The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-12-19
"Wheny" asked Julia. careIessly.

not agree with papa about it; and, dear,
she said a strange thing-a very strange
thing; she knew papa's reasons against
him, and they were her reasons for
him."
Fancy that!" said Julia. @Your faith
or told you what the reasons wereY"
No; he wouldn't. They both treat
me like child"
"You mean they pretend to-" sheadd-
ed.
IL see one thing; there is some mys-
terry behind this. / wonder what it is?"
"Ten to one, it is money. am only
twenty, but already / have found out
that money governs the world. Let me
see-yOur mother. was Clifford. She
must have had money. Did she settle
any on you"
II am sure don't know"
"Ten to one she did, and your father
is your trustee; and when you marry, he
must show his accounts and cash up.
There, that is where the shoe pinches."
Mary was distressed.
"Oh, don't say so, dear. can't bear
to think that of papa. You make me
very unhappy"
Forgive me, dear" said Julia. IL am
too bitter and suspicious. Some day L
will tell you things in my own life that
have soured me. Money! hate the
very word" she said, clinching her
teeth.
She urged her view no more, but in
her own heart she felt sure that she had
read Mr.. BARLEY Alright. Why, he was
a trader, into the bargain.
AS for Mary, when she came to think
over this conversation, her own subtitle
instinct told her that stronger pressure
than ever would now be brought on her.
Her timidity, her maiden mOdesty, and
her desire to do right set her on her de-
fence. She determined to have loving
but impartial advice, and so she over
came her shyness, and wrote to Mr..
Hope. Even then she was in no hurry
to enter on such a subject by letter. SO
she must commence by telling him that
her father had set great many people,
most Of them strangers, to dig for coal.
That cross old thing, Colonel Clifford,
had been heard to sheer at her dear
father, and say unkind and disrespect-
ful things-that the love of money led
to loss of money, and 4 ut papa might
just as well dig well and throw his
money into that. She herself was sorry
he had not waited for Mr.. Hopes re-
/ turn before undertaking so serious a
speculation. Warmed by this prelimi-
nary, she ventured into the delicate sub
L.
we have told the reader, only in far
more timid and suggestive way, and inn
plored him to advise her by return Of
post if possible-or why not come
home? Papa had said only yesterday,
al wish Hope was here" She got an
answer by return of post. 1t disappoint-
ed her on the whole. Mr.. Hope realized
the whole situation, though she had
sketched it family instead of painting
it boldly. He was all sympathy, and he
saw at once that he could not himself
imagine better match for her than
Walter Clifford. But then he observed
| that Mr.. BARLEY himself offered no per-
Sonal objection, but wished the matter
and Colonel Clifford's objection to the
connection should be removed Or soft
ened. That might really be hoped for
should Miss Clifford marry Mr.. FitzrOy;
and really in the mean time he (HOpe)
could hardly take on him to encourage
her in impotence and disObedience. He
With him he should take less hesitat-
ing line, and set her happiness above
everything. In short, he wrote eau
tiously. He inwardly resolved to be on
the spot very soon whether BARLEY
wanted him or not; but he did not tell
Mary this.
Mary was disappointed. slow kind
and wise he isl" She said to julia toe
wise."
Next Wednesday morning Mary Bart.
ley rode to Mrs. Gilbert, and was re.
ceived by her with courtesy. but with 8
warm embrace by Mrs. Easton. After
while the latter invited her into the
parlOr, saying there is somebody there
but no one knows. This, however
though hardly unexpected, set Mary's
heart beating, and when the parlOr door
was opened, Miss EastOn stepped back
and Mary was alone with Walter Cliff
ford.
Then might those who oppose an hon.
est and tender affection have learned 6
lesson. 1t was no longer affection only
1t was passion. Walter was pale, agi
tated, eager; he kissed her hands inn
petuOusly, and drew her to his bosom
She sobbed there; he poured inarticu
late words over her, and still held her
painting, to his beating heart. Ever
when the first gush of love subsidized 6
little he could not be so reasonable as
he used to be. He was wild against his
own father, hers, and every obstacle
and implOred her to marry him at once
by special license, and leave the old peo
pie to unite the knot if they could.
Then Mary was astOnished and hurt
"a clandestine marriage, Mr.. CliffOrdP
said she. 81 thought you had more re
spect for me than to mention such 8
thing"
Then he had to beg her pardon, ant
say the separation had driven him mad
Then she fOrgave him.
Then he took advantage of her elem
ency, and proceeded calmly to show hel
that it was their only chance.
Then Mary forgot how severely she
had checked him, and merely said that
was the last thing she would consent to
and bound him on his honor never tC
mention to Julia Clifford that he haG
proposed such thing. WalterprOmised
that readily enough, but stuck to his
point; and as Mary's pride was wound
ed, and she was girl Of great spirit
though lOve-sick, she frOZe to him, anG
soon after said she was very sorry, but
she must not stay too long, or papa
would be angry. She then begged him
not to come out of the parlor, OF the
servant would see him.
"That is trifle," said Walter. Il an
going to obey in greater things thar