Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-03-11

"a
let, and she promised to marry him
with or without my consent. n
'Don't look atme so reproaohfullY
Harry. II may be that I acted un-
wisely, all through; but if SO | have
been severely punished for my folly.
Yeas have let your cigar 40 out.
Here are the matches.
sdFoa want me TO tell you all she
said and did-her very words. as well
as / can remember. c That'sa hard
matter, for my memory is tot.sO good
as it used to be. Ss gsv .sSs
"Iwas sitting hereone evening when
Violet came in slowly, and, sitting
down where you are, looked at me
sadly for some minutes. av
"'Unole, dear, che said, at last, Il.
cannot understand you. I never be-.
lisved that You could De go hard and
cruel.
FHisnOt like you to be 10 unjust,
30 arbitrary, she went Oh. III seems
to me, uncle, that in the matter az
marriage q woman should choose tor
herself and not be influenced By any
one. have made my choice and
given my word but oh | should be
80 much happier if you were not
angry. Do forgive me and be your
own kind self again
eyes, whenyouy yield to my wishes,
l answered coldly. You are mere
girl, Violet, and have had no expert
ence of men. Ifyou were ten years
older I should leave you to take the
consequences of your rashness, but as
it is---'
"Asit is-- what thenP OH uncle,
and she slipped from her chair and
kneeled here on the rug at my feet,
'pray-pray be your old self again.
You were never angry with rne before
and it seems SO strange and unnatural
to see you turn your head away from
we without a smile. Do yon love me
only if / have no voice, no will Of my
lown2
"'Listen to me. child said, look
ing her ia the face. 4 Anve striesu
To be . father 70 yoa SINCE 1 bright
yI c1ss a hsfs I | have lossd ySs. Scan "
only knows how dearly In return /
only ask you to let me prevent your
making complete wreck ofyour life.
] want to save you from a sad fate,
and you think me a tyrant.
"She took my hand in both Of hers
and pressed her face on it, and then
looked up with a smile.
az wish Harry was here, she said.
He would help me convince you. He
always took my side.
II ought not to have told you that,
my dear boy, but it was SO fresh in
my mind, as it struck me forcibly at
the time, knowing as I did your love
for her. Forgive my want Of tact.
"She was not given to shedding
tears like some women, or she would
have cried then. Her cheeks were
hot and burning as they touched my
hand, while her eyes were feverishly
bright. She used every argument she
could find to induce me to consent to
her engagement, and as | remained
silent she drew nearer and gazed up
eagerly in my face.
c'Yon relent, uncle 2 she whis-
pered, in an agitated way. You will
let me be happy
"fIn chat way, never, I told her
sadly and sternly, and / triedto draw
away my fingers, butshe clungto them
tightly, while her lips quivered.
Don't say that, dear uncle r. she
said hoarsely. Dear uncle, oh, what
can say-what can | say to move
your
"You think ! was very hard, Harry,
! see, but I thought IL best.
(" Hush, child, I said. Nothing
will influence me. am resolved.
"And 80 am T. she said sorrowful-
ly, dropping my hand and rising to
her feet. I should always have wish
cd to please you; but now az you are
harsh and unjust, and will not listen
to reason, what can I dor
"shs waited for me to speak, but I
had no words at hand. ! was too
hurt and angry. She went toward
the door, then came back and stood
behind me, resting her hand lightly
upon my shoulder
'oTry and forgive me, uncle. I
love him 90 II love bis faults that
make you dispise him, and bis virtues
you do not know. Won't you kiss
me, uncls1 n
II was half inclined to take her in
my arms and tell her she could do
what she would, but I did not, After