Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-06-02

faithfully argue with her about her duty.
She fears that she doesn't love him quite
enough. They try TO persuade her that she
does, and then she Is sure that she doesn't.
Then appears the other young man, evil
IDENTIFY an adventurer and probably Jew.
Somehow she becomes Interested, and her
friends solemnly warn hor against him.
Then her interest increases, and she finally
marries him with her fathers reluctant
consent.
And so on.
"Yes,n said Joel TO himself as he closed a
book, ''the doctor is right. The girl i'm the
| story always has her own way, and the
more they oppose her the more she has IT,
But dear me; they go to work exactly
wrong. Don't make any allowance for the
| perversity of human nature. They fill the
| girls ears with praises Of the right one till
she's tired and sick of him, and keep her
thinking about the wrong one, by forbid
ding her to think OF him at all. The way
90 do 10 is to turn the thing end for end"
And, in accordance with this reflection
Joel, before he slept, had outlined plan
for managing his daughter
He began operations at breakfast the
next morning.
Annie" he said in his blandest tones
and with his most beaming smile, "your
mother tells me that you and Lee Triton
Annie's face was picture-a whole pan
Drama In fact, in which astonishment, in
| dignation and maidenly shame were sue
cessively portrayed.
"Why, pa,n exclaimed Mrs. Parks, ~
never said any thing of the kindp
II have no idea what you are talking
| about, father" said Annie, recovering her
voice, but not her self possession.
20, you needn't be bashful about it!n
said her father with an odious chuckle,
IL / hadn't been pleased should have
spoken before this. i like your choice,
Annie, il Lee is your choice"
In spite of herself the tears started to
Annie's eyes.
81 think you are too bad, papa; Mr. Til.
ton and are good friends, Of course, but
he never said a word to me that all tho
world mightnt hear, and / don't know
what puts such thought into your head.
You make me ashamed, and I'm sure I've
no cause to be SOL
"Of course not, DEAR" replied her father.
"Lee is a nice young man, whether you
take him or not" and SO saying he rose
from the table and took his departure.
"Shouldn't be surprised il had nipped
that thing in the bud already" thought he
as he walked down the street.
When he came home to dinner his wife
said: Joel, I'm sorry you said what you
did at breakfast. The poor girl was dret-
fully put out. She has been talking about
II all day and telling me every thing that
they ever said when they were together
think she likes him and he her, but she
doesn't know it YETI
20, nonsense 20 said Joel, and then men
tally, ~ didn't begin minute too soon.
I'll follow that up"
At dinner he began:
Speaking of Lee Tilton-"
so, don't father" interrupted Annie.
"But wait, my dear, let me speak. I'm
not trying to influence you. OF course Lee
hasn't spoken yet, and wouldn't unless he
thought was willing. But if he had tho
La hi fttof I'M h.a nOh.
IL let him know in roundabout way that
I'm willing he'd.speak soon enough. Why
shouldn't he be willing to marry the pretti
est girl and the richest girl in this villages
And let me tell you, Lee Tilton is nice
young man. Nothing Eighty about him.
Once married he would settle down as sober
and steady going as a man fifty years old.
And could make business man of him,
for he would do just as told him.
"Father, promise me that you will never
say a word to him, or / will never willingly
see him again. j never want to see him
again, any way, il seems to me-" said An
ME, with face aflame and flashing eye. II
don't know what makes you talk so, indeed
/ don't"
THAT'S the way to do it," was Joeps in
ward comment, many times repeated dur
ing the rest of the day.
But circumstances were not apparently
wholly in his favor. A few days after this
some of the young people had a picnic in
the beautiful grove which crowns the
highest Of Redfield's seven hills, and lust
for fun" the journey was made in hay
racks. Lee Tilton, who had a rare holiday, |
drove one OF these primitive coaches in |
which was merry party OF young men |
and maidens including Aunie Parks. In |
descending the hill on the return home a |
break in the harness gavo Lee an oppor
tunity to show his bravery and GOODNESS, |
which he promptly accepted. He stood by |
his post like the typical engineer, and he
had the satisfaction of saving his passen-
gers from harm, and of being crowned n
hero. In describing the adventure to her
mother Annie did ample justice to Lees
deserts, and spoke OF him as the preserver
OF the whole party; but she had little to
say before her father. Joel thought that
courageously returned to the charge For
two or three days he would talk of nothing
else but Lees heroic act. His wonderful |
presence OF mind, his sublime courage, the
deep and lasting gratitude due him-on
these the changes were rung until even
Mrs. Parks grew tired of the theme, and
Annie was led to declare that ''she didn't
believe there had been any danger at all; |
she wished the old cart had been allowed to
go to the bottom of the HILL any way,
Joel's plan would not have been complete
had IL not included bringing an acceptable
sutton into the field. A Boston business
friend Of his, Mr.. Morton, had a son Will
lam who had just been admitted to the bar,
and who, in Joel's opinion, would be suit
able match for his daughter. He was
handsome and bright, and at least he would
do to beat Lee Tilton with. For Mr.. Parks
had become much more interested in his
plan In the nero question OF his daughters |
called upon the Mortons and suggested that
the young. man should begin hislegal career
in Redfield, promising to give him some
business. The proposition was finally &c
copied, and William Morton became an
object ofintercst i'm Redfeld.
In due course he made the acquaintance
of Miss Annie, and she liked his society, as
indeed every one did. Her father, who had |
concealed his agency in establishing Morton |
in Redfield. spoke OF him rather sightingly |
In the family circle, and compared him
with Lee, much to the latter's advantage. |
He was delighted one day to meet Annie |
returning from little horseback excursion |
with the lawyer, but he put on a look of
concern, and at the first opportunity he
gave her word Of caution.
young Morton Is no doubt well enough |
In his way, my dear" he said, Though he
is too careful In his appearance and too
fond of pleasure to suit me. But IL is |
perhaps as well to be little guarded in
forming familiar acquaintance with o
Lee would not quite approve.
Joel almost Rugged himself as be 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
Triton:
Lee, are you acquainted with Lawyer
Mortonw
mo, sir" was Lees answer; that is, but
slightly"
"There is something that troubles me,r
continued Parks. Tdon't know much of
that young man, but to say the least he
isn't my kind. Now my Annie Is young
and inexperienced, and ! see that she 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 1t. Just give her little friendly
hint, you know"