Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-07-18

e00uI0 0O0OCloo8 ENJOY ~ ana nave Q
royal time, but then should be 30 very
far from" he paused, tribe embar-
raised:
"From Miss Laura selden, You mean,
I suppose, !" finished his father, laugh
ingly. "By the way, ! met her ont
driving during this morning, and she
In calling ON her. ! imagined you
made her residence the Mecca Of
your usual morning rides. Well, you
have my sanction to your suit, you
know"
meant nothing Of tho kind" said
the young man impatiently. Miss
Selden regard as an estimable and
charming young lady, but matri-
monially, We are as far asunder as the
poles. I supposed may ~ well inform
you now as again that my heart Is IT.
revocably given to the loveliest girl IN
Philadelphia.
1t was an unexpected announcement,
but General Cr0zland took 1t with
the same GOODNESS with which he had
often taken the rife shots of the rebels
In days gone by! His practiced eye
dwelt with the same steady light on the
face Of his son, as he said !:
Indeed she 10 your equal In birth
Of course, and 1 hope In fortune. No
Croy land has ever yet married beneath
him. What is her name ?'' "Ray
Reno" was the answer, and his voice
held . softer cadence ~ he uttered the
name. Ray Reno r. repeated the
General, 1t sounds STACEY. Do her
parents reside in Philadelphia"
Ralph Croyland saw q conflict ahead,
but having decided his course he was
not the man to finch one iota before
the enemy and the thought of the fair
girl for whose sake he was about to
brave his fathers anger nerved him to
the task
Her parents are dead, and she has
no relatives in this country. She
makes her home with the widow Of o
diseased clergyman, and she earns her
bread by the glorious voice God has
given her. l have told her of my love.
and II you could only See her l know
you would consent to our union" He
paused and waited for his father to
speak.
During this speech General Croy-
lands face had hardened to adamant,
and when at last he broke the silence
nothing could be more coldly positive
than his determination.
4Ou 0bk ulO W iIlSball h6 bU6 uOnOTcu
mistress of Cr0ylands-to accept as my
common opera singer, who has nothing
in the world to recommend her but a
pretty face. You must be mad to think
ofsuch thing. Why, would as soon
sanction your marriage with one Of my
kitchen maids. You can never marry
her with my consent"
"Then l fear shall be compelled to
do 1t without" was the reply, given in
a tone as coelly determined as that of
the Generals. 81 love her far TOO
we'll to let the foolish prejudice of a
person, who has never seen her, and
who knows nothing OF her sweetness
and natural refinement, weigh against
her even If that person be my own
father"
81 am to infer then that you defy
me-" cried the General, dull, red flush
overspreading his face and his eyes be-
ginning to glitter like pram uion beneath
his bristling white brows. 1t was q
new phase in his sons character. Never
before had he openly defied his father
Authority.
81 desire you to infer that Providence
has blessed me with sense and q will,
| and that intend to exercise them in
my choice of wife, choice that
every man has the right to make for
himself" The young man spoke firm
Il y. He evidently had quite as much
self-will as his father.
"Then hear me; since this Is your
decision" said the General in his most
positive tone, "the day that sees this
plebian singer your wife sees you no
longer son of NINE"
Then rising he walked quietly out of
the library, and for two days, except
at meal times, saw nothing of his son.
1t WAS the first real GOODNESS that had
ever existed between them. Both felt
it keenly both longed to be reconciled.
and both were determined to hold out
TO the end.
| On the morning of the third day
Ralph walked into the breakfast room
where bis father was sitting and laying
an open note before him, said
"There is Miss Reno's decision / re-
ceived 1t half hour ago. wish you
to read it,"
Without a word the General adjust
ed his glasses and took the note.
"Dear Ralph" it began. al love
you and always shall never doubt that,
BIZ {, until your father Civ s his full and
free consent to our union, We can only
be-friends. RAY RENO.
~ am glad to find mademoise!le's
shrewdness prevents you making q fool
Of yourself" was his remark when he
finished its perusal.
The heir prospective of Croylands
was worth angling for. But Ralph
Croyland, poor and disowned IL APP
parently not SO alluring prize. hope
YOU NAV learn your lesson.n
Something akin to scorn crept into
the young mans eyes, as he looked
down from his superb six feet OF man.
hood on his father but he was his faith
or, and that fact stayed the bitter words
on his lips and caused him to hesitate
before trusting himself to speak. At
last he said:
"You are blinded by your prejudice
or you would know Ray Reno is inca
pable of the motives you impute to her.
She ia pure and noble, else should
never have sought to make her my wife,
and until do make her that 1 shall
never rest content.
"She is my one love. You know the
Croyland motto: "Once and forever. ="
And will either W In her or go to my
grave unwed." Then changing his
earnest tone to one of carelessHess, he
added
% have accepted Ponsonby's invita-
ton. Our party is to start for Canada
at the end of the week. You have no
comm issions for me in that region /
suppose?"
"None!" said the General grimly,
l." and only one request, =" and that?"
said his son Lightly" Come home
cured of your folly was the reply.
July came burning, sultry, unendur-
able. The big mansion at Croylands
was dreary enough to its solitary own
| ar. He missed his sons CHEEKY pres-