The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-05-07
A HEART OF GOLD.

A HEART OF GOLD.
"a am not a rich man. Mrs. Kensing-
ton." said Mark Plinlimmon; land l
don't pretend to be. I'm only hard
working Cumberland farmer, and make
but slender income. But ! love your
niece, and she has given me reason to
hope that in time / can win her affec-
ton; and if you will give her to me l
will do my best to make her happy"
"Dear me-" said Mrs. Kensington;
'all this is very sudden"
Mrs. Kensington, who was the sister
of rich London lawyer, had an
abiding idea that her niece Madeline
ought to marry rich man.
| ''She's very handsome" mentally
reasoned Mrs. Kensington, land she is
accomplished; and she made quite a
sensation in society this winter when
she was introduced; and if such girl
rs this isn't to marry well, then / don't
know who is. And the idea of this
farmer coming here to put in his pre-
tensions, when there are so many other
eligible young men in society"
YES" said Mark quietly, 81 suppose
it seems sudden to you. All these things
do seem sudden at the last"
| "I'm sure don't know what Mr.. Vas
sar, her father, will say" said Mrs.
Kensington. putting her head feebly on
one side.
Suppose we ask him?" said valiant
Mark.
"Oh, you can't" fluttered Mrs. Ken
sington. ale isn't at home. He is on
the continent"
| Then we will write"
"But don't know his exact address, :"
said Mrs. Kensington:
''In that case," said Mark, ''we must
wait"
YES" said Mrs. Kensington, unde-
cidedly-"yes. l think you had better
wait"
| So Mark Plinlimmon went back to his
farm among the Fells, with a lock of
red-gold hair close to his heart, and
Madeline Vassar returned Unto So
first finger Of her icfft hand a ana uewy
tenderness in her hazel eyes which had
never glittered there before.
When Mr. VaSsar returned, Madeline
told him her heart-Secret ut once, for
tho bond of affection between this father
and daughter had always been very
tender and close.
$50 you love him. dear?' said her
father
"Oh, yes. papa!'
Enough to give up all the fripperies
of fashion for his sake?"
"Yes, papar' uttered the girl. with
emphasis.
"And become rough Cumberland
farmers wife?"
"Oh, yes" cried Madeline earnestly.
..Papa. may write to him to Gomez
.'Not just yet, child" said Mr.. Vas
sar. "I'vc got q little more business to
transact up in the North before can
consider myself fairly settled mt home.
But at the end of a couple of weeks or
| So"
Papa, you are darling" cried
Madeline.
stop, stop, Miss Pracipiiancy!' cried
Mr.. Vassar; 81 have not promised any
thing yet, either one way or the other. ="
"But you're going to. papa-l know
| you're going to!' cried Madeline, dane
ing joyfully about.
| "We'll see," said Mr.. Vassar.
The great wood fires blazed up the
chimneys of the Peak Farm, casting a
red reflection through the twilight on
the steep road outside, when stout,
elderly man walked up to the door and
knocked rcsolutely on its panels.
"Can you keep me here all night,
young manP" he said "Mr. Ritz, of
Portcaster, sent me here to have a power
of attorney drawn out. and ! haven't
| passed any hOtels-
"No, should think not" said Mark
Plinlimmon, with CHEEKY laugh. 1--WE
don't deal much i'm hotels in this part of
the country. But you are kindly vel
come to stay here as long as you like.
Mr.. -"
"Middleworth, said the stranger.
'Richard Middleworth."
And he set down his Gladstone bag
and looked around him at the dark oiled
wainscoting. the ceilings traversed by
monster beams, the latticed easements,
the old oak settles on each side of the
blazing logs.
"You seem to have q fine farm here,
Mr.. Plinlimmon," said he, land finely
kept"
ats not bad" said Mark carelessly.
.'And everything in real old English
style"
Eyes" said Mark. ut belonged to
my greatgrandfather, the most of it; but
that oak settle behind you dates as far
back as Richard the Third, when the
first Mark Plinlimmon came here from
Wales. The old house has never been
without one of the name since"
Madeline Vassar's father sat down on
the old oaken settle, and looked keenly
at the tall young farmer. How glad he
would have been if only he could see in
to his heart!-for no father willingly
gives the apple of his eye to stranger.
"His face and mien are good," he
told himself 81 wonder If his nature
matches II; wonder how can find it
out"
One by one the different members of
the family dropped in as he sat talking
with Mark Plinlimmon. Old Mrs. Pin
limmon was first,-a mild. white-hairesl
matron, with soft, wistful eyes; then a
rosy-cheeked brace of nephews.
"Iheir father and mother are dead, y
observed Mark; $50 | adopted them.
And fine fellows they are?'
mot a bad symptom" said Mr.. Mid
dleworth Vassar to himself "But, OF
course, most people are good to their
own kith and kim
And then entered most majestic old
man, with long white hair hanging over
his shoulders, leaning on a cane.
"And this" said Mark, lis our Uncle
joe" Fastening. as he spoke, to set an
, easy-chair for the ancient patriarch
"Uncle Joe, this is Mr.. Middleworth,
; who has come from Portcaster. have
) invited him to stay all night-if you dc
not object" ,,.,, :,
SSt Ale IL welcome" be said; Every vel