River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-07-10


benefited and advanced his daughter
When twinges o. pain raclzed his body
and the old wounds received in battle
opened afresh, be always smiled a well
come to the motherless little one when
she came to him. Happiness alone en-
tered into her life. Colonel Scott was
growing old, and, although jealous OF
every heartbeat of the child whom he so
tenderly loved, he did not look with dis
favor upon the attentions which were
frequent and manifestly the marks of
affection, displayed by the son of his
old comrade, Major Cleveland. But
one evening he found his daughter in
tears. and ascertained that her lover,
George Cleveland, had been finding
fault with and scolding her. The fol-
loving evening, when the young man
called. he was met by the indignant ia
Their, who said:
Leave my house, sir, and never again
show your face beneath my roof"
The young man was abashed, astound-
ed, stammered. tried to explain or apol-
ogize, but il was useless. His dismissal
was final. The young man really loved
Ophelia, truly and devOtedly. When
he reaehed home he wrote, rewrote
again and again; and finally mailed
pathetic letter to Colonel Scott, begging
pardon thousand times for his indis-
erection and injudicious manner, and
promising most sOlemnly never t. give
way TO such an ill-humor again. For
answer he received a letter from the
Colonel, saying:
81 am growing very old. / must leave
my daughter alone, unless she has the
protection of husband. While am on
earth 70 protect her she shall never wed
man who has aught to say to her save in
kindness. Once man commences to
find fault with woman, and especially
irhe have temerity to scold while yet
but lover, his wife viii surely fall be-
meath the weight of his displeasure, and
exc out the miserable existence of
white slave to a heartless master. Kind
words will always win a woman, and ne
man who knows not this first lesson in
human nature should never ma 'ry. I
am sorry for you, but | can not again
see my daughters eyes dimmeo with
tears on your account. j could not rest
in my grave if you were her husband.
A year passed by and Colonel Scott
was confined to his bed. The physicians
said that he could not recover. He re-
ceived a message from the young man,
begging brief interview, and it was
accorded. George Cleveland took the
| diving mans hand and said:
The deserved lesson which you gave
me has sunllen deep into my heart. 1t
has been food for my constant reflections
/ for a whole year; and that is a long
time for youth, as You know. am firm
| " resolved never again to speak a harsh
word to any woman, be she of high or
| low degree; no matter whether she
shall be my wife, or the wife of another.
| ] am told that you can not hope to re-
main longer with your daughter, and I
have come to give you my word. believ-
ing you to be dying man, that. if you
| will consent to my marriage with Ophe-
/ liza, | shall never for moment forget
the promise which now make to you. !"
The old soldier arose to sitting pos
ture. and said:
young man. / believe you. You
/ come of good stock. Your fathers word
was as good as his bond. You resemble
him. ! charge you by the memory of
| your father to keep your word. be-
lieve you, and | withdraw my objec-
| ton"
He called his daughter, and the re-
Cancellation was complete. The we'd
| ding, according to the wish of the ia
| Their, was solemnized at his bedside the
next morning. Colonel Scott recovered,
and lived for several years thereafter.
He is living to day. His daughter is
happy. and has never heard an unkind
word from her faithful husband. Colonel
Scott sat upon the broad veranda and
| told me this story, as he toyed with the
sunny curls of the little grandchild upon
| his knee. She confirmed his story by
saying: "Da Da, Boo" 5. ID. f.