Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-03-21

''Yet It is fearful thing disobeying
father.r
at is: but a son has his lights as wei
as father. He cannot be called upon u
sacrifice his happiness for a within
Surely, you must agree with me In thisf'
az do not know. / cannot advise you
You are man, and can take your own
path Yet, do nothing rashly. Somehow
Philip, no marriages seem completely
happy when parents approval is miss.
ing. This may be an old world fancy OF
mine, but cannot get rid Of it."
Before could reply the door opened.
"Well, Sir Truant," said voice that
thrilled my heart, and in a second Clau-
dine was In my arms. Lady Estmeio left
the room as we embraced.
spare the reader the delight OF our
meeting. only as my lips met Claudine's,
as clasped her supple form, as / saw
her glad face glowing with health and
beauty, / knew that could not resign
her love, even though its price must be a
fathers affection. Our greeting over, we
sat down, side by side, TO talk
'Philip," she said, ''you are looking
Ill and troubled. Tell me everything"
at Is sorry news"
"I guessed that. Tell me of your
father"
"He is mad, dearest, believe. lie
must be mad!"
"Ile disapproves OF your choice? An
swer me, my love. can bear II"
Gle does" / said, with my cheeks
flushing. "But again say, he's mad"
'Now tell me the reason. 1 am a ladyi
DO not come empty handed; you love
me- and, to you at least, my lord, am
not without charms"
| matchad brief reprieye by answer
ing her last remarks In suitable way;
but her face was grave.
"Yalentine did not ask you the reason.
Lady Estmore will not ask you but
must know, Philip"
ole knows Lady Estmcre's history"
] faltered."
''No, Philip" said Claudine, rising like
queen and positively stamping her foot
on the ground, "not her history! What
the world says is her history, he may
know. Your father is a cowardl''
felt could not contradict her. How
glorious she looked in her anger She
stood erect, the small head thrown
proudly back, the dark eyes glowing and
the delicate nostrlls slightly quivering
II was well for Philip Norris that it was
not his fault which had raised this emo
ton.
"a coward" she continued. Gle
condemns, because the world condemns
because SANDER has been at work, he
ISLANDERS. You have called him noble and
good. say again, he is a coward"
"Yet he is my father, Claudine," said,
gravely.
She knew that her words were cutting
me TO the heart. She looked at me, and
her whole appearance changed. The
tears sprang into her eyes, and she hid
her head upon my shoulder.
"My love! My love!" she cried. II
am wrong. Forgive me, Philip"
kissed her again and again, until she
smiled through her tears; but even as |
did so, thought sadly of the lonely man
that loved me, yet assured me that my
marriage with Claudine would separate
us forever.
Then began TO speak Of our marriage.
could see no reason for postponing it..
knew that nothing | could say would
change my fathers decision. Perhaps,
after Claudine was my wife, might
again appeal to his love, and for once in
his life he might yield-might, at last,
take Claudine to his heart aud love her.
So pressed her to Tx day in the late
autumn. She consented.
"rhere is no reason why we should
wait" she said, sweetly. eve have
enough to live upon in quiet way
Take me, my love, when you WILL
Glad to find an opportunity Of saying
anything in my fathers favor, told her
OF his princely generosity, so far ae money
was concerned. She grew troubled.
"Phlip," she said softly, 81 cannot
share that mans money with you"
at is my fathers gift, dearest"
eyes; but he forbids your marriage.
Philip, love you, but ! am proud, All
that have is yours, unreseryedly. You
must choose between us. If you take
my gifts you must refuse his.'
81 cannot live on my wifeh
'Yet you would on the father who
spurns your wife! Your pride leads you
In the wrong direction, my Philip"
combat her resolutions but my efforts
were but feeble ones. In my heart |
knew she was right. As matters stood,
there was no more degradation in accept
ing benefits from my father than from the
woman for whose sake resigned him.
dearest love-" srid Claudine, at last
'lf you are too proud to use what is
mine, let us wait year or even two
years. Then you may see your way TO
making your own fortune Then, ii you
wish, you may take the little have To
offer. But we cannot be in any way de.
pendent on the father you must give up
for mel"
SO we settled it, although | felt | was
making great sacrifice. To give up a
year, or perhaps two years, of married
life with Claudine was an unprecedented
Offering on the altar of proper pride.
one thing might shorten the probation
Let me find the means of proving Lady
Estmere's innocence; let me bring her
wretched husband to her feet, craving
pardon for the wrong he had done her,
and then even my fathers far-fetched
objections must fall to the ground, and
should enter into possession OF my king
dom. This was the thought which filed
my mind when, after having hidden
Claudne adieu, walked to my chambers.
How strange II was that Lady Estmere's
sorrow should now become, as IL were.
part Of my life, that my own happiness
urged me to get at the bottom OF what
ever devtlish plot Chesham had devised.
! remembered Lord Roihwelps words,
that the hand of fate was at work, and,
as matters now stood, felt inclined to
agree with them,
The more so as, when entering my