Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-01-12
CHAPTER XXIV.

THE SQUIRE GIVES HIS CONSENT.
 Edward Cossey, returning to Boisingham on the evening of his engagement, at once wrote and posted note to the squire, saying that he would call on the following morning about matter of business. Accordingly, at half past 10 o'clock, he arrived and was shown into the vestibule, where he found the old gentleman standing with his back to the fire and plunged in reflection
 "Well, Mir. de la Molle," said Edward, rather nervously so soon as he had shaken hands, II do not know if Ida has spoken to you about what took place between us yes terday."
 "Yes," he said, ives, she told me some thing to the effect that she had accepted proposal of marriage from you, subject to my consent, of course but really the whole thing is so sudden that I have hardly had time to consider it."
 "It is very simple" said Edward; II am deeply attached to your daughter, and have been so fortunate as to be accepted by her. Should you give your consent to the marriage, may as we'll say at once that l wish to make the most liberal money ar engagements in my power. I will make Ida a present of the mortgage bonds that hold over this property, and she may put them in the fire Further, I will covenant on the death of my father, which cannot now be long delayed, to settle two hundred thousand pounds upon her absolutely. Also, I shall be prepared to agree that if we have a son, and he should wish to do so, he should take the name of De la Molle."
 1T am sure" ," said the squire, turning round to hide his natural qualification at these proposals, "your offers on the subject of settlements are of most liberal order, and of course, so far as 1 am concerned, Ida will have this place, which may one day be again moro valuable than it is now"
 "I am glad that they meet with your ap- | proval, ;" said Edward; land flow there is one l more thing I want to ask you, MT. de la Molle, and which l hope, if you will give 1 your consent to the marriage, you will not raise any objection to. That is, that our en- | gagement should not be announced at pres | ent. The fact is," he went on. hurriedly my father is Q very peculiar man, and has a | great idea of my marrying somebody with a large fortune. Also his state of health is so uncertain that there is no possibility of know ing how he will take anything. Indeed he is dying; the doctors told me that he might l go off any day, and that he cannot last for another three months. If the engagement is announced to him now, at the best shall have great deal of trouble, and at the worst he might, if he happened to take fancy against it, make me suffer in his will.' | "Umph," said the squire, II don't quite like the idea of projected marriage with my daughter, Miss de la Molle of Honhan castle, being hushed up as though there were something discreditable about it, but stil there may be peculiar circumstances in the case that would justify me in consenting te that course. You are both old enough to know 1 your own minds, and the match would be a: advantageous to you as it could be to us, fol even nowadays, family, and l may even say personal appearance, still go for something where matrimony is concerned. I have req son to know that your father is a peculiar man, very peculiar. Yes, on the whole though don't like hole and corner affairs, shall have no objection to the engagement
 not being announced for the next month ol two"
 "1hank you for considering me so much, said Edward, with a sigh of relief. "The,