The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-24

VI D-AUk cuUC1ttl hL uOitic Nv ROVer0eSS
as her father had intended should be the
case. Once finished, she had, o. returning
home, resumed her position as pat a ID
tyrant OF the house, but even her fathers
desire to make her happy had failed to win
his consent to her wishes, when she had first
announced her intention of marrying Rob
ert Harbut. The thing was as both he and
her brothers considered, piece of midsum-
mer madness. In the first place they had
expected that she would make a grand
match. They thought so much of her
Themselves that they naturally expected
others would see her as they did.
1t was not so much question of money,
although how Hilda, who had been accus-
toned to every luxury. supposed she was
goiug to exist ON the eight hundred a year
that Robert had inherited from his parents
was more than they could imagine. This
point was pressed upon her, but she replied,
calmly:
II suppose, papa, you do not intend 20 cut
me off with penny. IL You do, you have
treated me scandalously, for In that case
ought to have been taught to make my own
dresses, and TO know how to cook and other
useful accomplishments for a poor mans
wife, But even without that, Robert says
that we can live extremely comfortably on
eight hundred year. Besides. there is his
income at the bar. You needn't laugh, papa,
uo VIII edIu du lHCOI1o III ehiuS
But the question of money was second
airy one altogether in Mr.. Leicester's eyes.
Robert Harbut was of good birth, and had
a very fair income apart from his profess
sion. 1t was the man himself They had
known Robert almost since he was a child
for his father had been close friend Of
the banker's-and he had not ceased to be a
boy in their eyes. They had expected
somehow, that Hilda would choose some
1 81
have strong influence over her, and would,
i'll fact, as her brother remarked, keep her
in order.
"But he is not boy, papa" Hilda had
urged; sit is ridiculous your talking in
that way; he is as old as Henry. You
know that they were in the same form at
Elton. He is e."
"Well, he may be, my dear, but he looks
about 49,"
at appears to me. papa, that his looks are
my affair rather than yours. ! am going to
marry Robert Harbut one of these days. He
IS in no hurry, nor am !. He wants to
make his mark at the bar first, and Ishould
like to see him do it, and l know perfectly
well he will as soon as he gets chance. Ii
will be much nicer aud pleasanter for you
all 20 recognize this, and to give your cor
dial approval to it. You have nothing
whatever to say against Robert. You have
always liked him, and you have always
made him at home here"
Mr.. Leicester could not deny this.
But he does look so young, he expostu-
lated, rubbing his short hair violently with
his handkerchief.
81 have always thought you a sensible
man till now, papa, always. But if you
tell me seriously that you object to a man
| as son-in-law because nature hasn't given
him whiskeTs, all | can say is that | have
been mistaken in my estimate of you.
like HIM because he is not a humbug, and
| doesn't, like some people, put on an air oil
preternatural gravity as he goes up to the
city, and try to assume the airs of bust
ness man of 50,n and sac emphasized hel
meaning by waving her hand to her two
brothers, who had been endeavoring to as
sist their father by occasional inter jections
which she had hitherto ignored.
They both laughed at this sally.
! II don't think it is necessary to say any
more" she said, with dignity, 'as tar as
| am concerned, the matter is entirely set
tied, and the sooner you make up your minds
to it, the pleasanter for us al. The sterl
| parent, papa, is ridiculously out of date
and you know perfectly we'll that you are
not qualified for the role. 1 hope tomorrow
morning you will tell me that you have
thought better of it, and that you are quite
sure | shall be a very happy woman and
that among all the young men you know
there is no one to whom you could more
confidently hand me over. Good night
boys; l don't mean TO interfere when your
time comes-that is, if you don't interfere
with me now. Good night" and Hilda
swept out Of the drawing-room.
Mr.. Leicester looked at his two son:
and the three men burst into fit of laugh
| ter
ut is no use, father" Henry, the elder
| brother said, sit is your own fault, you
know, for you have always let her have heI
own way, and after all, Robert Harbut is q
capital fellow. OF course, Hilda might
| have done a great deal better, from 6
worldly point of view, but after all what
we want Is to see her happy, and | don't
think we need have any fear on that score
| with him.
Il don't care anything about the money,
Mr.. Leicester said "Of course, she will
have handsome settlement, and she would
do well enough on that score, even suppos-
ing he never does make any professional in
come"
Roberts no fool, father. We were, as
Hilda says, in the same form at Elton when
we went there but he was a long way
ahead Of me when we left. He did not dc
anything particular at Cambridge, but that
was simply because he never tried. He said
he didn't see the point in wasting his time
In working for high honors, but there was
10 fellow at Trinity who had a better
library, or who was so well read on general
subjects. He used to grind away at law
even in Those days should not be at all
surprised If he does make his mark some
day. and high mark, too. l believe really
the only thing we have to say against him
is that he does look very boyish, but after
all that Is a fault on the right side
Most fellows in our days look older than
they are.n
The next morning, when Miss Leicester
came down to breakfast, she saluted her
father with the question:
Well, papa, suppose that it is all
rights"
''Isuppose so, Hilda."
THAT is good, she said, but although the
words were few the kiss that accompanied
them told her father that she was grateful
to her wishes. AS to Mrs. Leicester. she
had never made any pretense at resistance,
but had said mildly
well, Hilda, Of course you will please
yourself, but | should have fancied you
would have chosen some big man whom you
could look up to-"
mot at all, mother. am perfectly sat
isfied with my own level, and have not the
slig htest desire to look up to any one ply
sically. In other respects | certainly know
of no one | meet whom | could better look
up to. Why, Robert Harbut has as much
sense in his little finger as most of the
young men l know in their heads and
bodIesn
Il