Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-04-03

have been oherishing the thought that
you might really come to like him-that,
through you. We might become prosper
ous and care free once more"
Il presume you have, she exclaimed,
with % nearly tone Of contempt as his
weak senility and selfshness ever Wrung
out Of her voice, -but il is not my fault
il you have been self-deluded. told
you from the first that would only con-
sent to be complacent with him in the
hope that il might permanently mollify
Mr.. Marlowe's hardness toward you. 1t
was wrong in me to 60 even that far, but 1t
was oil for your sake, father. II either
you or Mr.. Croak have built fctitiously
thereon, the fault does not rest with me.
But Mr.. Marlowe has remained and
will remain unmollifed," /" complained the
old man, wringing his hands. "This will
make Oroak as pitiless as he-he's per-
feet fend when thwartedl"
And yet you would urge me, your own
daughter, to be his wifel"
"Ah, / am too old to work any more,
and we shall be turned into the street,"
But am not too old to work, father,
and we shall not be turned into the street.
Good old Aunt Joan says we can live
with her as long as we choose, and that
you can help her sons in mending fish
nets for our board. In the meantime, I
can become day governess-the rich
Diapers wife has already given me en-
couragement-and learn to make lace in
the evenings"
@We shall be horribly poor instead Of
care free-Jasmine Lodge will remain
with strangers.
Better heart free than care free, father
better Aunt Joan's hut, honestly earned,
than Jasmine Lodge at the cost of self
respectl"
-No, no, my child; it is not SO. Oh,
Gwennyl / have as good as promised
him that you shall be his. My child,
viii you not be so2 Not for your poor old
fathers sake?"
His appeal degraded him SO much that
her heart bled for him. Her eyes filed,
and her lip quivered, but she remained
firm.
"Once for all then, father no, will
not" said she. @Filial duty is one thing,
womanly honor is another. I think
have never been wanting in the one re-
spect, and, with heavens support, i shall
never sacrifice the other-no, not even
for your sake, father. A woman's heart
is her only inviolable dower-its purity
should be guarded more sacredly hun
dredfold than life itself--she has no right
to sacrifice it, not even for her fathers
sakel"
-Ah, then, welcome misery, welcome
the poorhousei Old Croak will be
furious--his revenge will stop at moth
ing"
fatherl fear neither the fury nor revenge
of such man. If / were, indeed, de-
choice at least should present the belong
offered me his hand to- day.
-What-what can you mean, Gwennyi
Some one else has asked you to marry
| him?"
Il should not have spoken of it," said
she, biting her lip and reddening. -Yor
have been trying my patience SO much
| think no more of it.
But who made you that offer, my
child2 come, / am your father, you mus
| tell me-"
Lord Squanderall.
| You ravel He has Just come to hi
title--a dukes grandson-a peer of thu
realml All, I understand. Boncourt'
| wine was strong, and you are not re-
sponsible for your youth and beauty, m.
| child"
"You mistake, in several ways, father,
said she, quietly. Lord Squanderall j
Of age, and thoroughly contemptuous o
caste restraints. He was not under tn
| influence of wine, either. He had beel
drinking at luncheon, but was per
fectly sober and earnest, when escortinl
me home, at which time his offer wa
made.
'Hurrahl feel young again. What!
lord, peer Of the realm for son-in-law
| You're right, my darling child Whistl
old Croak down the wind-I'll help you
Tothink Of his presumption-the crooked
knock-kneed, hideous, deformed oil
brute!"
At this instant, Mr.. Croak himself en-
tered the room. Mr.. Alworths suddel
hilarity had been so boisterous that n
preliminary knock had been heard, il
indeed, there had been any at all, 8
that the appearance Of the lawyer wa
rather startling to GwendoliDe and he
father.
@Good-evening, good-eveningl" shuttle
Mr.. Croak, smilingly shambling into th
room, hat in hand. II must have bee
expected, for it struck me that my nam
was being mentioned as approached th
door. Or was it but fancy-the feather
outcome Of a lovers teeming fancy? Nc
no; / see by your faces I was expected
and here am.
| Then he coolly laid down his hat, Dire
chair up to the table, and expressed th
hope that Miss Alworth would not max
his tea too sweet.