Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-10-19
COL. MONKS ELECTION.

4 irving interview it had been, and
the Young man looked crest-fallen
enough as he emerged from the libra
rv door, closing it softly after him.
As he did so he glanced little sheep
ishly about him, but he had not 10
look far: for even as he stood there
gloomy and irresolute there was
whirr Of delicate draperies and pat
ter of slippers on the marble tiling OF
the hallway. a yonng girl stood be-
hind him and, as she nestled close and
placed fairy-like hand contidingly in
one of his big, strong ones, her two
dancing eyes voiced the query that
her lips refused to utter.
Its no use, Adele" he announced
mournfully. I've talked TO your
father until | am tired, talked in
the most reasonable, practical strain
YOU have any idea of. | told him |
wanted nothing on earth but pledge
from you, and his sanction to that
pledge, with the provisO that If in ten
wears | am not able to come to him
and demand you as my right | am TO
relinouish all claim to you. He not
onlv denied this, but said it would be
best, now that matters have gone this
far. that | see you less frequently; 1t
would be easier to bear that way, he
said. Only fancy, Adele, he says !
must not see you oftener than once a
month"
'Preposterous" murmured the girl
nesting still closer. But what else
passed then, Albert
well, | spoke of my prospects.
told him had hopes of building up
good practice in year-that | had
lots of clients now, and would soon
have more Then he remarked that
he despised ministers and lawyers,
anyway. That made me angry, which
| am afraid did not mend matters.
But | couldn't help it, and told him
that for man of his years, and for a
politician. he had less sense than any
man | knew
'Oh, Albert, how could your was
the frightened response; 'and what
did he say them
Well rejoined the young man,
darkly, 'he told me he didn't believe
could see you at all He muttered
something under his breath that
sounded like 'shyster, and | had to
60"
The young people separated a few
moments later with renewed pledges
of fidelity. 1t may or may not have
been that the young mans departure
was accelerated by the sound of heavy
footsteps crossing the room he had
lately quilted.
Col. Monk, or rather Congressman
Monk, for he was n member OF the
House, was a politician from the top
of his polished head to the soles of his
CATERS. The one object, outside OF
the political arena, upon which his
care and attention was lavished, was
his motherless daughter Adele, He
had watched her childhood with care
and devotion and was now as proud
of her, in her delicate 1S-year beauty,
as is usual with doting American faith
ers of the period.
He had denied her nothing, until
now: but he could not bring himself
to give her to this struggling young
lawyer. Albert Blake, and so upset at
a blow his vague but fondly-cherlshed
dreams of much prouder alliance.
He liked the young man extremely
much better than he did the shallow
pated sons of his wealthy neighbors
who clustered about his daughter.
But have Adele, Albert should not;
this much he was resolved on-unless
the next year witnessed some mighty
and unlooked-for alteration in the
young mans prospects.
The weeks went by rather monoto-
nously. young Blake adhering religi-
ously 10 a resolution, formed directly
after leaving Adele the last time, not
to seek her presence until some sort of
a reconciliation had been patched up
with her father. Taking him all in
all. he was rather honorable young
fellow and preferred causing himself
and his sweetheart pang OF regret or
so 20 doing anything he would have
been ashamed to have the Colonel dis
cover. He worked hard-very hard
and had the daily satisfaction of no
ticing an increase in his clientage that
evidenced an eventual prosperity. So
assiduously did he devote himself 10
his practice that he almost forgot to
worry about his love affair.
But this could not last. OF course it
could not. After a day OF excessively
hard work he was brooding over his
office fire in frame of mind the gloom
Of which was not little enhanced by
the perusal of a certain article in the
evening paper. The article in ques-
ton dwelt at some length on the re
| election OF Col. Monk TO Congress, he