The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-18
LOVE VS.. PRIDE.
BY FRED F. FOSTER.


EM;F2HAT makes you look so blue?" in
ANY, quired Alice Vernon, as she late
VIZ N:N one August evening entered the
room where her father sat alone, with bowed
head and an expression upon his counten-
ance that was indicative of mental diseom-
| fort.
| He made no response and she, putting her
arms around his neck and kissing him, re-
! peated the question.
81 may as well out with it first rs last he
presently said. "Do you think very much
of Mr.. Gregory"
Eyes" she TREMENDOUSLY answered, her
| cheeks flushing.
HAS he asked you TO become his wife,
'No, indeed" she replied. in amazement.
LESS than fifteen minutes ago he solicited
my permission to do So
THAT proves him an honorable man," she
| earnestly rejOined, 'hiS unwillingness TO
render me unhappy by arousing my hopes
of what could not be realized except with
| your consent. You granted what he ashed?'
81 refused it. he said, in a tone that was
| by no means SO stern as lie intended ii to be-
| what is your objection to him?" she
| family articulated.
He is the son of wealthy Siock-broker
in New York City, and probably has never
| wanted for any thing that money could pro-
cure. You are the daughter OF man who,
as proprietor of store and postmaster IN
| this little village, has net accumulated an
| abundance of this worlds goods. Were he
to marry you, whose position is so much
| inferior to his own. to which this marriage
| would naturally raise you, should ieei
under obligation to HIM. And my prlde Is
| such that l cannot endure the thought OF
| l.f,N hobo RI ONT
far in life have depended wholly upon my
| own unaided efforts"
Did you, then, explain your refusal to
him?''
Il did"
| "You have no objections to Lew-Mr.
| Greggory-persOnalk?
| Deeming your intimacy with him,
| summer hoaIder i'll Maple Grove, only as
| matter of the moment, as has been your as
ISOLATION with other young gentlemen tent
| pOrarily resident in the place, | have made
| no endeavor to acQuaint mysrH with his
| real character But he has always appeared
to NE thoroughly gentleman"
She left him without another word.
| And the following morning Lewis Greg
| CORY took his departure from Maple Grove
| without holding any interview with Alice.
! The DAYS and weeks slided away until
the middle of October, when Lewis Greg
| CORY entered Mr.. Vernon's store, greatly 10
the surprise of its proprietor.
81 am very glad to find you alone, as de-
| sire a few moments private conversation
with you," he observed, extending his hand
! to MIR. Vernon.
You are aware" he went on, ''of the ruin
| in which many following my father voca-
ton were involved by the transactions in
| Wall street on that day, but short time
| ago, which will ever lie known as Black
| Friday | wish work of some kind II 1t
barely affords me living, and was averse
| to seeking il among those with whom l
have associated as their equal or superior,
| so far as wealth confers distinction. | have
! come 10 see il / cannot secure situation as
| YOUR clerk having learned that he who has
| served in that capacity has left YOU"
Astonished by the request, Mr.. Vernon at
| once conceived an unlimited admiration Tor
| the applicant" who in the season OF adj
| versity was willing TO work for living,
| though I" a pampered child of fortune
| Moreover. he fully appreciated the pride
which would prevent him from seeking a
| position among those whose equal or su-
| peri0r" lie had been.
81 fear you will not find situation with
me congenial," Mr.. Vernon said.
"BeggaTS must not be chooSerS Wlll you
| give me trial ~
Yes, SIR" returned Mr.. Vernon. en-
| phatcally.
THANK yOn."
You can beard in my family" Mr.. Ver-
| non continued, and thus save more from
your wages than you could otherwise. l
| trust my proposition Is not displeasing to
| you?"
The question was induced by the express
| sion that stole over the young mans eounte-
nance when ne heard the proposition"
Far from it," was the reply.
81 cannot conveniently leave the store at
| this time" said Mr.. Vernon, but you would
better 90 up To the house-you know where
| il is" he added parenthetically, with good
| natured grimace, land inform the folks
that you are to become 4 member of the
family, so an extra plate will be put on the
| tea table for you.
Gregory acted accordantly with the adj
| vice md Mr.. Vernon muttertd to himself:
| "lf | had known lie had such mettle in
him l would
The sentence was unfinished. owing to the
appearance Of man who wanted pound
| Of butter
| To the imagination of the reader we leave
| the combined pleasure and surprise afforded
| Alice by the entrance Of the new conner into
her home, and by knowledge of how he
| chances to be there.
The new clerk discharged his duties in
| manner that was emlneDtly satisfactory to
| his employer Indeed lie pronounced him
far superior to any of his previous assist
| ants.
One day in April Gregory said to Mr..
| Vernon:
my salary would hardly warrant my so
doing, but again venture 10 ask your per-
| mission TO make Alice my wife, as letter
| that received from home this noon assures
| me that | can provide her with home as
| good as that now hers. | have kept my
| word, given you when before 1preferred the
same request-that l would not ask her TO
marry me until l had your sanction: but l
am confident that her heart is mine
| Lewis" quietly returned Mr.. Vernon.
| "were yon penniless l should answer your
| petition atlirmatyely."
| Ere many weeks had elapsed Miss Alice
| Vernon became Mrs. Alice Gregory, the
wedding ceremony being performed in her
| home without the least ostentation.
Father" SAID Gregory, addressing Mr..
| Vernon, you know everything is fair in
| love and war; From the time when | went
from this place, last August, it was con-
slant study how l might overcome the OBJ
stacle to my marriage to lice which you
had raised. Finally, / devised a scheme
which | thought would prove successful:
came back to Maple Grove, intimated, if
| you remember my words you will admit [
did not assert-that my father was ruined,
| secured situation AS your clerk and won
| confidence and esteem to an extent that led
| you unhesitatingly to intrust your daugh-
ter's future welfare in my keeping. The
| truth is, my fathers financial condition was
| in no wise affected by the fluctuations Of
Black Friday.
my dear boy" blandly replied Mr.. Ver-
non, when you applied to me for a sitlia-
ton, l suspected that you were playing
| part, and long ago learned by correspond
ence with friends in New York City that
your father was all solid Then, said | to
myself: III his love for Alice is such that
lie will thus humliate himself for her sake,
| l have no reason to fear that lie will ever
think he has married beneath him, or that
shall feed indebted TO him for the honor he
has conferred upon me by making her his
wife, and she shall be his for a second ask
ing"
''H'm!" was Greggory's sole rejoinder as
| he grasped his father-in-law'S hand-BoS-