Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-05-04
when You speak to me 1 an, anxious 70

l A N1AhCu utllUCIdAC4Y 10 Inc
window, and looked out. Maurice
closed his letter and gave it to a lad
who was waiting.
Ice, he said. brisklv, as he closed the
door and resumed his seat.
The father turned his back to the win
dow and faced his son. There was a
brighter look upon the face than he
had seen for long tine. and it con-
trasted singularly with the gravity Ct
his own.
'Do you know what date this is?'' he
asked, quietly. 49, t -
"Wednesday, fourteenth September, &"
was the prouIpt reply. p. III
And are you aware that in six
months shall have to leave Calthorpe: :"
q" have not forgotten it, sir, but /
thought that, so far as Twas concerned,
we had spoken our last upon the sub, ect
unless l should have found the means TO
enable on TO retain the place.
well, YOU have not found the
Teans, and, although they are within
your reach, YOU obstinately refuse to
secure them.
Maurice was silent.
You accept the position so compla.
Gently that find it difficult to believe
YOU thoroughly rea ize all that this
means To me. -rl--.-
"felievc me. sir. have thought OF II
very anxiously and often. but Won
gave me to understand that you YOUR
self were satisfied that il was be, ond
my Tower To- do rs YOU wished. You
gave me 10 understand that You were
ready TO meet the misfortune with res
ignatiOn, since IL cou'd not be helped. 6"
MIR. Ca'thorpe took n chair and seated
himself opposite his son.
And so was. and so l am prepared
TO accept the misfortune with rcsigna.
tion-proyidrd it can not be helped.
But 1t is one thing TO he content to sink
when there Is no POSSIBLE ~ of keeping
your head abo water; il is quite
another tn resi- n yourself to going down
when you see some one near YOU who
has only To stretch out his hand TO save
you from drowning. That is precisely
our position"
a" am afraid can not see it exactly
IN orr way"
IL am afraid that | must really lose
patience with YOU. Now, my dear
Maurice, do consider how we stand
from cOmmon-Sensc point of view. /
do not pretend To be able To enter into
your cxa ted feelings in regard to
matr.mony, and | certa My do not APP
preciate the course of conduct which
they induce you to pursue"
Maurice rested his elbow on the
table, shading his eyes with his hand.
- think You will admit Mr.. Cal
thorpe went on. THAT since our mem
orable interview at home l have not
pressed this subject upon YOU"
THAT is so. "
81 own that | did hope, | will even
20 so tar as t. admit that l expected,
TN .ngs would right themselves"
This was said aS If he were making
a generous admission to the advantage
of his opponent i'm argument.
And you have been disappointed,
"On your part. most emphat cally.
No one can admire independence of
character more than | do; no one can
be more ready to assert that independ-
encc than | am, on due occasion. But
you are installing the prom tinos of
wounded vanity for honorable indie
pendence.
81 hope not"
1T is so. | assure YOU; any man with
the slightest eNper encc of the world
would tell you the same. Just suppose
for an instant that the positions had
been revers d. Suppose that the lady
was Lucy Smith and that YOU had in a
moment OF passion said to her The I'M
pleasant things she said to you-would
YOU not be sorry a'terward. aud regard
her as acting unkindly as well as fool.
ishly, II she gave YOU no opportunity OF
making amends?'
Very likely should; but l do not
think that YOU grasp the position, and
IL IS impossible To imagine what might
happen If she were a man and ! a wom-
an. answered Maurice without uncov-
ering his eyes, and there was a curious
husklness in his voice, as if tn absurd
ity of his fathers suggestion had dis
posed him 10 laughter in spite of the
earnestness with which IT had been
made.
"Then You mean to persist in your
insane course?'
lit is too late TO alter it now"
This doggcdness was very trying to
the father, open rebellion he could un.
derstand and deal with but this dull,
passioniess re e-tion of reason was
most irritating. and this insensibilitv TO
every ordinary feeling of sclf-interest
was rs incomprchensiblc TO Mr.. La
thorpe rs II was apparently insur-
mOuntable. They had come to a dead
lock.
Very we'll" said Mr.. Claiborne,
rising slowly, "we need not prolong
this painful conversation NAV men.
ton. however. that have this morning
received an invitation TO luncheon at
Colonel Cuthberts il is wri ten by
Mss Cuthbert, and i'm postscript she
tells me that she particularly wishes TO
sec me: Have you no friendly word to
send?'
"No."
Mr.. CalthOrpe waited for n moment
rs if hoping that Maurice would yet re.
lent Then, sarcastiCally:
MAY not even convey your con.
gratulations on her forthcoming mar
riage2"
'.Oh yes certainly, replied Maurice,
with symptoms of agitat on ut last
"1Ou may congratulate her for me If
YOU like; and you may tell her at the
same time thai also am about TO be
married" -
Your Jest. sir, is not agreeable or
h'hittN anu oouuh> SoiiltWiidt llkc MOCK
cry of me-
You are mistaken, father, it is no
Jest, and do not mean to be offensive
To you. Z intended il 10 be pleasant
surprise"
Mr.. Ca'thorTe surveyed his son with
an expression of mingled du5.ety and
vcNat.On.
You to be married." he exclaimed,
CLOSING his sheer with pretended lay
iulness; Ito another landlady's daugh-
ter. | presume, or some pretty Oxford
street mi liner"
You have made a very bad guess. !
have no fear that you will be discon-
tente when you know the lady" said
Maurice. smiling at his fathers 'orts
to maintain his air of calm po.iteness
MAY l bc permitted to inquire what
is her name?''