Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-12-04

my own best friends. Besides, as l was about to say moment ago, my affec- tlons are unalterably fixed upon Agnes Graydon, and to hermy faith is pledged. All my hopes of happiness are centered in her, and, though I were offered my sholce of all England's fairest daugh.
 eers, She, or no one, shall be my wife"
 Col. Howard, who had hitherto placed strong restraint upon himself, now lost all patience, and angrily said:
 "Do you dare to assert, Frank, that you are determined to thwart my wishes, defy my authority, and carry to it's legitimate conclusion this romantic fancy, irrespective of duty, self interest and proper regard to the obligations of your station, as we'll as 8 direct viola tion of my solemnly pledged word? Have you well considered what may be the effect, nay, what 1oiH be the certain result of your obduracy? Is it nothing that you should espouse a penniless bride and thus in one moment destroy your brilliant prospects, and sink into an inglorious life of obscure poverty Is it a light thing for you, the heir of Linwood, to relinquish your birthright, forfeit the love of your parents and de- " melodies, to whom you ought by right
 be a patron and lswgiver?'
 Father" the young man sadly re- piled, "I have thought of these possible consequences only since you began to speak, and, although they appear to me very unjust and even unnatural, am prepared to brave them all rather than sacrifice my honor and betray the trust of the only woman I can ever love, and apart from whom all that this world can offer in the way of fame, wealth and rank would be mere dross in my eyes. You must recollect, sir, that l knew nothing of your wishes and can not therefore be charged with disre- garding them. I have but exercised the inalienable right of my own manhood in choosing wife; and both reason and conscience tell me that have chosen wisely and well. When, some few weeks ago, attained to legal age, did
 not on that account cease to feel for you that difference to which you are en- titled, not only as my father, but also because of all the love and kindness with which you have ever treated me;
 but did purposely defer declaring my ! self to Miss Graydon until that time had
 come when my legal as well as moral
 right to do so was unquestionable, no earthly reason, that could divine, ex-
 isting to the contrary. do not desire
 to set aside your authority, and would now obey your slightest reasonable wish as readily as if I were child, but you ask me to do an impossible thing,
 one which, in itself, is wrong, and the
 doing of which would stamp me as false, time-serving poltroon, unworthy
 to be called your son. You require me
 to sacrifice not only my own hopes of \ happiness, but, what is far more, those of one dearer to me than life itself, and
 whom neither you nor I have a right to
 immolate on the altar of miserable
 expediency. Do you think, sir, that
 riches and broad-spreading lands can
 give content and happiness, or that
 even imperial honors would not be too
 dearly bought in exchange for true
 woman's love? Wherein, my dear
 father, has lain the real joy of your own
 life? Has it not been in the companion.