Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1885-09-03
perhaps you don't want to make
impression" suggested.

Perhaps you don't want to make
IMPRESSION" I suggested.
"Oh, but I do," he continued with
curious frankness. you'll excuse
me mentioning it, but Miss DENLY is
q adeucedly attractive girl"
Il think it was yourself who first
limited that she took her intellectual
qualities from her father,'' I said,
little maliciously.
He shook his head gravely. 'No,"
he replied, 81 detect difference.
She's got most original mind of her
own. Do you know, sir" he pro-
ceeded, without any alteration in his
voice, 'I'm afraid I'm falling in love'"
Talk of originality-here certainly
was an example with vengeance.
One might have thought was a per-
feet stranger to the lady in question,
SO unconcernedly did my guest an
nounce the state of his feelings for
her. I will not say that the declara-
ton was displeasing, but I reflected
that it would not be consonant with
my dignity to surrender at the first
assault. 4.
''You forget that I am her father?"
I observed somewhat stif1y.
''Oh, no, I don't" he answered,
'that's why I come to you"
'Wells"I I continued inquiringly.
Il was anxious to learn in what
light the fact would strike you"
''You mean as regards an engage
ment between my daughter and your
self?"
eyes, he answered, 81 suppose
you might put it that way"
1t certainly was a strange mode of
proposing to become my son-in-law,
but after all, the end justified the
means. ''My dear Panton," I said,
'tyou must remember that our &C.
quaintance has been short, and
should have, of course, to be assured
that you are in a position to keep a
wife. But, otherwise, I do not know
any one whom 1 would more gladly
welcome as Clare's husband"
''Then if I satisfy you on that point
there is no obstacle to my trying my
lucks"
'None whatever" I answered
deeming it unnecessary to allude te
the Brown episode. ''You have my
full consent, and can only trust that
you will be equally fortunate in win
ming Glare"
"Thank you," was his reply; 9.
fancy if you will excuse me I'll 60 in
to the garden now and smoke cigar
Perhaps may hit on some plan TO
obtaining that during the process"
"Certainly,my boy, do as you thin,
best, I Irejoined. And so this remark
able interview came to a close.
Panton's communication had bee
made on Wednesday, and in tn
meantime I considered it as we'll no
to recur to the subject. He was moi
I was convinced, man to let tn
grass grow under his feet, and m
wisest policy was evidently to awai
the out come of events.
J On Saturday 1 informed my guest
at luncheon that I had to ask his in
diligence for my absence until din
ner-time, as I always devoted ths
afternoon to the preparation of th
, next days discourse. But 1 adde
, that Clare would doubtless prove a
, efficient substitute-an assertion
, which I was pleased to observ
neither of the young people SCENE
anxious to dispute.
r As it happened the sermon 1 select
Y ed was one which already kne'
, pretty nearly by note, and const
quently little more than an hour
study sufficed to put me at my cas-
8 with it. As I closed the manuscriE
: it occurred to me that it might be il
/ teresting to find out, in an informs
[ sort Of way, how the two were amu'
0 ing themselves, and SO gently openin
/ the study door I stole noisely on tiE
! toe toward the drawing-room.
9 On looking in I found that it VIZ
}. untenanted, but I thought I coul
: detect the murmur Of voices procee.
y ing from the adjoining conservator
g With characteristic playfulness
g crept cautiously to the entrance ar
j. peeped in
Glare and the stranger were seate
r on an ottoman with their backs turl
j. ed toward me. But this did n
e prevent me from seeing-indeed
& rather helped to show-that Panton
o arm was around my daughters wal
and that their heads were very clio
le to each other. Although out of slI
I pie delight at the scene before me
'e strained every nerve to hear wh
d they were saying, unfortunately
d could only catch an indistinct wo
'p here and there.
s. My JOY at the discovery was su
al that could scarcely refrain fre
calling out. Only with consid'
~ able effort, indeed, did I succeed
E. sitting my feelings; but when 1 aga
It found myself in the library, with
one at hand to watch me, I felt it i
,g possible to retain them longer.
sat down in NV chair and Tubb