The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-02-16
TOMS ENGAGEMENT.

Old Mr.. MolyneuX vas immensely
proud of his position as the county mag
nate. He lived in a fcudal castle which
he had bought chcaply, having taken
over ut the same time the goodwill, so
to speak, of it's former owners social in
fuence and dignity. In consideration
of his great wealth his neighbors chart
tably ignored the fact that his father
had been Il small tradcsman, and that he
himself had carried on Il lucrative bust.
ness IN the hardware line for many years.
He was not a bad old fellow, his vulgar
ity being of u subducd and inoffensive
kind, and consequently he was received
in the best county society. But he as
pired to ever greater distinction, for his
pet project was to marry his only son,
Tom, to one of the Earl of Laburnum's
daughters. There seemed no reason
why this suspicious event should not
come about, for the Lady Florence
looked kindly upon Master Tom, and
his lordship had more than once limited
that he would Iaise no objection. Lord
Laburnum was the lord lieutenant of
the county, and an alliance with his
: family meant admission into the most
aristocratic circles.
Unfortunately. Master Tom was rather
a s~capegrace, and his father preferred to
let him sec a little of the world before
revealing the high honors that were in
for him. The fact was that Tom showed
no prediction whatever for the Lady
Florence, and he was just Mt that demo-
cratic age when a youth is apt to under
rate social advantages. The old man
hoped that when Ton had had his fling
he would begin to awake to the rcspon-
sibilities of his position u d be amenable
to reason. He knew that Tom was rails
ing a very respectable crop of debts, and
that before long his patcrnal assistance
would be sought. When the crisis ar
rived, he intended to make known his
wishes, and to take advantage Of the
lads embarrassment to impose condi-
lions. Meanwhile, as Tom seemed to
have given his heart a rowing commits
sion, there was no apparent danger of
his seriously compromising his affec-
lions.
One day, however, the young man
came down from town, where he was
Ostensibly studying for the bar, and
! announced that The was engaged to be
married. Old Mr.. Molyneux nearly had
a fit of apoplexy on the spot, and when
Tom proceeded to state that the young
lady earned her own living by carrying
on the business of. a drcssmaker at the
West End, his horror and indignation
knew no bounds. In vain Tom pleaded
that Miss Fabian was a lady by birth
and education, and that the poverty of
her family was her only crime. His
father became more and more furious,
until Tom showed symptoms of fiat re-
belllon.s ls%r ~a.., ,..
&; 1'Think of your position in the coun-
ty" cried old Mr.. Molyncux, perceiving
this, and wisely making an effort to con-
troll himself. II will take it for granted,
if you like, that the girl is an exemplary
character. She may be ladylike, and
well educated, and all the rest of it.
But her station is altogether inferior to
yours"
81 don't see that" said Tom, stub
bornly.
"Why, of course. 1t is ridiculous"
said the old gentleman, swelling with
self -importancc. "Hcr father, YOU say,
; is a poor out-at-clbows devil of a clerk
in the CITY,"
'Ive ncve noticed his coat has holes
in it" retortcd Tom. Gas for his being
: clerk in the city, SO were you-oncc.
The only difference is that you have
~. oSSh u tuiu liz, anu nave
made enough money to retire upon.s
"None of your internal radical non
sense here, sir ~, criedold Mr." Molyncux,
Infatuated at this reference to his own
origin. "It would be just as sensible to
say that you and I arc the equals of
lord Laburnum because Adam was our
common ancestor. What docs it mat
ter if | was oncc a clerk in the city? l
have since attained a superior grade in
the social scale, and that is the fact that
must be faced. BY marrying the daugh-
ter of n city clerk, who earns her living
by dressmaking, you would be making
, mis-alliance."
"Just as Lady Florence would by
marrying me-" said Tom, looking won
'derfully innocent.
"Who is talking about Lady Flor
enceY' said old Mr.. Molynenx, taken
aback by this unexpected thrust.
'Nobody-only l have an idea you
wish me to marry out of my station :"
retorted Tom.
II don't wish you to marry at all, sir,
tot for many a long yearw cried the old
man, fairly nonplused.
"What l mean Is, father" said Tom,
doggedly, ''that I ses no more harm in
marrying below ones station-to use
your own term-than in MARRYING above
d. If one is wrong the other must be-"
eStuff and nonsense. sir! You don't