The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-02-21
THE CLEYERNEsS OF MIR. PARA
Disc,

O1o 4AL L Ill dNIoO 10 d fl1S O1ll
gentleman, whose chief merit was that
he had raised himself by his own in
dustry and ability from the humblest
origin to the position of a merchant
prince. He had an only daughter, of
whose beauty and accomplishments he
was not unjustly proud. But, though
he was an indulgent father in most
things, he made no secret of his inten-
ton that she should marry whom he
pleased and not choose a husband for
herself. Like most self-made men, he
desired a son-in-law as rich as himself,
and was particularly on his guard
against needy fortune-huhters. Unfor-
tunately, he had not the tact to dis
criminate between The latter class and
the would-be suitors whose prospects
would, in the opinion of a less exactiug
parent, have. justified them in aspiring
to his daughters hand. For instance,
nothing could be reasonably urged
against young Acheson Balbernie,
whose admiration for Ethel Paradise
was honest and undisguised. He was
adjutant to his regiment. had qualified
for a staff appointment and was re-
garded as a highly promising young
officer. Besides being a gentleman by
birth and education, he had a very fair
income, and, in short, most parents
would have regarded him as rather a
good match. But Mr.. Paradise was by
no means satisfied with the young mans
prospects and position, and when it be-
gan to dawn upon him that matters
were getting serious he Immediately
assumed a hostile and aggressive atti-
tude.
|. 81 shall have to give that young Bal
bernie a bit of my mind, Loo" he re-
marked to his wife in an ominous tone
one afternoon, observing the young man
deep in an animated conversation with
Miss Ethel; she's always coming
here"
I'm sure, John, you particularly
asked him here yourself" said Mrs.
Paradise, uneasily.
II asked the whole garrison, for that
matter" he returned sharply. eff he
had any proper feeling he'd have
stopped away"
"Why?" inquired his wife.
"Why? Because he isn't wanted
here; that's why" answered Mr.. Para
disc, impatiently. "What he is up to
is as plain as a pikestaf-he's after our
Ethel.''
t.Well, I'm sure, John, he is a very
nice young man. his wife ventured to
say.
HE isn't good enough for me, and
I'll tell hin so at once" said Mr.. Para
disc, moving off toward the tennis
ground, with an angry frown.
''Stay g. minute, john" said his wife
imploringly. 81 wouldn't say anything
to him, ii / were you-not to-day. L
Think Ethel likes him, John"
What" roared old Mr.. Paradise,
growing very red in the face. "You
think the girl likes him, and you've
never said a word to mel"
Poor Mrs. Paradise looked painfully
guilty, and seemed completely annihi-
lated by her husbands furious indigna-
ton. She was a gentle, meek-spirited
lady, who had long ago realized the
trusty old adage that riches do not con-
stitute happiness. When she married
Mr.. Paradise he was a struggling clerk,
and in those days his temper was GER
tainly easier to put up with. Prosperi-
ty had rendered him dictatorial and
overbearing to a degree which caused
him to develop into a domestic tyrant.
Forgetting his own origin, he was
keenly conscious of his wife's homeli-
ness and defective education, and at
tributed entirely to her the GOODNESS
with which the more exclusive of their
neighbors regarded them. He repaid
her devotion by a sort of contemptuous
tolerance, although he sometimes
: showed remorse when he had been
more than unusually harsh to her, and
thereby demonstrated that his old at
lection had not entirely died away.
On this occasion, however, there was
no sign of tenderness in the manner
with which he regarded her. He stood
oyer her with his hands in his pockets,
and his thick eyebrows knitted together
in an ugly frown as he said:
There's been some hanky-panky 60
ing On. It's no use trying to deceive
me. How do you know Ethel likes the
young fel.ow?"
.'WehI think. so." said Mrs. Para
disc, shrinking beneath his gaze.
"You mean you know it. She told
you so, 1 suppose" he exclaimed, read,
ing her mind as clearly as though she
had spoken.
..Yes, John, she did tell me so,'' said
Mrs. Paradise, with a guilty start.
II suppose you are going On to say
that they have got engaged, and you've
been encouraging them behind my
back" he said, still fiercely interrogat.
ing her.
ssEthel knows she can not consider
herself engaged without your consent,
JOHN said his wife, plucking up a lit
tie spirit from sheer desperation.
"When she told me; I said the matter