Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-11-08

Ties, father. ! Go tel zoe that have
6s.e that very tAissi ssd N - doing
hsve Asssss 70 share my life = yoans
ssrtiswsrasn Of most exsSplAxy char
sGsex. kigA stxasnnAsnts. filustrssas fam
iy. unsxospt isasbls manners. Lofty
principles a2A extraordinary beauty;
e~< - uhcu ell who koasg tae parest
typs of wonspiy vusne ssd lssskizsess
HsRes veil se Prs~d 70 Sew IN homage,
enc y no. well xstsd 10 mate with The
highest In ne ianA has yea sssa oes-
tent - esssow the precious boon Of her
frssh young love spen ne. al unworthy
- a."
Col Howard listened n grim silence
70 this lsverlike Rhapsody, although he
could ret wholly suppress some signs Ut
sympathy and sAmirstioa. ~ hs looked
upon The glowing Gestures and heard
the inpsssioned words Of his oaly 500.
Finally he said in the calm. measured
tones Of one sccustOmsd 10 command
AID expecting 70 " ossyed; Prank.
Miss Gray don u doubtless al that you
say; shs b truly IN exoellent girl; both
your mother sad Appreeis&e her fully.
and. indeed. feel under great oGligs-
ticns for the fnithful and judicious man.
per Ia which abe has discharged her du-
tea 70 - and 70 year sisterA There
can ~ no question - 70 her
entire fitness for any station 10
which shc may be called; the beauties Of
her mind and person are alike remark
able. and h had not long ago made
other arrangements for you. it Is posi-.
sible. Just possible. that ! might feel
disposed to waive all conventional con-
siderations and welcome hor - . daugh-
ter; but, - matters now stand. this ID
not to be thought Of for moment"
Frank would have broken IN with
an impetaous protest. bat his father
waved him aside, asd continued: II
have made. as | now see, great mis-
take in not informing you of those
plans which !. years ago. thought well
to make in reference to your settlement
in life. / should certainly have done 50
had for a moment imagined the pos
sibility Of csstra temps like this; and,
moreover, l felt confident that the cad
I desired to reach would be brought
about by the force Of circumstances and
propinquity. and your own natural and
spontaneous action In the premises.
Long since. when you were . nero
schoolboy, and shortly after our neigh
Dor, the countess Of Millbrook. came
into possession Of her present property,
she and made what have always re-
garded Is . solemn compact. that 1t the
proper time the estates Of Linwood and
Millbrook-b0th. as you know. unen-
tailed-Ahould be united by your mar
riago with Lady Louisa Grafton, only
child and hciress of the dowager. As
have previously limited, both her lady
ship and I supposed that this oonsum-
nation would DO arrived nj - the Ger
tain consequence Of familiar inter
course between two young and mutual
y attractive people Of equal social po-
sition; and hence, unfortunately. neither
Of you was appraised Of our intention"
81 am very glad indeed that we wcre
not" rejoined Frank. "for whereas
Lady Louisa and are now the best of
friends. we should probably have been
1t daggcrs drawn II either Of W had
known that our future lives had been
thus summarily disposed Of. Why,
father! could no more think Of pro-
posing marriage to my old playmate.
Lady Louisa Grafton, than TO one Of my
own sisters, and am very sure that she
looks upon me much more in the light
Of . brother than that Of . possible
lover. Bcsides"-
''6tun and nonsense!" interrupted the
colonel: ''shs Il barely nineteen years
Of age, u heart whole, absolutely FREQ
from all entanglemcnts, and Is, more
over. . girl Of sound sense and judg-
ment and in all respects adutiful child
You arc not 20 very dull nor such bad
looking fellow n TO make the task Of
winning her. . very difficult ono, u you
make tho effort"
(which I shall never do. my dear
father. Nor do ksgree with you that Lady
Louisa Is quite heart whole. for have
reason 70 believe that she II Car from
Indifferent TO tae devoted attentions OF
Sir George Mansfield. wbs u In every
way a most desirable sutton and one Of
my own best friends. Besides, - Wa
about to say . moment ago. nv a3ec-
tons are unalterably fixed upon Agnes
Graydon. and TO her nv faith 10 pledged.
All my hopes OF happiness are centered
IN her, and, though ! were offered my
choioe Of all England's fairest dsugh-
ters, she. or no one, shall be my wife p"
Col. Howard. who had hitherto placed
. strong restraint upon himself, now
lost all patience. and angrily said:
do you dare 70 assert Frank. that
you arc determined 10 thwart my
wishes. defy my authority, and carry 70
its legitimate conclusion this romantic
fancy. irrespective Of duty. self interest
and . proper regard TO the obligations
Of your station, ~ we'll ~ direct VIOLA
ton Of my solemnly pledged word'
Have you well considered what may BE-
the effect. nay, what ril be the certain
result Of your obduracy9 f. II nothing
that you should espcasc q penniless
bride and thus in one moment destroy
Jour brilliant prospects, and sink into
- inglorious life OF obscure poverty ?
Is II light thing for you. the heir Of
Linwood. TO relinquish your birthright
forfeit the love Of Jour parents and de-
scene 70 the ievsi % the common herd Of
ncbodies ~ whom you ought by right
be pstro. and ,swgtvers-'
Father" the young man ssdly ~
piled. Il have thought Of these possible
consequence only since you began 70
sPes1x. end. although they appear 70 Ne
very unjust asd even unnatural. en-