Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-12-04

 no one in all this world to wh Om l would so gladly give my child as to you, but do you not know, have you never heard of your fathers plans? He will never give his consent to your union with portionless girl, and most of all, he will naturally suppose that we have most basely abused his hospitality and kindness. My innocent girl will be cast adrift and all our present happy rela- tions broken up. Oh, how could have been so blind?" Frank sprang from his saddle and grasping the hand of his distressed friend, earnestly protested that he knew nothing of Col. Towards intentions in regard to his own future life, and asked what those plans were to which he had alluded.
 May, Frank,'' said MT. Graydon, ''you must learn them from your father him. self. If he has not chosen to inform you, it would be manifestly improper for me to do so."
 "Well, so be it; but I am sure you misjudge my father; he is not so mercenary as you think. Why should he not consent to his sons union with one for whom he himself has re- gard so deep, and who, he well knows, would ennoble and adorn the highest station on earth? Of this one thing, my | dear friend, you may rest assured, that Agnes Graydon, and none else, shall be my wife, though I should wait for her until my hair is gray" And thus, for a time, they parted, the elder man to in- | dulge in gloomy forebodings, and the sanguiDe lover, buoyed up by brilliant hopes, to seek his fathers presence. On his return to the hall he found Col. Howard in his private study, and- with out preface, came at once to the point, in his own manly fashion.
 Father" said he, ''I have long loved Agnes Graydon; last night told her so and asked her to be my wife. She has consented, and now, as in duty bound, ask for your approval"
 ''Which you shall never have, sir, Ore piled the thunderstr-uck colonel; "why, God bless me, boy, are you crazy? Do you mean to tell me that you have actu- ally proposed to your sisters goHer- ness?"
 ''Yes, father, do tell you that I'have done that very thing; and in so doing have begged to share my life young | gentlewoman of most exemplary char acter, high attainments, illustrious fam fly, unexceptionable manners, lofty principles and extraordinary beauty; one to whom all who honor the purest type of womanly virtue and lpveliness might well be proud to bow in homage; one who, well fitted to mate with the highest in the land, has yet been con- tent to bestow the precious boon of her fresh young love upon me, all unworthy as am."
 l Col. Howard listened in grim silence to this loverAilze rhapsody, although he could not wholly suppress some signs of sympathy and admiration, as he looked upon the glowing features and heard the impassioned words of his only son. | Finally he said, in the calm, measured tones of one accustomed to command and expecting to be obeyed: Frank, Miss Graydon is doubtless an that you say; she is truly an excellent girl; both your mother and I appreciate her fully, and, indeed, feel under great obliga- tions for the faithful and judicious man. ner in which she has discharged her du- ties to us and to your sisters. There can be no question as to her entire fitness for any station to which she may be called; the beauties o4 her mind and person are alike remark able, and if I had not long ago made other arrangements for you. it is possi- sible, just possible, that I might feel disposed to waive all conventional con- alterations and welcome her as daugh. ter; but, as matters now stand, this is not to be thought of for a moment
 Frank would have broken in with an impetuous protest, but his father waved him aside, and continued: ''I have made, as now see, a great mis- l 4o1 ~R plans which I, years ago, thought well to make in reference to your settlement in life. I should certainly have done so had for moment imagined the pos sibility of c0ntrG temps like this; and, moreover, I felt confident that the end l desired to reach would be brought about by the force of circumstances and propinquity, and your own natural and .spontaneous action iu the premises. Long since, when you were mere schoolboy, and shortly after our neigh bor, the countess of Millbroolx, came into possession of her present property, she and made what I have always re- garded as solemn compact, that at the proper time the estates of Linwood and Millbrook-both, as you know, unen- tailed-should be united by your mar riage with Lady Louisa Grafton, only
 
 child and heiress of the dowager. As have previously hinted, both her lady. ship and I supposed that this consum- nation would be arrived at as the cer. tain consequence of familiar inter, course between two young and mutual ly attractive people of equal social DO , sition; and hence, unfortunately, neither of you was apprised of our intention.
 ''I am very glad indeed that we were , not" rejoined Frank, ''for wherea. : Lady Louisa and are now the best O: S friends, we should probably have beer I at daggers drawn if either of us hac known that our future lives had beer ! thus summarily disposed of. Why !, father! could no more think of pro posing marriage to my old playmate f Lady Louisa Grafton, than to one of m, :, own sisters, and am very sure that sh
 looks upon me much more in the ligh
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