The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-02-17
CHAPTER VII.
PARENTAL PLEASURE.

dnrablv fidgety before the drawing room
door opened, and Col Kenyon came forth.
Habad been out when his friend arrived,
Init came in shortly afterward. and when 20
heard from Ruth that Col Kenyon was
there he gave a sort Of grunt, and retired
quietly, with one of his grim smiles stealing
over his face, into the dining room. He
waited there patiently enough quite an
hour and then he began to grow uneasy.
Good heavens! could there be any
hitch p' he thought, almost ga-ping. Another
balf-hour passed aud still there was ncsign,
and unable any longer to bear his imQa-
tiance he went into the passage. Just as he
did this. however. the handle Of the draw
inc room door, which was just opposite the
dioincr room, turned, and the colonel HASTILY
dortei back into that room, and as he
was in the act of doing so the unmistaka-
bic sound of kiss fell on his delighted
ears.
III your father is in the house I shall
sneak to him at once,n said Col kenyon's
Pleasant tones; and Col. Forth hearing this,
rrasped a newspaper and subsidized Into an
EASY chair. and endeavored 10 look as though
he were quietly reading.
The next moment little tap came TO the
dining room Goor.
slant later Col. Kenyoa entered.
"Ah. Kenyon, is that youi" said Col
Flrt rising, f.nging down the newspaper,
aud holding out his red hairy hand; u
didn't hear you come in"
I've been here more than an hour, my
dear fellow aus wered Kenyon; and then
with little effort he continued: We've
been old friends, and good friends, Forth;
have we not@
There's no mistake about that, " replied
Forth.
But I'm going TO put your friendship to
strong test" went on Kenyon, with some
emotion. Il am going to ask you to give
Ine one whom | am sure is the greatest treas
ure Of your home, to be the greatest treas
ure Of mine"
Col. Forth could scarcely conceal his de-
light at the prospect of getting rid Of his
treasure but to do the man Justice, he
tried:
You mean" he said, and paused.
Il mean your beautiful Frances; she has
promised TO be M wife if you will give
your consent, which l earnestly hope you
will do
Col. Forth cleared his throat, and felt
that it beloved him to act the bereaved
father.
II owe YOU much, Kenyon" he said,
every much, and ii Frances wishes this 1
can refuse you nothing"
Then we must shake hands" answered
Kenyon, warmly grasping Col Forth's
hand. "Frauces has consented to overlook
my years and my gray hairs, and in return
] shall give her the trueSt devotion of my
whole life"
well, hope you'll both be happy" said
Forth, for he could think of nothing else to
say.
II am not afraid. love her very dearly.
bov 7 hal oh
is too pure and noble to marry me unless
she gave me some in return"
Good heavens!n thought Forth what
utter fools men in love are, to be sure"
But he only smiled grinly,, and then be-
gan to consider if it would be necessary to
ask his future son-in-law to dinner, and
what were the probable contents Of the
larder.
And when did you settle all this?" he
asked, after few moments reflection.
"OnIy this afternoon. | hoped to have
found an opportunity yesterday of speaking
to Frances, but could find noue. But some
thing in her manner
Made YOU think she wouldn't say no,
supposed" said Col Forth, in a way that he
meant to be facetiOus. And what about
this evening? Win you stay and take pot
luck with u.s. as you lovers won't like to be
parted, you know, even if you run the risk
of bad dinner instead of a good one" and
again re smiled.
81 shall be delighted to stay answered
Col Kenyon, who would gladly have gone
without any dinner to be near Frances.
In an ordinary way he was man, how
ever, who liked a good dinner fairly
well; that is he had good appetite and he
was always pleased to see people enjoy
themselves at his table.
In the drawing room, Frances at this mo-
ment was hoping her father would not ask
Col Kenyon to dinner, as she wanted lit
tie rest after the excitement she had gone
through; and not being in love with her
lover 2 long evening with him offered no
attractions. But she had to make the best of
It, Presently her father and Kenyon en-
tered the drawing room together, and
Col Foeth told her he had invited Kenyon
to stay.
80 you two are going to make a match
OF II, l hearF he said, looking at his
br0ws.
1t was on Frances lips to say sarcasti-
caly, Il hope you mean to give us your
iiesslng,' but she suppressed the speech, as
she had kind of instinct that Col. Kenyon
would not like it. She did not quite under
stand his character, but still she understood
tins much, that he was a man who made no
mock at big or holy things, and that he
PROBABLY regarded marriage from a very
different standpoint to herself, and would
not care, at present at least, to hear it made
the subject of light words. She, therefore,
only smiled in reply to the parental re-
mark, and then looked for moment at
Col. Kenyon, who felt this glance to be
sort of appeal, and fastened TO respond to
It.
,, Your father has made me very happy,
Frances he said, taking her hand, and
mas not scolded me, as l half expected he
wuuldn
1T was very good Of him." said
FRANCES, with inward mirth, CLEAN Of
which for a moment shot into Ler hazel
eyes
~. Well, all can say is, said Col Forth,
,thet kenyon's good fellow; there is no
p'tteY fellow that | know Of, and if you are
both satisfied, | am"
we are both satisfied"
Frances spoke these words in her softest
Tone, and again raised her bright eyes to
CoL henyons face, who deeply regretted
az TINS moment the presence Of his future
ialler-in-!aw in tho room.
=, That's all right, then" said Col. Forth,
,ahd kenyon's going to dine here,
frances, so you had better go and sec the
COOK, TO- you can't live on love. you know"
ana he laughed his harsh laugh.
FRANCES took the hint and left the room,
mlsulng very much at the same time that her
iasAer had left this invitation alone. She
HAed Col. Kenyon very well, but she had
already spent nearly two hours in his com
fhuN - -. 49,