The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1885-03-11

referring to, y said the old man, turn.
ing red. q am speaking of this idiotic
love affair.
''Oh. Well, of course, / must keep
my word,'' said Tom. with flu he'd
! cheek.
"What you have written to break il
of, !" said Mr.. Molyneux, feigning sur
prise.
mo, Guv'ner, l haven't" said Tom
81 hoped You would have softened by
this time
'.And / believe you would have re-
membered that your first duty was to
obey your father, cried the old man,
beginning to boil. ..Do you mean to
tell me that you still contemplate mar.
rying-a dressmaker?"
''She has sold her business, father, /"
said Tom, eagerly. ''She might have
done better had she waited bit. but
out of Difference to your wishes"
my wishes!'' interrupted Mr.. Molly
neux, angrily. don't care If she car
ries on twenty businesses. What say
is that you shall never marry her with
my consent That's all
81 should be very sorry to disobey
you, father" began Tom, but
'Look here, my boy" interrupted
the old gentleman, quickly, speak
ing with unnatural ealmness, ''let us
understand each other. / forbid this
foolish engagement, and order you to
break it off instantly. That Is my
bark. Now for my bite. You leave
my house within an hour. and unless
you inform me in the course of a week
that the affair is at an end stop sup
plies. II you persist in marrying the
girl, then, by heaven! l will alter my
will ard leave every farthing 1 possess
to your cousin Ted-in fact, will
make him my heir and discard you al
together
It is doubtful whether the old man
would have really carried out this SER
ious threat. for he was fond of his son,
and proud of him in way, but he
looked very determined when he ut
tered it, and Tom was evidently i'm
pressed. The lad dropped his eyes
before his fathers irate glance, and the
ruddv color left his cheeks for an in
slant.
Tom was evidently seriously discon-
certed by this remark. He turned on
his heel, muttering something about
catching the next train to leave town,
leaving his father master of the situa-
ton. The old man considered that he
had gained a signal victory, and was,
therefore, not the least pertHrbed when
his son started off to the station with
his luggage, in literal accordance with
his Injunction. He did not doubt that
Master Tom would see the folly of his
ways; and, sure enough, two days af-
terward the young man reappeared.
looking decidedly sheepish, and ten
dered his submission. He even brought
copy of the letter he had written to
the young lady. which Mr.. Molyneux
thought little too curt and matter of
fact, if any fault was to be found with
it. However, he was not inclined to
be hypercritical in this respect and he
heartily applauded Toms action.
''You know, Tom,' he added, MOTTO
ing the wholesome effect of his words,
''you are entirely dependent upon me,
and unless you took to poaching I
don't see how you could possibly earn
crust. Besides you are up to your
ears in debt.
"Idon't owe much, ''said Tom, quick
ly, with tell-tale blush.
''You will find out that you owe a
great deal when your creditors learn
that have made your cousin Ted my
heir, !" said the old man, systematically.
'Tm going away for bit, guv'nor. !"
said the lad, who WINGED little at his
fathers boisterous good humor, and
seemed half ashamed of his conduct.
"Webster and some other fellows have
hired yacht and sail for Madeira to-
morrow"
'By all means, my boy" cried Mr..
Molyneux, secretly delighted that his
son should leave England for awhile at
this juncture; "and look here, Tom,
while you are away Twill settle matters
with these friends of yours. "
He produced rather formidable list
of names and figures as he spoke, and
Tom started with surprise, and well he
might, at perceiving how full and accu-
rate was his fathers knowledge of his
pecuniary mbarassments. The old man
cut short his sons confused protesta-
tions of gratitude and apology by say
ing good-humoredly:
swell, well, you must turn over .
new leaf, my boy. Reasonable economy
must be the order of the day, and ]
hope on your return that you will settle
down and reside permanently in tho
country.
He had it On the tip of his tongue to
hint that he must be prepared to mar
ry Lady Florence, but he wisely re-
Trained. Nevertheless, he was as full
Of the project as ever, and after Toms
departure he spoke to Lord Laburnum
more plainly than he had hitherto done.
His lordship, without pfedging himself,
gave an encouraging reply, and he re-
solved to bring matters to crisis lm-
mediately upon his sons return. The
consequence was that the task OF set
tling with Toms creditors proved
quite an agreeable relaxation, and did
not cause him moments ill-humor.
But he was very much startled and
disgusted on hearing that his solicitor
had been asked to accept service OF a
VIII Ou 1OLu DeuGh III OH oSOAOA AOA
damages for breach of promise of mar
riage brought by Miss Fabian against
her faithless lover. The news upset
him considerably. for such scandal
would set all the papers gossiping
about his antecedents, while Tom could
hardly fail to cut ridiculous figure in
the witness box. Old Mr.. Molyneux
soon arrived at the conclusion that the
action must be compromised at any
cost for the sake Of his own dignity,
not to mention the projected alliance
with the Laburnums He rushed up
to town in quite frantic state, and dis
regarding the advice and protestations
of his solicitor, insisted that Miss Fa-
bian's claim should be settled forthwith
at any sacrifice. in order to avert the
danger of the effair finding its way in
to the paners
He was successful IN his main OBJECT,
but, rich man as he vas, he almost
groaned as he sat down to write the
check that Miss Fabian's advisers de-
manded. The amount was represent
ed by no less than five figures. and the
worst of it was that he got no sympa-
A. 81 n4orzo,. from his coIioifnT. xvh0