Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-20
THE ClEVERNESS OF PARADISE.

and ability from the humblest origin
the position of merchant prince. He ha
an only daughter, of whose beauty an
accomplishments he vas not unjustl
proud. But, though he was an indulgeu
father IN most things. he made no secre
OF his intention that she should MARI
whom he pleased, and not choose IA hus
band for herself. Like most self-mad
men, he desired sOn-in-law as rich a
/ himself, and was particularly on his guar
/ against needy fortune hunters. Unfortu
( nately. he had not the tact to discriminat
between the latter class and would-b
suitors whose prospects would, in tn
/ opinion OF less eXactIng parent, hav
/ justified them i'll aspiring to his daugh
ter's hand. For instance, nothing coul,
4 be reasonably urged against young Ache
son Bdlbernie, whose admiration for Ethe
4 Paradise was honest and undissuised
I He was Adjutant to his regiment, ha,
/ qualified Tor a staff appointment and wa
regarded as highly promising young of
ncer. Besides being gentleman by brtl
and education, he had a very fair priYat,
income, and, In short, most parents woulC
nave regarded him as rather good match
But Mr.. Paradise was by no means salts
ned with the young mans prospects anC
position, and when it began to dawnupor
MIN that matters were getting serious ht
Immediately assumed u hostile and 40
| gressive attitude.
II shall have to give that young Balber.
ME bit OF my mind, Loo" he remarked
to his wife in an ominous tone one after
noon, observing the young man in an ami
mated conversation with Miss Ethel
Hes always coming here"
Pm sure, John, you particularly asked
him here YOURSELF" said Mrs. Paradise
uneasily.
Il asked the whole garrison, for that
matter" he returned, sharply. 'sIf he
had any proper feeling he'd have stopped
away"
"Why?' inquired his wife.
"NhY? Because he isn't wanted here.
that's Why" answered Mr.. Paradise, i'm
patiently. Nv hat he is up to is as plain
as pikestaff-he's after our Ethel"
well, Pm sure, John, he is very nice
young man." his wife Yentured to say.
"He isn't good enough for me, and I'll
tell him SO at once" said Mr.. Paradise.
moving of toward the tennis ground with
an angry frown.
stay a minute, john" said his wife.
implorIngly. Il wouldn't say anything
to him, if were you-not to-day. Ii
think Ethel likes him, john
What" roared old Dir. Paradise, grow
ing very red in the face. you think the
girl likes him, and you've never said i
word to met"
Poor Mrs. Paradise looked painfully
guilty and seemed completely annihilated
by her husbands furious Indignation.
she was a gentle, meek-spirited lady, who
had long ago realized the truth OF the old
adage that riches do not constitute hap
pineSs. When she married Mr.. Paradise
he was struggling clerk, and in those
days his temper was certainly easier to
put up with. Prosperity had rendered
him dlctatorlal and OVerbearing to de-
gree which caused him to develop into
domestic tyrant. Forgetting his own ORR
gin, he was keenly conscious of his Wite's
LONELINESS and defective education. and
attributed entirely to her the GOODNESS
with which the more exclusive of their
neighbors regard them. He repaid her
devotion by sort Of contemptuous tole-
rance, though be sometimes showed re-
morse when ne had been more than usu.
sualIy harsh TO her, and thereby demon
strated that his old affection had not
entirely died away:
On this occasion, however, there was no
sign OF tenderness i'll the manner with
which be regarded her. He stood over
her with his hands in his pockets. and his
thick eyebrows knitted together in an
ugly frOWn, as he said:
Theirs been some hanky-panky going
on. It's no use trying to deceive me.
How do you know Ethel likes the young
fellow?"
"Well, think So" said Mrs. Paradise,
shrinking beneath his gaze.
You mean you know it. She told YOU
SO, | suppose" he exclaimed, reading
her mind as clearly as though she had
spoken.
Yes, John, she did tell me So said
Mrs. Paradise with a guilty start.
u suppose you are going on to say they
have got engaged, and you've been en-
coura2ing them behind my back, }" he said,
still tiercely interro eating her.
Ethel knows she cannot consider her
self engaged without your consent, john
SAID his wife, plucklng up u little spirit
from sheer desperation. ''When She told
me said the matter must he kept secret
until had asked if you had any obiec-
ton. l thought it better that ] should
break the news TO you before Mr.. Balber-
lie spoke"
,ar Sa en-, l Won't Keep him long 1u ~ Us
,on st,o ana s1ali hsee word to say to
ard Loo, about what think
i YOUR conduct" said or. Paradise, pale
A great effort, as he walked toward the
John! John!' she criod after him. half
rising from her seat.
sWell?" he said iinpatiently, over his
shoulder.
Think Of poor Ethel, john" murmured
his wife.
Il am thinking Of her, only you and
don't think alike on the subject" he
growled.
Poor Mrs. Paradise sank back in her
chair with very frightened look upon
her face, and then endeayored TO compose
herself to chat with a neighbor who had
just called. She had done her best. poor
thing, to avert the scene which threat
ened her daughters happiness. She knsw
her husband too well to hope that he would
to the engagement, and the ut
most she had striyen for was to mitigate
the harshness OF his refusal. UnfOrtu-
even in this respect her interfer-
ence proved Unayaiiing. Old Mr.. Para
disc. furious at the idea Of having been
made the victim of q conspiracy, did not
measure the language in which he accused
young Balbernie OF mercenary motives.
When be chose to be deliberately insult
ing. there was no one who could carry out
his intentions more etfectually. His com
mand Of coarse invectIye was only equaled
by his utter want Of deliCacy and gentle
manly feeling, and the abuse he layished
upon his daughters lover left him no al
tentative but to declare that he would
never enter the house again.
When young Balbernie wrote to Ethel
Paradise the next day, expressing his I'M
alterable devotion TO her, but stating his
resolve never to darken her fathers doors
again, the girl felt compelled, under the
to write and release him
from his engagement. However spiritless
and cold-hearted the course may appear,
it was undoubtedly the proper one to pur-
sue, and Mrs. Paradise Joined with her
husband III approving her action. 1t soon
became evident, however, that the poor
girl has miscalculated her fOrtitude in
making so great sacrifice. She had
broken of 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 young Balbernie was
considerably diminished by the suffering
he had caused his child.
Meanwhile Acheson Balbernie's regi-
ment mad 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 recovered from her dis
appointment. Old Mr.. Paradise, whose
pride and affection were centred in his
daughter, was immensely relieved by the
improvement he perceived in her, and felt