to me, in his naughty
way; lam John Hatton's heir aftel
ALP A trifie hot-headed is Harry, but
a good fellow IN the main-oh! very
good fellowl / have no doubt, Katie
he will make you an excellent husband
He means to keep this fortune,
thenp" his daughter says, and says it in
! SO odd voice that her father looks al
her, puzzled.
keep itP What do you mean
What should he do but keep ito By
George! should think he did mean to
keep it-a cool hundred thousand, if q
dollar! May ask what you mean by
the question:"
Not now, papa, please; / will see
Harry first, " she answers, in the same
strange voice-a very quiet voice,
though it startles her father.
g Look here, my girl" he says, sternly.
know you of old-know your high
drawn Quixotic notions about things
in general, and points of honor and
conscience in particular. / warn you,
don't let US have any of them here, if
you want to be Harry Hatton's wife.
The lad has come fairly by his fortune
let him keep it in peace"
They are at the house with the last
woTds-words harshly and menacingly
spoken. They go together into the
parlor, and there. as Mr.. Englehart has
predicted, they find young Hatton alone.
A tall and proper fellow, this Harry
Hatton, with handsome face, and
eager, happy eyes.
'sAt last" he cries, coming forward,
both hands outstretched, 'tjust as pa
tience was ceasing to be virtue.
Thank you for bringing her, Mr.. Engle-
hart. Come 10 the register, Katie, and
warm those cold little paws. Has our
stately papa been telling you the good
news?"
He draws her forward, eyes, smile,
all alight with love and Joy. Last
night he Was in despair-last night this
eozy parlor had been forbidden ground.
Sorrow and weeping had endured for
the night, but JOY had come with the
morning. This time yesterday he had
been beggar, and Katie had been re-
used hi n-to-night he was a rich man,
and Katie might be his for the asking.
Papa Englehart, after genial, father
in-law sort of nod, had slipped away
and left them together.
Why don't you speak, little gir1p"
cries iubilant Harry, g or has the power
# speech been frozen within you? Wish
ne merry Christmas. Katie, and con-
sratulate me on my capital fortune"
She looks up st him with eyes full of
Tistful love.
81 wish you merry Christmas with
all my heart, Harry; but congratulate
you on whatP"
why, hasn't the dear old dad been
telling you? Then wonders will never
cease, Oh, pshaw! OF course he has
told you that my uncle is deadP'
Poor old Mr.. Hatton-yes, know
he is dead
"And all is mine, Katie, all. And
next April the old house shall have
new mistress, and Harry Ratton shall
have q new wife. Why don't you
speakP Why don't you smile? What
is the matter with you tonight"
" Harry. you mean to keep this in
heritance?"
keep itP' Harry looks at her in
wonder. By Jove, what question!
What should [ do with it but keep it?7'
Resign it to Rose Hatson Mrs.
Andrews now-to whom it rightfully
belongs"
A most likely idea, and quite worthy
of Katie Englehart. / have had poverty
and hard work for seven-and-twentY
years, and now when the golden shower
falls in ny arms / am to resign it to
Rose Andrews and her drunken brute Of
a husband No. no, Katie; in the nine
teenth century men keep all they get,
and they ask for more"
So | pereeive.n she SAYS, quietly.
though she is trembling as she stands.
She draws a ring of her finger and lays
it on the table before him. "Our en-
gagement ends tonight, then, Mr.. Hat
ton. Here is your ring"
He stands gazing at her, utterly be-
wildered.
Katie" he exclaims, "you don't
mean thisPn
Il mean it. Harry. If papa had let
me, l would have been your wife in
your poverty-oh, so gladly-and
worked for you and with you with all
my heart; but now-now that you take
the portion of that woman-worse than
widowed-of those children, worse than
fatherless-I would die first"
The gentle eyes flashed, into the pale
cheeks an indignant glow leaped, and
the soft, tender voice rang out as he had
never heard it before.
6 But this is all nonsense, Katie" he
cried, impatiently; ''sheer nonsensel
ask your father "a smile crossed Katie's
lips" ask anybody if this money is not
fairly mine. Rose Hatton, headstrong,
obstinate schoolgirl, elopes with
scoundrel who only seeks her fathers
money, and she is disinherited, as she
deserved. / am his sisters son, and to
me what she resigned has fallen"
s'Her father forgave her before he
died, and would have made another will
if another day had been given him."
"Look here, Katie" says Hatton, still
impatiently; @I will seek out my cousin
Rosie, and if she leaves her beast of a
husband, I'll provide for her and the
little ones. Will that satisfy your"
Il knew Rose Hatton," Katie an
swers. She was proud and obstinate,
and she would die of starvation sooner
than accept as charity what is hers by
tight"
He comes close and stands before her,
his eyes flashing angrily.
81 must either choose between re-
signing you or my uncle's fortunepn
You must
II resign it, am pauper as be-