The state journal., 1885-01-17
JOURNAL PUBLISHING Co.

The expression in Clare's face was not
reassuring.
"My fathers friends are always wei
come" she said quietly. Then turning
10 me, "Perhaps | had better have Mr..
Panton's room prepared at once"
1T will be as WELL, assented, going
to the door and politely holding il open
for her as, with slight bow 20 Mr.. Pan
ton, she quilted the apartment.
When / returned to my place. that
gentleman remarked, Tipping the ash
from the end of his cigar, ''Y our daugh-
ter does not inherit your sprightlness of
wit, sir.
mo" l replied, perhaps now you
understand my amusement when You ex
pressed some fears as to her tranquility
of mind on meeting you. ..
at is harder to melt an iceberg than a
ball Of snow, but the very difficulty of
the task lends to it additional charms"
Neatly put" ! assented; and were
women as easily handled IS metaphors,
your success would seldom be in doubt. ;"
They're quite as perpleXing, admit 4"
he continued. smiling, but given little
patience, they will explain themselves. "
"Well, well" replied, however that
may be, fancy I can trust Glare even
with such protested lady killer in the
house as yourself
He laughed good naturally. you
don't know what battery Of attractions
| have in reserve"
Es"My dear boy" / answered, II hope
you'll remain here long enough to afford
US every proof Of their power. "
He shook his head knowingly. "Well,
I've given you fair warning. The re
sponsibility Will lie with you"
II accept it cheerfully," | replied, lis
ing. "But come, we may as well see if
your room is ready, and then perhaps we
may persuade Clare to give US cup of
tea in the drawing room"
In order that the reader may better
appreciate my motive for welcoming Mr..
Panton 80 warmly to our circle, l take
the opportunity of saying a word here
touching the relations existing just then
between my daughter and myself.
In the beginning Of the year Glare had
paid a somewhat lengthy visit to an old
friend of mine, residing in London, at
whose house she had contracted an init
macy with young man named Brown.
Now this Brown, subsequently learned,
was the son of schoolfellow of my own,
and the fact was not one to proposes
me in his favor. Major Brown and my
self had been companions both at Harrow
and Oxford, but our tastes and habits
were as dissimilar as day and night. He
was wont to affect a frank bonhomie,
alike to intimates and strangers which,
however IL might attract them, never
succeeded in deCeiving me as to his real
nature. He was quick, too, in acquiring
a superficial acquaintance with any sub
iect he ight select, a knack which en-.
abled him to take high honOrS ; while L
with a far sounder knowledge, barely
managed to scrape through my eXamina-
tons. In short, he was a pedant and
prig, whom fortune delighted to honor,
and who latterly had attained a position
which his intrinsic merits would certainly
never have secured for him. 1t was not
my habit to traduce my fellow, creatures,
but there are occasions when the truth is
desirable, and on which even / do not
shrink from utteTing it.
Accordingly when Glare returned home
and informed me that she had listened to
the proposal of this young man, l at once
declared she should never have my con-
sent to such a match. The father had
been mean spirited fellow, and his son,
| was satisfied, could be no better. de-
clined even to discuss the subject IN any
shape. To some my action may appear
too peremptory, but had taken to heart
the old Scriptural truth that grapes do
not grow on thorns, nor, to apply the
smile, high minded sons spring from
sordid parents
After the first outbreak the subject
was allowed to drop, and was IN hopes
that Glare had forgotten her gir,ish fancy
for this Objectionable person. 1t was.
therefore, with no little indignation |
found that correspondence had been es-
tablished between the two.
l like 20 keep up old traditions-call
them prejudices if you willard one OF
my dearest is that the head of house.
hold should be as father to those who
live beneath his roof; one to whom all
may come for advice in trouble or com
fort in sorrow. regret that in my own
case the theory has so far been restricted
to its primitive limits, and has not yet at
tanned the fuller proportions OF practice.
But to encourage the idea, | make it
rule to retain in my possession the key OF
the post bag, so that all letters shall pass
through my hands. | need hardly say
that my object in doing so is solely to
breed that spirit of confidence which is
the first necessity of united family.
Thus it happened that on the previous
Sunday morning found myself called
upon to deliver to Clare a letter which
even the cursory examination | was able
TO give to it satisfied me came from young
Brown.
Whatever my annoyance might be, |
showed no traC of it at the time. My
principle is to lay aside on the day II
question all mundane matters which
might distract the mind from its higher
duties, But l made little mental note
that would take an early opportunity of
having an explanation with Clare.
The chance came at lunch time next
day. AS have said, the conversation
took a somewhat disagreeable turn, and
resulted in my deciding to face the bit
ter east wind rather than continue con-
troversy in which all the talking was on
one side, and the reason on the other.
The advent of Mr.. Panton was, there
fore, almost providential. Here was a
Young fellow, good looking well to do,
and with a proper confidence IN himself
The scheme which flashed into my mind
was, indeed, happy one. He was,
according to his own declaration, an ac-
knowledged ladv killer. What better OPP
hortunity than this could he have for
showing his skillT True, Clare's dispo-
sition was an obstinate one, but at least
his attentions might divert her mind from
that other absorbing subject, Still, I