Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-05
IN his Study" murmured Mics Bart

cousins to each other. Mary"
And she fixed her eyes on her hostess
in very peculiar way.
Mary returned this fixed look with
such keen intelligence that her gray
eyes actually scintillated.
Mary, [ seldom waste much time be-
fore come to the point. Walter Cliff
ford is good fellow; he has behaved
well to me. / had quarrel with mine,
and Walter played the peacemaker, and
brought US together again without
out Walter himself was in grief about
you. 1t was my turn, wasn't it?
made him tell me all. He wasn't very
willing, but would know. | see his
love is making him miserable, and so is
yours, dear"
ooh, yes"
$50 took it on me to advise him. I
have made him call on your father.
Fathers sometimes pooh-pooh their
daughters affections; but when the son
of Colonel Clifford comes with aformal
proposal of marriage, Mr.. Barley can
not pOOh-pooh ham,"
Mary clasped her hands, but said
nothing.
"And the next thing is to comfortyou.
4
Eyes, [ do"
"Then come here and take it."
No sooner said than done. Mary's
head on Julia's shoulder, and Julia's
arm round Mary's waist.
"Are you better, dear?"
"Oh, so much"
at is a comfort, isn't it? Well, now,
listen to me. Fathers sometimes delay
a girls happiness; but they don't often
destroy it; they don't go and break her
heart as some mothers do. A mother
that is resolved to have her own way
brings another man forward; fathers
are too simple to see that is the only
way. And then designing mother
cajoles the poor girl and deceives her,
and does number of things man
would call villainies. Don't you fret
your heart out for so small a thing as
fathers opposition. You are sure to
tire him out if he loves you, and if he
doesn't love you, or loves money better,
why, then, he is not a worthy rival to
my cousin Walter, for that man really
loves you, and would marry you if you
had not penny. So would Percy Fitz-
roy marry me. And that is why [ pre-
fer him to the grenadiers and plungers
with silky muStaches, and half an eye
on me and an eye and half on my
money"
Many other things passed between
these two, but what we have endeavOr-
ed to repeat was the cream of Julia's
discourse, and both her advice and her
sympathy were for the time wonder
full comfort to the loye-sick, solitary
girl.
But our business is with Walter Cliff
ford. AS soon as he was announced,
Mr.. BARLEY dismissed his rugged WISH
tors, and received Walter affably though
little stiff1y.
Walter opened his business at once,
and told him he had come to ask his
permission to court his daughter. He
said he had admired her from the first
momentum now his happiness depend
ed on her, and he felt sure he could
money, but by his devotion. Then as
to making proper provision for her
Here Barley stopped him.
"My young FRIEND" said he, "there
can be no objection either to your per-
son or to your position. But there are
difficulties, and at present they are seri-
Gus ones. Your father has other views"
"But, Mr.. Bartley," said Walter,
eagerly, ''he must abandon them. The
lady is engaged"
"Well, then" said BARLEY, ut will be
time to come TO me when he has aban-
dOned those views, and also overcome
his prejudices against me and mine.
But there is another difficulty. Ny
daughter is not old enough to marry,
and / object to long engagements.
Everything, therefore, points to delay,
and on this | must insist"
BARLEY having taken this moderate
ground, remained immovable. He
promised to encourage no other sutton;
but in return he had a right to demand
that Walter would not disturb his
daughters peace of mind until the pros
pect was clearer. In short, instead Of
being taken by surprise, the result
showed Barley quite prepared for this
interview, and he baff1ed the young man
without offending him. He was cautious
not to do that, because he was going to
mine for coal and feared circumstances
and wanted Walter to take his part, or
at least be neutral knowing his love for
Mary. So they parted good friends;but
when he retailed theresult to Julia Cliff
ford she shook her head, and said the
old fox had outWitted him. Soon after,
knitting her brows in thought for some
time, she said, "She isvery young, much
younger than she looks. | am afraid
you will have to wait little, and
watch"
But" said Walter, in dismay, "am I
not to see her or speak to her all the
U1me am Waiting|
I'D see both fathers hanged first, if I
was man." said Julia.