Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-02-11
BLACK SHEEP or THE FAMm,
by MRS. u. BURKE COLLINS.

BLACK SHEEP OF THE FAMILY.
BY MRS. u. BURKE COLLINS.
And you, Freda," says my paternal
ancestor, sternly gazing down from his
superior height upon my petty five feet
two, p" are to behave sensibly. If possible
and consider yourself engaged to Mr..
Comyn."
! feel myself sink-fguratively speak
ing-away down to the lowest depths OF
despair as papa goes on refectiveiy.
Really, fine offer for you You
have always been the black sneep of the
family, Freda, and certainly do not de-
serve such good fortune as to marry a
man worth cool million, who is quite
devoted to you. 30 take the good the
gods provide and make no demur."
"A sacrifice TO appaese the wrath OF the
GODS" / quote, demurely. But nv
heart is mutinous and rebeilious to the
last degree. How dare my father, or any
one else, dispose of me in this cold. blood.
ed. mercenary fashion hate Mr.. Com.
yn ! / am positive that it is hatred which
Is devouring my heart at the present
moment although, never having me,
the gentleman In question, how can l tell
what my sentiments in re. ard to him
may bel
Yes, have never met Mr.. Comyn We,
he Is mad enough to ask me to marry
him Such a curious affair In ever,
way
Sister Rita and had attended an arch
cry party at Mrs. Somers' lovely countr,
home, and Mr.. Cemyn CHANGING TO bt
present, had fallen desperately in love
with-me At least such Is the astonisb
ing announcement In his letter to m,
father, which has just been received, Yel
/ am positive that he was not presented &c
me at all ; and indeed was SO enurossed
with the game, and so fully occupied with
(wel!, yes, the truth must be todd fiirt
ing with Harry Blake, that l have simpl,
no recollection of meeting this aspiranl
for the honor Of my hand at all. But the
party was very large one, and SO per,
maps is not strange that have forgot
ten him.
murmur something of the sort &c
papa now, as quietly disclaim all ambi,
tious thoughts, which include this auda.
cious millionaire who asks me to marry
him.
take the letter from papa's hand (he
is strangely deferential to me, " the black
sheep of the family" since this pro
posal from MIR. Comyn), and glance ca.
gerly over the page of note paper covered
with sprawling chirography. catch q
glimpse OF my own name, and my heart
sinks yes, he means me
The epistle goes on TO observe that hay-
ing had the pleasure of meeting Miss
Freda Lowell at the archery party given
by Mrs. Somers, be has fallen a sudden
victim to the little blind god, and begs
the honor OF her hand In marriage,
providing that he shall be able In time 10
win her heart.
All, there is a loophole He will
never win her heart,-oh, no Something
cfmy thought must have expressed itself
in my face, for papa observes hastily
" Now, remember, Freda, no tricks !
IL is my desire-mv command-that YOU
accept Mr.. Comyn %
Some ins met prompts me Ooh, from
what aftershame and humiliation does 1t
rescue me D to cry imploringly:
Oh, papa, don't make me say Yes
now Do give me few days of grace !
Even the condemned criminal going to
the scaffold is allowed time for prepare
tion-fasting and prayer"
Papa irowns severely. | have ALWAYS
considered my farther very handsome
man, but this morning decide that he
is positively ugly, with that forbidding
frown knit up into his brow.
- Freda % His voice is very stern.
and tremble in my boots. You un.
grateful child Do you reslise that 1t Is
all can do TO keep up the family! Your
mothers doctor bills Fred's college
expenses; and now you and Rita are out
tbA hills ftr n a ~ baS nj, N 81
sary itims, are enormous-simply enor-
nous ~
feel small--awfully small In compari
son with that last adjective Yet, what
connection has my possible marriage with
the payment OF our bills, fall to see
unless papa is referring to the expense OF
my Keeping. grasp his hand forcibly
as drowning man cluches at a straw.
Oh, papa r. cry, piteously Erred
says when l turn on the e wster-works, F"
there is no resisting me), edo let me
support myself / can teach-I know l
can have never considered marriage.
l am young, Rita is the oldest, WHY can't
he content himself with Rita i''
Yes, why can't he 2 She is decidedly
the prettiest--tEough, truth to tell, we
look wonderfully alike: the same fair
skin and gray eyes; the same golden hair,
worn childishly in q great plait We are
respectively seventeen and nineteen, and
look even younger. Papa is frowning
prodigiously. Isee there is no USE in
remoDstrance-his mind is made up.
A millionaire In the family Why, the
chance might never occur again for nv
part trust profoundly that it never will!
Papa puts an end to the controversy at
last by quietly leaving the room. ] sink
down upon the broad window seat, and
prepare for agood cry, when some one
pulls my hair enphatically. stife yell,
and spring TO my feet. Only Fred |
An inspiration seizes me
Oh, Fred" wall, piteously, can't
you help me? You have influence with
papa-do beg him to give up this horrible
marriage %
Fred digs his hands down into his
pockets and whistles softly. He is only
fifteen, and the pet Of the family.
" Freda, don't be goose I" he ejacu-
lates at last. Wish l had the chance to
m AIRY girl as rich as Mr.. Comyn.
I'D perpetrate m4trimony II she was as
ugly as original sin, and my pet aver
sion !"
M