The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-12-23

sets the pretty. soft cut mouth.
els be coming tonight, papaP"
You will find him, | have not the
slightest doubt, at the house before you
1t would be hypocrisy for him to pro
fess any grief for that old skintiint uncle
and Harry is no hypocrite-
You have seen him since his uncle's
deathP"
Certainly, Katie, and was the first
to congratulate bim. l trust you with.
draw your objections to my suit now
sir!' he says to me, in his naughty
way; lam John Hatton's heir after
alli' A trifle hot-headed is Harry, but
a good fellow in the main-oh! a very
good fellow! ! 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 tc
keep it-a cool hundred thousand, if s
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.
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. l warn you
don't let us have any of them here, il
you want 10 be Harry Hatton's wife
The lad has come fairly by his fortune
lot him boon II in ppaoa ~
They are at the house with the last
words-words harshly and menacingly
spoken. They go together into the
parlor, and there, as Mr.. Englehart has
predicted, they find young Hation alone.
A tall and proper fellow, this Harry
Hatton, with a handsome face, and
eager, happy eyes.
AT last" he cries, coming forward,
both hands outstretched, "just as pa
tience was ceasing to be a virtue.
Thank you for bringing her, Mr.. Engle-
hart. Come 10 the register, Katie, and
warm those cold little paws. Has our
statel y papa been telling you the good
newsPn
He draws her forward, eyes, smile,
all alight with love and joy. Last
night he was in despair-last night this
coy 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-
fused hi n-to-night he was rich man,
and Katie might be his for the asking.
Papa Englehart, after a genial, father
in-law sort of q nod, had slipped away
and left them together.
why don't you speak, little girlP"
cries jubilant Harry, or has the power
of speech been frozen within your Wish
me merry Christmas, Katie, and con-
gratulate me on my capital fortune"
she looks up a5 him with eyes fnll of
wistful love.
~ wish you merry Christmas with
all my heart, Harry; but congratulate
you on whatF"
"Why, hasn't the dear old dad been
telling youp Then wonders will never
cease. Oh, p.haw! OF course he has
told you that my uncle is dead?"
Poor old Mr.. Hatton-yes, l know
he is dead"
And all is mine, Katie, all. And
next April the old house shall have a
new mistress, and Harry Ratton shall
have a 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
"Keep it?" Harry looks at her in
wonder. by Jove, what q question
What should do with it but keep it?''
Resign it to Rose Hat.on - Mrs.
Andrews. now-to whom it rightfully
belongs"
GA most likely idea, and quite worthy
of Katie Englehart. / have had poverty
and hard work for even-and-twenty
} ears, and now when the golden shower
tails in my arms l 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 tor more"
$50 | perceive" she says, quietly,
though she is trem bling as she stands.
She draws a ring off Ler 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-
Katie, he exclaims, "you don't
mean thisP"
Il mean it, Harry. If papa had let
me, 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
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.
But this is all nonsense, Katie" he
cried, impatiently; "sheer nonsense
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 disinheritcd, as she
deserved. am his sisters son, and to
me what she resigned has fallen"
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, Il will seek out my cous in
Rosie, and if she leaves her beast of q
husband, I'll provide for her and the
little ones. Will that satisfy youP"
I" L 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
light"
He comes close ani stands before her
his eyes flashing angrily.
+" must either choose between re-
signing you or my uncle's fortuneP"
"You must"
"If l resign it, / am a pauper as be-
fore, and your father will order me iron
his doors. You will not disobey youl
father, so in either case am to LOST
you"
Il love you, Harry" she says, with
gasp. % would watt"