The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-12-19

They are all shareholders, and often
directors OF railways, and Just as much
traders rs the old coach proprietors
were. They let their land, and so do
you, to the highest bidder, not for hon
or or any romantic sentiment, but for
money, and that Is trade. Mr.. BARLEY
is his own farmer; well, so was Mr..
Coke, OF Norfolk, and the Queen made
him peer for it-what u sensible SOW
Stunned for their speculatiOns by the
nobility? Whom do their daughters
marry? Trade rules the world, and
keeps 1t from stagnatiOn. Genius writes,
or paints, or plays Ilamlet-for money;
and Is respected in exact proportion to
the amount of money it gets. Charity
holds bazars, and sells at one hundred
per cent. profit, and nearly every new
church is a trade speculation. Is my
happiness and hers TO be sacrificed to
the chimeras and crotchets that every
body in England but you has Outlived?"
All this" replied the mflinching
sire, II have read in the papers, and my
son shall not marry the daughter of "a
trader and cad who has insulted me
grossly; but that, presume, you don't
object to-"
This stung Walter so that he feared
to continue the discussion.
II will not reply" said he. "YOudrive
me to despair. leave you to reflect.
Perhaps you will prize me when You see
me no MORE"
With this he left the room, packed up
his clothes, went to the nearest railway,
Off to London, collected his funds, cross
ed the water, and did not write one
word to Clifford Hall, except line to
Julia. Left England heart-broken.t the
victim OF two cyclists and my sweet
Mary's weak conScienti0usness. God
forgive me, | am angry even with her,
but don't doubt her love-"
This missivc and the general cOnster-
nation at Clifford Hall brought Julia
full gallop to Mary BARLEY.
They read the letter together, and
Julia was furious against Colonel Cliff
ford. Bit Mary interposed.
81 am afraid" said she, that am the
person who was most to blame"
why, what have you dOney"
lie said our case was desperate, and
waiting would not alter il; and he
should leave the country unless"
UNLESS what? How can advise you
if YOU have any cOncealments from
me!"
well, then, it was unless | would
consent to a clandestine marriage"
And you refused-very properly"
"And refused--very properly one
would think-and what is the cOnse-
quence? | have driven the man love
away from his friends. as well as from
me, and now begin to be very sorry
for my properness.'
"But you don't blush for il as YOU
would for the other. The ideal TO be
married on the sly and to have to hide
it from everybody, and to be found out
at last, or else be suspected of worse
things"
what worse thingst'
"Never you mind, child; your woman
ly instinct is better than knowledge or
straight. If you had consented, should
have lost my respect for YOU"
And then, as the small view of thing
is apt to enter the female head along
with the big view, she went on, with
great animation:
And then for young lady to sneak
into a church without her friends, with
no carriages, no favOrs, no wedding
cake, no bishop, no proper dress. not
even bridal veil fit to be seen! Why,
it ought to be the great show of girls
life, and she ought to be public queen,
at all events for that one day, for ten to
one she will be a slave all the rest of
her life, if she loves the fellow"
She paused for breath one moment.
And it isn't as if you were low peo-
ple.. Why, it reminds me of a thing
read i'm some novel; a city clerk, or some
such person, took a walk with his sweet
heart in the country, and all of sud-
den he said, why, there is something
hard in my pocket. What is it, 1 won
der? A plain gold ring. Does it fit your
Try it on, Polly. Why, it fits you, 1 de-
clare; then keep it till further ORDERS
Then they walked little further. why,
what's thisp Two pairs Of white gloves.
Try the little pair on, and l will try the
big ones. Stop! / declare here's a
church, and the bells beginning to ring.
Why, who told them that I've got a
special license in my pocket? Halo!
there are two fellows hanging about;
best men, witnesses, or some such per-
sons, l should not wonder. l think l
coming over stile! What an OppOr-
tunity for us now just to run in and get
married! Come on, old girl, lend me
that wedding-ring minute, I'll give it
you back in the church, No, thank
you. Mr.. Walter; we love you very dear
ly, but we are ladies, and we respect
ourselves"
In short, Julia confirmed Mary Bart
ley in her resolution, but she could not
console her under the circumstances.
Walter did not write line even to her;
she couldn't but fear that he was really
in despair, and would cure himself Of
his affection if he could. She began to
pine; the roses faded gradually out Of
her cheeks, and Mr.. BARLEY himself be-
gan at last to pity her, for though he
did not love her, he liked her, and was
proud of her affection. Another thing,
Hope might come home now any day,
and if he found the girl sick and pining,
he might say this is a breach of con-
tract.
He asked Mary one day whether she
wouldn't like change. 81 could take
you to the seaside" said he, but not
very cordially.
mo, papa" said Mary; "why should
you leave your mine when everything
is going so prOsperOusly? / think L
should like to go to the lakes, and pay
my old nurse visit"
and she would talk to you of Walter
Clifford?"
"Yes, papa" said Mary, firmly, "she
would and that's the only thing that
can do me any good"