The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1885-10-08

proud of bis pokiii0n as The comfy mag
nate He lived 10 . fcuial castle which
be had boaghi chesply. having taken over
At the same ,ime The good will. 40 70 speak.
/ oi iis former owners influence aud digni-
~ 10 consideration Of his gres, wealth.
his n.ighbor chArisably ignored The fact
that bis father had been small trades.
msn, aud that be Limsali had carried on =
lucrative busiuew 10 the hardware line for
msny years. He Was not bad old fellow,
his valgsrisy being Of subdued and
I iaoifensive kind. and consequently he was
received IN the best county society. Bat
be aspired 10 even greater distinction. Tor
bis pet project was 10 marry his only son,
Tom. to one Of the Earl OF Laburnums
daughters There seemed no reason Why
this suspicious event should not come
about for tAe Lady Florence look Cd kind-
y spos Mssser Ton. asd liz lSfdshsp
hsd moro than once limited that be would
raise no objection. Lord LAburpuu Vas
the lord lieutenant Of the county. and m
allegiance with his family meant sdmis
sion into the aristocrstic circles
Unfortunately Master Tom was rather
scape grace. and his father preferred TO
let him see little OF the world before
revealing the high honors that we're in
store for him. The fact was that Tom
showed no predilection whatever for the
Lady Florence. and he was just at that
democratic age when youth is apt TO
underrate social advantages. The old
man hoped that when Tom had bad his
fling he would begin to awake 10 the
responsibilities Of his position, and be
amenable TO reason. He knew that Tom
was. raising very respectable crop Of
deb:s. and that before long bis paternal
assistance would be sought When the
crisis arrived. be intended to make known
bis wishes, and to take advantage Of the
lad Is embarrsssments 10 impose conditions.
Mean while, as Tom seemed TO have given
bis heart rowing commission, there was
no apparent danger OF his seriously COM
promising his affections
One day, however, the young man came
down from town, where he was ostensibly
studying for the bar, and with q very
grave and determined air announced that
he was engaged to be married. Old Mr..
Molyneux nearly had fit Of apoplexy on
the spot, and when Tom proceeded to
state that the lady earned her own living |
by carrying on the business Of dressmaker
at the West End. his horror and indigna-
ton knew no bounds. In vain Tom plead.
ed that Miss Fabian Was lady by birth |
and educatioa Gnd that the poverty Of her
family was her only crime His father
became more and more furious. until Tom
showed symptoms OF fiat rebellion.
"Think Of your position in the county,"
cried old Mr.. Molyneax. perceiving this.
and wisely making an effort to control
himself. II will take it Tor granted, il
you like, that the girl is ~ exemplary
character. She may be ladyliks. apd well
educated, and all the rest of it. Eut her
station is altogether inferior to youn.e
n don't see that" said Master TsA,.
stubbornly.
"Why, OF course. 1t is ridiculous,''
said the old man, swelling with self.im-
portsnce "Her father, you say, is poor
out.at-elbows devil Of clerk in the CITY,"
1--WE never noticed his coat has holes in
IT," retorted Tom. "As for his being
clerk in the city, so were you-once. The
only difference is that you have been more
fortunate than he, and have made enough
money TO retire upon"
''None OF your internal radical nonsense
here, sir!" cried old Mr.. Molyneux, infn-
rated at this reference to his own origin.
1t would be iast - sensible to say that
you and are the equals Of Lord Laburn-
nm because Adan was our common ances-
tor. What does it matter il ! was once
clerk in the city? have since attained
superior grade in the social scale, and that
IS the fact that must be faced. BY marry
ing the daughter 81 : city clerk, who
earns her living by dressmaking, you
would be making q mis-alliance.
Just as lady florence wosiA BY marry
ng me. +" said Tom, looking wondsrfnlly
innocent.
"Who is talking about Lady Floreucey
aid old Mr.. Molyneux, taken aback by
his unexpected thrust.
Nobody -only have an IDEA you wish
ne to marry out Of my station, retorted
Tom.
II don't wish you to marry at sll. sir,
lot for many long year" cried the old
nan, fairly non.plussed. i,
"What l mean is. father" said Tom
loggedly, THAT see no more harm in
marrying below ones station to use your
wn term-than 10 marrying above it. II !"
me Is wrong the other must be-"
''Stnff and nonsense. sirl you don't know !
'bat you're talking about. exclaimed Mr. 0
folynenx. Il don't want to have an v
rgument with you. The long and short y
I the matter is. that won't hear OF this
polish engagement. There it il no use {
alking. Let there be an end OF il, or l :
ball have something very unpleasant TO . !.
sy.' .
The old man bounced out Of the room y
8 he spoke, not little startled aud smsz.
d at bis sons tone and attitude. Hither. =
o Tom had never ventured 10 argue With :.
i'm, partly from flisi dnty aod partly from =
rherent weakness Of character. He began =
, fear that the lad possessed unexpected Y
!. nness, until be soothed his mind by the =
n ection thai be bad probably been care :
III = ccfcbed for the interview. This sns- .
,rse n rblsiued Master tTon,'s nnaccus D