The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1889-06-22
WON BY A DUCKING.
BY s. A. WEISS.

~" inc HorlLon-anu emily gray
shadows were gathering in the nearly
leafless grove in the rear of Beech Villa
On the messy root of an old tree,
close to the bank of the river which muir
INJURED past, sat young girl, watching,
with curious expression of alternate
hope and disappointment, a footpath
which wound away in the direction OF
the suburban road on which the villa
was situated. Clearly she was expecting
some one.
He came at last-a tall, slim young
man, uncXceptionably attired, and who,
as he wendell his way among the tall
grasses, absently struck off their heads
with his gold headed cane.
The girl sprang to meet him.
ooh, Augustus, I'm so glad you've
come at last. I've waited an age; but
with a sudden anxiety, as she noted
his grave xprcSsion-''what success
have you had: Did papa consent to see
you, after having so cruelty forbidden
me 10 receive your visitsl"
eyes, he saw me-" the young man
answered, gloomily. 'fIIe could not
have avoided it, as | met HIM at the
door just as he was leaving the house :"
"Ano what did he say2" She asked,
eagerly.
Augustus placed his arm around the
slender waist of the girl-the grounds
were part of her fathers domain and
quite secluded-and looked down into
her pretty face.
ole said speaking slowly and with
far-away, absent look-''hc said that
you and were couple of fools"
"What! Howe Why2" she fall
tered.
"For proposing to marry on six hun
dred dollars a year"
"But papa has enough for us all, and
| am his only child. Surely you re-
minded him of that?"
'No, indeed. How could stoop to
such mercenary considerations. On the
contrary, | told him that | did not want
his money; that l could make my for
tune, as he had done, and that all
asked of him was his consent to our
marriage"
"And what did he say then?' she in
quired, eagerly.
Nothing; except to request me to
cave the house and never again see
YOU"
what shame!"
Tears sprang to her eyes and she laid
aer cheek caressingly and soothingly
against her lovers manly shoulders.
OF course l WENT resumed Angus
;us, with sad dignity; ''but before do
ing so, Informed Mr.. Hogan respectfully
but firmly, that though ! might never
again enter his house, l would on no
account relinquish my claim to his
daughters hand. l told him that we
loved each other, and defied any human
power to keep up apart
The girls cheeks flushed and her eyes
glowed.
THAT must have touched him!" she
said, gazing with proud tenderness into
her lovers face. 'That must have
stirred his feelings, if anything could. ="
ut did" responded Augustus, grim
ly. In fact-I don't wish to harrow
your feelings, Maude, dearest, but your
father was stirred to that degree that he
not only slammed the library-door in IT =.
face as l left the room, but followed r.o
to the hall door and-fung thesdoo
mat after me. Indeed, l suspect tn;
the mark is still upon my back"
80 it is" said Maude, Indignantly.
"Stand still, dear, and let me brush off
the dust. What dreadful behavior in
papa! Aunt Eliza always calls him too
hasty, but l never dreamed of his
carrying on like this. Perhaps" with
little sob in her perhaps he'll
come round by-and-by. He does some
times. Aunt Eliza has most influence
with him, and she-she's our friend,
you know
They were standing near the river :