Evening star., 1884-07-19
CLEVERNESS OF PARADISE.

Old Mr.. Paradise was a vulgar old gentleman,
whose chief merit was that he had raised him.
self by his own industry and ability from the
| humblest origin to the position Of merchant
prince. He had an only daughter. Of whose
beauty and accomplishments he was not un-
| justly proud. But, though he was an indulgent
father in most things, he made no secret Of bis
intention that she should marry whom he
pleased, and not choose husband for herself.
Like most selfmade men, he desired q sOn-in-
law as rich as himself and was particularly on
his guard against needy fortune hunters. Un-
fortunately, he had not the tact to discriminate
between the latter class and would-be suitors
whose prospects would, In the opinion of a less
exacting parent, have justified them in aspiring
to his daughters hand For instance nothing
could be reasonably urged against young Ache<
son Balbernie, whose admiration for Ethel Para
disc was honest and undisguised. He was ad-
jutant to his regiment had qualified for staff
appointment and was regarded as highly
promising young officer. Beside being o gen.
tieman by birth and education he had q very
fair private income and in short, most parents
would have regarded him as rather good
match But MIR. Paradise was by no means sat-
lsned with the young mans prospects and posi-
tiOn. and when it began to dawn upon him that
matters were getting serious he Immediately
assumed hostile and aggressive attitude.
Il shall have to give that young Balbernie q
DIT OF my mind, Loo" he remarked to his wife
In an Ominous tone one afternoon. observing the
young man In an animated conversation with
Miss Ethel. Hes always coming here"
I'm sure. John. you particularly asked him
here yourself" said Mrs. Paradise. uneasily.
Il asked the whole garrison for that matter" :"
he returned. sharply. If he had any proper
feeling he'd have stopped away"
Why" inquired hIswite.
'Why3 Because he isn't wanted here, that's
NJ Do Srx,,nn
what he is up to Is as plain as a pikestaff-he 8
after our Ethel"
'Well, I'm sure John he Is a very nice Young
man" his wife ventured to say
He isn't good enough for me, and I'll tell
him so at once" said Mr.. Paradise, moving off
toward the tennis ground with an angry frown
stay minute. john" said his wife. i'm
plorlngiy, II wouldn't say anything to him. If
| were you-not to-day. IL think Ethel likes
him. john"
WHAT roared old Mr.. Paradise, growing
very red in the face ''You think the girl likes
MIN, and you've never said word to me'
Poor Mrs. Paradise looked painfully guilty,
and seemed completely annihilated by her hus-
bands furious Indignation. She was gentle
meek spirited lady. who had long ago realized
the truth of the old adaee that riches do not
constitute happiness. When she married Mr..
Paradise he wasa struggling clerk, and In those
days his temper was certainly easier to put up
with. Prosperity had rendered him dietatOrial
I'd u upGTee WHICH ca1lSeU UIfQ
TO develop into a domestic tyrant Forgetting
his own origin. he was keeny conscious of his
wife'S hOmellness and defective education and
attributed entirely to her the GOODNESS with
Whlcn the more exclusive of their neighbOrs re-
garded them. lie repaid her devotion by sort
OF c0ntemptuous tolerance, though he sometimes
showed remOrSe when he had been more than
usually harsh to her, and thereby demonstrated
that his old affection had not entirely died AWAY
On this occasion, however, there was no sign
OF tenderness in the manner with which he re-
garded her, He stood over her with his hands
in his pockets, and his thick eyebrows Knitted
together in an ugly frown, as he said:
There been some hanky-panky going on
It's no use trying to deceive me. How do you
Know Ethel likes the young fellow?"
We'll. | think So" said Mrs Paradise shrink
Ing beneath his gaze.
You mean you know it. She told you So 1
suppose" he exclaimed reading her mind as
clearly as though she had spoken
1es. John. she did tell me so," said Mrs.
Paradise, with guilty start.
Il suppose yOu are going on to say they have
not engaged, and you've been encouraging
them behind my back" he said, still tiercely in
terrOgating her.
Ethel knows she cannot consider herself en-
gagged without your consent john" said his
wife, plucking up little spirit from sheer dps-
peration. When She told me. said the mat
Ter must be kept secret until l had asked if YOU
mad any objection. L thought it better that |
should break the news to you before Mr.. Bal
bernie spoke"
We'll. won't keep him long in suspense; and
shall have word to say to YOU afterwarJ
Loo, about what think OF your conduct. said
Mr. Paradise. pale with anger, and controlling
himself with great effort. as he walked toward
the door.
John! John." she cried after him, half rising
from her seat.
''Well.' he said. impatiently, over his shoul-
der.
Think of poor Ethel John," murmured his
wife.
Il am thinking of her, only you and don't
think alike on the subject" he Lrowled.
Poor Mrs Paradise sank back i'm her chair
with very frightened look upon her face. and
then endeavored to compose herself to chat
with neighbor who had just called She had
done her BEST poor thing, to avert the scene
which threatened her daughters happiness
She knew her husband too well to hone that he
would consent to the engagement, and the Mt
most she had striyen for was. to mitigate the
harshnesS of his refusal. Unfortunately even
IN this respect her interference proved unavai-
ing. Old Mr.. Paradise furious at the idea of
having been made the victim OF a conspiracy.
did not measure the language in which he ac-
cused young Babernie of mercenary motives
When he chose to be deliberately insulting.
there was no one who could carry out his inten-
tons more efectually. His command of coarse
invective was only equalled by his utter want
OF delicacy and gentiemanly feeling, and the
abuse he lavlshed upon his daughters lover
left him no alternative but to declare that he
would never enter the house again
When young Balbernie wrote to Ethel Para-
disc the next day. expressing his unaterable
devotion to her, but stating his resolve never to
harken her fathers doors again. the girl felt
compelled. under the circumstances. to write
aud release him from his engagement However
splritlesS and cOd-hearted the course NAV an
pear. it was undoubtedly the proper one to
pursue and Mrs. Paradise Joined with her hus-
band IN approving her action. 1t soon became
evident, however, that the poor girl had mis-
calculated her forttude In making so great a
sacrifice She had broken off the engagement
less from fear OF her father than from a proper
feeling OF pride. But the loss Of her lover
proved blow which seriously affected her
health The upshOt was that she was sent away
from home to stay with some friends In the
north. while her fathers satisfaction at having
got rid of yOurg Balbernie was considerably
diminished 10y the suffering he had caused his
child.
Meanwhile Acheson Balbernie's regiment had
been ordered to another part of the country
and old Mr.. Paradise neither saw or heard any-
thing OF him for some time. After an absence
OF nearly three months. Ethel returned home
having apparently entirely recovered from her
disappointment. Old Dir. Paradise whose pride
ana affection were centered in his daughter
was immensely relieved by the Improvement he
perceived in her. and telt that ut length he could
honestly congratulate himself upon having in
terfered to prevent what he considered would
have been most unfortunate marriage. One
day. however, he was walking through the
grounds attached to his house, when he met his
daughters maid hurrying toward the large
gates with letter in her hand. Something sus-
10 iris