The Press., 1884-08-14

4 E K P s
 consent to the engagement, and the ut most she had striven for was to mitigate the harshness of his refusal. Unfortunate ly, even in this respect her interference proved unavailing. Old MT. Paradise, fu- rious at the idea of having been the vic- tim of conspiracy, did not measure the language in which he accused young Bal bernie of mercenary motives. When he chose to be deliberately insulting there was no one who could carry out his inten- tions more effectually.. His command of coarse invective was only kequaled by his utter want of delicacy and gentlemanly feeling, and the abuse he lavished upon his daughters lover left him no alterna- tive but to declare that he would never enter the house again.
 When young Balbernie wrote to Ethel Paradise the next day, expressing his un- alterable devotion to her, but stating his resolve to never darken her fathers doors again, the girl felt compelled, under the circumstances, to write and release h1m from his engagement. However spiritless and cold hearted the course may appear, it was undoubtedly the proper one to put" sue, and Mrs. Paradise joined with her husband in approving her action. It soon became evident, however, that the poor girl had miscalculated her fortitude in making so great sacrifice. She had broken off the engagement less from fear of her father than from 8 proper feeling of pride.g But the loss of her lover proved a blow which seriously affected her health. The upshot was that she was sent away from home ts stay with some friends in the north, while her fathers satisfaction at having got rid of young Balbernie was considerably diminished by the suffering he had caused his child.
 Meanwhile, Acheson Balbernie's reg iment had been ordered to another part of the country, and old Mr. Paradise neither saw nor heard anything of him for some time. After an absence of nearly three months Ethel returned home, having ap- parently entirely Tecovered from her dis appointment. Old MT. Paradise, whose pride and affection were centered in his daughter, was immensely relieved by the felt that at length he could honestly con- gratulate himself upon having interfered to prevent what he considered would have been 9 most unfortunate marriage. One day, however, he was walking through the grounds attached to his house, when he met his daughters maid hufrying to- ward the lodge gates with letter in her hand. Something suspicious in the girl s demeanor attracted his attention, and he had the curiosity to ask what her errand was. Old MT. Paradise was accustomed to boast that he had the whole of his household under his thumb, and certainly all the servants stood in great awe of him. His overbearing and peremptory manners made them tremble before him, and the wretched girl almost went on her knees from fright. On her replying that she was going into the village to post letter for her young mistress, old MT. Paradise asked to see it. and. to- his amazemeni found 1t was addressed to young Balbernie
 "I'll post this," he said gruffiy. "But look here, now take walk down to the village, and come back as if nothing hac happened. Don't say you gave the letter to me. Don't say anything about it Do you understand p
 "Yes, sir" faltered the girl, thoroughly alarmed by his tone and gestures.
 As soon as the girls back was turned he opened the letter without the faintest scruples. Whatever he suspected, he was thoroughly taken back by what he read His daughter wrote that she had obtained her mothers consent to be married pri vately in London, and that her mother would make an excuse and accompany hel to town on day named in the following week, when the ceremony could be per formed. This was the grist of the letter which contained allusions from which MT Paradise gathered, with rage and astonish ment, that the lovers had recently me and become reconciled, and that his wife had connived at, if not actually suggested the renewal of their attachment. Wha infuriated him above everything else was that, judging from certain expressions il his aughter's letter, young Balbernit seemed by no means .overawed by him and one would have imagined that Balber nie was the!rich man and he the poor one
 To say that old MT. Paradise foamed 8 the mouth with rage and indignation would hardly be an exaggeration. His daughter! d1sobedlence, his wife's treachery, ant young Balbernies calm contempt for hi parental authority rendered him literall, furious. He put the letter in his pocke and hurried toward the house as fast a! his legs could carry him, bursting to giv' vent to his pent-up feelings. But on ar irving there he found neighbor's car rlage at the door as we'll as his own. Thi reminded him that he was due at the loca
 bench, of which, for the time being, ht was chairman, and the recollection of hi judicial importance helped to soothe hi angry agitation, It occurred to him, too that he could not very we'll reproach hi wife and daughter before visitors, but hi
 impotence was so great that he could no
 bear the idea of stifing his wrath until th' guests had departed. He therefore wisel, resolved to keep his magisterial engage ment, and reserve the scene with his wifi
 until his return, .<s3l 5s.5 sr~ :t
 It was observed at the local bench tha morning that remarkable change cam
 over the worshipful chairman in the cours of the proceedings At the opening o
 the court there was 9 look of suppresset irritation upon his brow which boded il , for the unfortunate prisoners who were t. 5 como before him. But half an hour late he suddenly recovered from his i'll humo1 and for the rest of the day his demeano was, for him.. quite amiable and inoffen sive. The cause of this phenomenon wa
 that during short pause which ensue
 between one case and another brothe
 magistrate had whispered to him behln , his hand.
 f ssI say, Paradise Do ou..recollect tha , young Balbernie whom I introduced t ] you last summer ?"
 sYes, do" he returned shortly.
 ssHave you heard he has come in for fortune-n nearly =e5OO, ,OO0, they say" s "Really, now? How do you know
 inquired old MT. Paradise quickly.