The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-02-23

certain expressions IN MS daughters
letter, Young Balberine seemed by no
means overawed by him, and one would
have imagined that Balbernie was the
rich man and he the poor one.
To say that old Mr.. Paradise foamed
at the mouth with rage and indignation
would hardly be an exaggeration. His
daughters disobedience, his wife's
treachery, and young Balbernie's calm
contempt for his parental authority
rendered him literally furious. He put
the letter in his pocket and hurried
toward the house as fast as his legs
could carry him, bursting to give vent
to his pent-up feelings. But on arriving
there he found neighbours carriage at
the door as well as his own. This re-
minded him that he was due at the
local bench, Of which, for the time
being, he was chairman, and the recol-
lection of his judicial Importance helped
to sooth his angry agitation. 1t oc-
curred to him, too, that he could not
very well reproach his wife and daughter
before visitors, but his impotence was
so great that he could not bear the idea
of sitting his wrath until the guesS. had
departed. He therefore wisely resolved
10 keep his magisterial engagement,
and reserve the scene with his wife
until his return.
1t was observed at the local bench
that morning that remarkable change
came over the worshipful chairman in
the course of the proceedings. At the
opening Of the court there was q look
of suppressed irritation upon his brow
which BODIED i'll for the unfortunaCe
prisoners whoWere to come before him.
But half an hour later he suddenlyre-
covered from his i'll humor, and for the
rest of the day his demeanor was, for
him, quite amiable and inoffetsiye.
The cause of this phenomenop was
that during q short pause which ensued
between one case and another bother
magistrate had whispered to him behind
his hand:
81 say, Paradise! DO you recollect
that young Balbernie whom | intro
duced to you last summer"
Eyes, do" he returned shortly.
"Have you heard he has come in for
a fortune-nearly $500, 600, they say
"Really, now? How do you know?"
inquired old Mr.. Paradise, quickly.
Il saw it announced in q Scotch pa
per, but | had heard it before. An uncle
died and left him everything. BY the
by, | heard he was spoony on your
daughter, Paradise"
The next case being then called on,
Mr.. Paradise was spared the necessity
of replying to this awkward remark.
The news fairly took his breath away,
but, though he could hardly realize it,
it had the effect of banishing his evil
temper. He had an uncomfortable
feeling that he had made fool of him.
self; but, on the other hand, the dis
covery that his daughter and young
Balbernie had come together again was
now q relief to him, instead of source
of anger and indignation. Now that
the young man was wealthy, even COM
pared with himself, - though, to be sure.
he still had the satisfaction Of feeling
that be could ''buy up his future SON
in-law if he chose-he saw no possible
objection to the marriage. He had no
particular prejudice against young
Balbernie personally, but rather the
reverse, and it was satisfactory to find
that he could, after all, honestly APP
prove of his daughters choice.
Having got what particulars his
brother magistrate could furnish of
young Balbernie's good fortune, Mr.
Paradise returned home in the best pos
sible spirits, in joyful anticipation of
the agreeable task of withdrawing his
opposition to his child's wishes, and
bringing about the marriage without
delay. But he was shrewd old gen
tleman, and during the drive home it
occurred to him that upon the whole it
might be wiser, under the circum-
stances, not to volunteer his consent.
He had not much delicacy of feeling,
but he could not ignore the fact that
his sudden change of front would be
attributed to its true motive. Moreover,
it was possible that his future son-in-
law, being now rich and independent,
might refuse to be married under his
auspices, and it would be awkward if
the young man should publicly display
his resentment Upon consideration,
therefore, he resolved to allow the con
spiracy which he had discovered to take
its course. There was something in
the notion which tickled his sense of
humor; and the prospect of quietly
looking on while his wife and daughter
imagined he was ignorant of their pro-
ceedings promised to afford him amuse-
ment. When the marriage had taken
place he would be able to play the part
of magnanimous and forgiving parent,
while his neighbors would not be able
to accuse him of having brought about
the marriage in consequence of his SON
in-law's altered circumstances.
Old Mr.. Paradise thought himself
very clever indeed when he had ar
rived at this determination, and
chuckled good deal at his own acute
ness. He first posted his daughters
letter, which he had fortunately opened
in such a manner that he was able to seal
it up again without leaving any sus-
picious trace of its having been tam
pered with He also took the precau-
ton to bride his daughters maid. and
had the satisfaction of learning that
she had not mentioned that he had in
tercepted the letter. These prelimina-
ries being arranged, there was moth
ing further for him to do but quietly to
await the issue of the conspiracy. He
went up to town, however, and having
looked up at his club the Scotch paper
which his neighbor had referred to, he
paid visit to his lawyer. With this
exception he never stirred from home
IL fhn 10, L,,E