The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-07-10

L gave ueT u WOfu VI CduIlOu.
young Morton is no doubt well enough
| in his way, my DEAR" he said, Though be
| is too careful in his appearance and too
| fond OF pleasure to suit me. But it is
| perhaps as well to be little guarded in
forming familiar acquaintance with a
stranger. And-I am afraid, my dear, that
Lee would not quite approve.
Joel almost Rugged himself as he noted
| the effect produced, but he thought that he
held a still better card to play. The next
day he found an opportunity to say to Lee
Tilton:
"Lee, are you acquainted with Lawyer
Mortonl''
mo, sir" was Lees answer; that is, but
slightly"
ssThere is something that troubles me-
continued Parks. "Idon't know much of
| that young man, but to say the least he
| and inexperienced, and / see that size is
rather taken by his dashing ways She
has ridden with him some, and he calls
often-well, l know that she would never
care for him in serious way, but still, be-
tween you and me, Lee, don't think girls
can be too careful about forming intima-
cies with strange young men from the city.
Now, Lee, do me favor. It's of no use
| for me to speak to her. am too old, and
she wouldn't understand me- But you are
of her own age, and an old friend. You
can do it. Just give her little friendly
hint, you know"
Lee was as wise as most young men, but
certain kinds of wisdom come only with
experience; and, although at first he stren-
uously objected, he was at last over-per-
suaded, and reluctantly promised to SAY
just one word"
Thatevening he called upon Annie, meet
ing William Morton just coming from the
house, as he entered the gate. As he
sat in the pleasant sitting room, Lee hated
his errand and his promise. There were
other attractive subjects of conversation,
perhaps other things that he was more anx-
ious to say to the beautiful girl But at
length he began his task.
Morton."
A little; are youi"
"Well, no. To tell the truth think that
perhaps we ought to be little careful
about-about getting acquainted too much
too easily / mean, with those that we
don't-that we are not much acquainted
with,r stammered Lee; don't YOUR
Annie's eyes looked shade darker than
he had ever seen them before.
~ admire your prudence more than can
tell" she said; latter have seen more of
Mr.. Morton, perhaps shall be able to adj
wise you whether you can safely make his
acquaintance or notr
The young gentleman's visit was not pro-
longed, and when, day or two after Mr..
Parks asked him if he had spoken a word
to Annie, he answered:
Eyes, Imade fool of myself"
And the old man was obliged to abruptly
turn his back upon his clerk.
Lee very soon took occasion to offer an
humble apology for his unfortunate speech,
though of course he refrained from ex-
planning how he had been led to make it;
and on the whole Joel was a little disap-
pointed at the inadequate result of this
particular piece of strategy. To be sure,
Annie and Morton seemed to meet on
pleasant terms, but so, for aught he could
see, did Annie and Lee Tilton.
In these days Joel frequently consulted
his novels professionally, and he one even
ing happened to read in ''The Hoosier
Schoolmaster' the passage in which the
young master by Boosting of her wealth and
shrewdness, and broadly limiting that her
daughter was at his disposal. II occurred
to Joel that he had so far been working
upon only one of the principles in the case.
Here was hint that must be used. So he
ton and began to talk. He Dragged of his
success in life, of the sharp bargains he had
driven, of the money he had made and
would still make. Noticing with delight the
ill-concealed look of embarrassment and
disgust on Lees face, he went on to speak
of his daughter:
'sWonderful girl, sharp as a razor. As like
me as two peas in a pod" Some day she
would marry, he supposed. He didn't want
her to marry a rich man. Rather she would
marry likely poor young man, one who
would feel some gratitude for the lift he
was getting. He would see that such hus-
band made a success of it. There would be
no trouble about that.
II tell you," said he, finally, with leer,
whoever gets that girl with my consent,
gets me-"
1t came to pass that Joel found it neces-
sary to make a business trip of a month or
so, and he felt that he could not go without
striking one more blow. He thought that
he had undoubtedly made progress. but he
feared that there was still danger. One
evening Annie met him with look Of scorn
in her face and a hard ring in her voice that
told him what was coming. "Read thatr'
she said, and she placed in his hand note
dated and postmarked at Boston.
Miss Annie Parks:-I feel it my duty.
though a stranger to you. tc warn you that
Mr.. William Morton is a young man not to be
trusted. He is noted in Boston as heartess
male ooquet'e' Sincerely 4 Wells %nrn wrsHrn..
"Well, said Joel, Anonymous letters
don't amount to any thing. l shouldn't
mind that"
"But, papa, Lee Tilton, wrote that" said
Annie, bursting into tears. at is written
Don't you see as you hold it up to the light
a faint impress Of your business headingl
This is the second page of sheet, but5the
other page surely had that heading. O,
dear how mean thing it is!'
'He never wrote that in the world" said
Joel. "p1l ask him if he did"
sNo, father, say nothing. It's Of no use.
But, father" she went on, stamping her foot
in her energy, never speak to me of Lee
Tilton again."
Her father argued with her long enough,
as he thought, to fix her determination, and
the next day, with light heart, he de-
parted on his journey
Mr.. Parks returned home on the expected
day some six weeks later, which day was
the 54th anniversary of his birth. It was
evening when he wendell his way home
from the station, and he noticed that his
house was brilliantly lighted
"Ah, a birthday surprise, perhaps"
thought he.
At the door he was met by his wife in
rich array, who, after the expected greet
ings, hurried him to his room, where she
gave him this note from Annie: