San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-08-05

along mat Your fS:1er was opposed to-
Mr.. Dale"
1T is not your faultin any way, Aunt
Helen. | shall tell him So"
she left ne, and | dressed deliberate
ly. There was evidently no escape from
the situation. But upon one point /
was perfectly decided-nothing should
induce me to give up Roger. | was
ready TO postpone our wedding for the
present, or to hunUr my fathers obJec-
tiOns in any reasonable way. But re-
nounce him, never. Having arrived at
this determination i went down stairs.
Ny father was eating his lseakfast, and
| waited until he was comfortably set
lied with cigar on the sofa before max
ing my confession. Aunt Helen had
taken the precaution to absent herself
from the room. | began bravery:
Father, there is something | wish to
tell you that interests me very deeply"
He removed the cigar, and looked at
me inquiringly. | saw he did not sus-
peCt the truth.
Il am engaged to be married to Mr..
Roger Dale. You must not be angry,
father" continued hastily. You can
not help liking him when you know him
better He Is worthy Of me in every
way"
ventured to look at him; he was
smoking with quick, nervous puifs that
betOkened great excitement.
BAH he cried presently. "Bahl
what fool | have been! | mi Oh have
known it would end in some such way
as this. No girl ever had better OPP
portunity than you, and yet you are
ready to sacrifice everything for the sake
Of fellow who is 40 more fit to be your
husband than the veriest beggar in the
street. You have disappointed ME ter
ribly. Virginia. | believed you to be
sensible and clever: but the admission
you have Just made proves you to be lit
tie short of a goose. Bah! you couldn't
have chosen worse. A dissipated, mer-
cenary good for nothing
You must not speak in that way Of
Roger. father. cannot sit here and let
him be abused. Scoll me as much as
you please, but don't say anything
against him. You do not understand
him."
Understand him, indeed. 1t is you
who do not understand him. | never
| expected that daughter of mine would
fall in love with BARRIERS block.
This was too much for my endurance.
You are unjust" cried, with flashing
eyes 1T is too late to talk so. We
love each other, and if my own father
repulses me we must go elsewhere for a
blessing"
| have an idea that | looked like
queen of tragedy as / stood ana braved
| MIN thus, for he looked at me with a
sort of establishment and made a move
ment as if to deter me from leaving the
room. Just then, as fortune willed, the
door was thrown open and the servant
ushered in Roger Dale.
He looked from the one to the other of
us, aud his cheeks redeemed,
80, sir" exclaimed my father, you
have come to claim your bride! You
will have to reckon with me first; and l
warn you that you will need stronger
arguments than any have ever heard
in your favor TO convince me that you
are the proper man to marry my daugh-
ter. Virginia, you may leave us. Twill
send for you when wish for you. This
gentleman and are capable os settling
this matter together"
| saw that my father was in u rage
that would not brook resistance. But
my own blood was boiling. Roger stood
pale, but seemingly unabashed, gazing
at me as if he waited for me to speak. |
addressed him:
Whatever my father may say to you,
Roger, do not forget that | have prom
ised to be your wife" With this speech
left the room.
INTT A TorT1TO