Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1891-12-18
SEMI-WEEKLY INTERCOLLEGIATE
AGNES GRaYDON.

home thrust and remained for some
time silent. but finally said We'll. my
son, since You are bent upon SCATTERING
all my plans for your welfare, will sc
far temporizc with this matter as e
make you "a proposition anu It is my
ultimatum. Both YOU and Mss Gray.
don are yet very young. ami can afford
to wait. Now, | propose that you shall
at once brcak of all communication
with her and spend five years Ia travel.
II at the end of that tiiuC ~6e IS still
single, and you are 81 the same Miud I
will withdraw all objections 20 your
union, and bear my own disappointment
as best can But, remember, tic scr
aration must be complete: no personal
interviews must bc held nor any letters
or messages sent or received. For
those Ave years you must be as much
strangers TO each other rs if YOU had
never met; and it is quite probable that
long before your probation expires you
will both have forgotten this boy-and-
girl fancy, and thank me for having
saved YOU from yourselves. Whatever
your decision may be, it will, of co,s.oe.
be seemlv and imperative that Miss
Graydon should at once return To- her
fathers house, as il would hardly do to
retain as my daughters governess a
young lady To whom their brother has
proposed
Frank, although somewhat softered
by this apparent concession, fastened
to reply:
Father. | must not for one instant
allow you to buoy yourself up with the
false hope which is at the bottom of
your proposition. For myself | un-
hesitatingly reject it; and nothing. ex-
cept Miss Graydon express wish, can
induce me to comply Neither she nor
/ will ever change so long as life lasts;
hence this cruel probation would be
vain and useless. With all respect, |
assert that you have no right. human
or divine, 10 ask us to waste the best
five years of our lives in such aimless
suffering as your plan would entail.
Honor forbids that | should adopt it.
On the contrary, shall, this day, ask
Agnes To marry me at as early "A date
as | can prevail upon her to fix. BY
this step may incur your displeasure
and, perhaps. even forfeit your love.
but despite your present feelings |
shall gain Your respect and the APP
proval of my own conscience. do not
ask for, nor expect. any part of your
wealth, and shall be only too happy to
see all go TO my sisters have now, as
you know, come INTO possession of my
grandnother's legacy OF five hundred
pounds year, which. added TO my own
maintain my wife and, if necessary. |
her father also in all needful comfort. |
And now my dear father" he impul- |
sively continued, do not cast me out of |
your heart, for you will surely live To /
acknowledge am right in this thing" .
Colby refusing his boys proffercd /
hand, Col Howard said: "You have /
made your choice, sir No further /
words are necessary" and he turned |
angrily away, while Frank went off to
acquaint his mother with all that had .
occurred. Nothing, however, could ex-
coed his surprise when on entering her
boudoir he found Agnes already there,
supporting the dear invalid in her arms
and caressing her with all daughters
The delighted youth quickly crossed
the room, and encircling both in one
loving embrace gently asked: Dear
mother, do you know"
''Yes, my son, this sweet girl has told
me all" she answered, as she drew his
face down to her own, land you have
my choicest blessing. But what does
your father say?" Then the whole story
ont Mrg ri hral ms, [
a food of tears, while Agnes turned
pale as death. 'oh, my boy! my boy"
cried the poor lady, "how can | com
fort you? cannot oppose your fathers
will, and must only counsel submission
for the present. Try to be patient, and
time will, am sure, turn everything as
we wish"
And what do you say, Agnes? You
have heard all the reasons urged upon
nay father in favor of the course which
believe TO be right, all now rests with
you. Here, in presence of our dear
mother, ask you 10 cast aside every
of mere worldly advan-
tage and give yourself to me with no
more delay than may be proper and
necessary. Why should we waste our
young lives apart when we know that ,
nothing can change or weaken our mu-
sual love?"
Agnes, who was now softly weeping,
lifted her clear, soul-iit eyes to the face
Of her lover, and replied: Frank, in
his pure presence ] need not blush to
confess once more that love you with
all my woman's heart. Most gladly
would follow you to the ends of the
earth and share with you whatever
night come of veal or woe. Neither
would | hesitate one instant to comply
With your wishes because | might
hereby reduce your pecuniary means,
or these are valueless compared to
owe, such love as ours. We are both. I
happily, far above the petty influences ;
Il mere wealth and high station; but,
Frank" and here the noble girls {
ountenance shown with sub
ime light 1--WE owe much to {
our father and ought willing I
y make some sacrifices through {
Ia q rance In his d,