The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-08-24
HE STOOD THE TEST.

HE STOOD THE TEST
"Who ever heard of such beastl
provision ?" Valentine Thompson wa
saying, savagely g tell you, Stephen
won't marry the girl if l never inheri
ashllling of Uncle Harvey's money.
don't propose to be victimized merely
for the qualification of an old man'i
whim, and it's nothing but whim yor
know very well-some cranky notion
he's got out of his everlasting novels.
"Steady, my boy," his Cousin Stephen
observed, with quiet twinkle in his
eye, "Perhaps you wouldn't consider
yourself victimized if you were to sec
Miss Lulu. By Jove, Val, fellow
might be proud of such a wife,"
"Not if he had been coerced into
marrying her," was Val's hot-headed re-
j0inder. "That is one thing in which
will not brook interference. I shall
marry whom I choose. 1 may as well
say so first as last"
Stephen whistled softly to himself for
few moments, and then said:
You absolutely refuse compliance
is that what l am to understand ?
Rather than marry Uncle Harvey's
protege, you will forfeit your prospe Ct
tive inheritance, ehP"
Exactly" replied Val, with scorpful
indifference. "When you go back to
town you can tell him So"
Don't be too hasty. my boy" Ste-
phen remarked. "Hadn't you better
see Mise Lulu before you make up your
mindT
"No," Val answered, without hesita.
ton. 1.-THE conditions attending such
a marriage would make it disae reeable
under any circumstances. But I say,
stephen, you seem to have been quite
struck with Miss Welwyn; why don't
you marry her yourself?'
Stephens face flushed slightly, and
he moved uneasily in his chair.
So Oh. I'm confirmed bachelor, VAL
he ssid, with an awkward laugh. '"You
know | am not marrying man."
"Tbat is No reason why on shouldn't
become one," Val sad, stoutly, quite
carried way bv this new idea. "You
could bear her of in triumph, and ".
no doubt Uncle Harvey would be al;
the better satisfied if YOU were to b,
her husband. I'm kind of a scamp
you know bnt You, nv dear Stephen
are man of responsibility"
Thanks; no, Val Stephen said, in
his dry, humorous way "You know
never did get along with the womep
and I'd sooner be shot than court one T.
Nonsensei" Val answered, enthusi
astically. "Tll help you. Nothing
easier, Stephen"
Stephen shook his head.
HTbot'o nm of tho fh;pNe xrbsol,
there can be no cooperation, my dear
boy" he observed.
That's what inexperience says"
Val reJoined. "Pll prove the contrary.
Just let me see Miss Lulu. I'll make
you the burden of my praises. I'll paint
you as little god on wheels. I'll
extol you to the skies, till you present
yourself to her mind as hero of
romance. Young girls are very suscepti-
BILE to that sort of thing, Stephen.
Just say the word, and I'll open the
campaign at once"
"She won't have me, VAL" Stephen
said, but he was obviously wavering,
and his cousin came down with several
other reassuring arguments which won
him over
eff really thought she would marry
me-" he said at last, II might ask her.
But swear, Val, I'd sooner walk up to
a cannon's mouth than have a woman
say No to me-"
"Follow my advice" Val answered,
confidently "Pm an old stager,
back to town, and tell Uncle Harvey
that You have concluded to take the
contract off my hands. By Jove You're
a brick, Stephen. You'll save me from
penury, my dear fellow, for 1 swear ]
wouldn't marry Miss Welwyn under any
consideration, though I have no doubt |
she is an angel"
"You will 90 down to Redner right |
away thenf" Stephen inquired, when
they were parting.
Tomorrow" Val replied. and he
kept his word.
The next day at noon he found him
self in the little library at Welwyn
Woods, chatting with his hostess and
one Of the prettiest girls he had ever
seen. Val was connoisseur in beauty,
too.
"Your uncle told u.s." Mrs. Welwyn
observed, cordially, "that your Cousin
Stephen might be down with you. 1
am sorry he couldn't come.'
He hopes to get away after awhile"
Val replied. "At present he is so en-
tangled in engagements that he hasn't a
leisure. l never saw such
vitality as his. He is perfectly indefati-
gable, though I know there isn't an
other man in town SO much sought
after"
sit seems strange" Mrs. Welwyn re-
"that he should never have
married"
"He is not easily charmed" Val said,
with laugh and suggestive look at
Miss Lulu. "The woman who wins him
will have great triumph"
These were the entering wedges, Val
said to himself, and he deliberately laid
in ambush for occasions to drive them
deeper in.
1t was not q disagreeable task, he
found, for Miss Lulu was q charming
and there was something SO