Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-11-05
That Tree in the Road.


which you had the impudence to send
to my daughter. do not consider you
u flt person to be on friendly terms with
her, and your attention must cease i'm
mediately. If you are gentleman you
viii obey my wishes at once.
Respectfully,
GRo. WILMoNT."
"Papa You are not"
Carrie Wilmont paused, the note she
had been reading clutched tightly in
her hand, with surprise and alarm
depicted on every feature.
Mr.. Wilmont regarded her very stern
ly for moment.
"I shall return those flowers with
that note, !" he sand motoring to clus-
ter of violets on the table. II forbid
you to have anything more to do with
that fellow. / am surprised that a
daughter of mine who has been brought
up as carefully as You have been, has
ho better sense than to allow such a
man to be dangling at her heels. Why,
Caroline, it is disgraceful ]" And he
brought his hand down emphatically
on the table.
Mr.. Wilmont seldom addressed his
daughter by her full name. She now
glanced up Indignantly.
"Yes, utterly disgraceful ! I would
rather see you in your grave than his
wife. He is q scapegrace-a drunken
puppy-and cont you dare to haye any
thing more to do with him Give me
that note |"
Carrie hesitated a moment, crump-
ling it nervously i'm her hand.
"Carrie |" said her father, reproving-
ly.
With a sudden burst of tears, she
threw it on the table and left the Ii
brary. Mr.. Wilmont gazed after her
in astonishment.
"I declare I never dreamed that the
affair had gone so far" he exclaimed.
"Might you not haye been mistaken
in young Walden ?" asked Mrs. Will
mont, her mother heart sympathizing
with her daughter. 81 have met him
when he called land he appears to be
nice young man."
"Oh, yes !! He is one of your smooth
talkers,a ,and you women are easily hood
winked. He is nephew of Col. Usher,
aud comes of excellent family, but is
utterly devoid of principle. I did not
know that he was so intimate with
Carrie, until my partner expressed his
surprise at our allowing his visits and
/ made inquiries, and was shocked to
learn what character he bears. He is
no fit husband for any girl, and / can't
imagine what Carrie sees in him, when
there are so many promising young
men she might have"
Meantime, sp in her own room the
culprit sat, pretty picture of despair.
She vas dainty little creature, and no
wonder that many had fallen victims to
her charms but 10 only one had she
given encouragement-Robert Walden.
Just the night before she had promised
to be his wife, believing that her father
would not inter fere with her happiness.
But her hopes had been suddenly dis
PEELED that morning.
"What ! give up Robert Never
Never !" she exclaimed, burying her
face in her hands. "He is not a worth
less scapegrace! /! Oh, it Is so cruel !
just when I was SO happy ! And he !
what will he think when he gets that
note p'' And her tears fell fast.
Robert Waldon was surprised he
dropped the letter on his desk as though
| it were live coal.
"By Jove! I don't see what it
means" he exclaimed. "Not a fit per.
son to be on friendly terms with his
daughter l don't think that she will
agree with him. What could he have
heard against my character =? And he
gazed around his Office, as if expecting
an answer from the piles of books.
He was an intelligent.looking young
man, with fine, open countenance
and if given to the vices which Mr..
Wilmont had mentioned, certainly did
not show it. Now his brow was con
tracted as if i'm deep thought. A few
hours before he had sent the flowers to
Carrie Wilmont, little expecting to have
them returned, and especially by the
rich merchant himself-the one whose
good opinion he was most deslrous OF
| obtaining.
It is not to be expected that Carrie
would submit quietly to her fathers
wishes. She felt sure that he would
not be so cruel as to separate her and
Robert Walden, when he learned thai
she could not be happy without him
she would beg him to reconsider his de
cision. But he was stern and determ
ined, and Carrie would make no prom
ises, consequently the interview was
very unsatisfactory to both. Then ;
stolen meeting with Robert Waldon
and she told him all.
81 cannot understand it, Carrie, ,wh.
those charges are not true. I will &,
| to him and ask for an explanation" h
said. angrily.
| tsDh don,t TT will onlv oaka mo