The Wahpeton times., 1891-10-08
A NARROW ESCAPE.
By RALPH w. sIMPKINS.

By RALPH w. sIMPKINs.
"1t is useless to press this matter.
decline your offer of an alliance with
my family, and in doing so am in
earnest"
"Will you give a reason for your de-
cision, Mr.. Seldom? Can you say that
lam unworthy of the hand of your
daughter, whose heart l already
possess? Is not my family asgood as
yours?'
The brows of the young man were
knit, and as he spoke theeager words
he fixed his eyes firmly on those OF
the person he addressed.
Harry" said Mr.. Seldom, in an
agitated voice." you have no right to
demand of me reasons for my conduct.
AS q natural right the happiness of
my child is in my keeping and will
protect her from all harm. In declin-
ing the offer of your hand 1 regard
only her happiness. In your keeping
her heart would be a broken heart in
a short time, for know your princi-
Piles and your character-both are
bad"
"But, Mr.. Seldom, Hove your daugh-
ter" the young man replied, "and
why should break the heart OF her /
love-"
Harry, such love as yours falls not
on the heart as blessing, but as a
blight and a curse"
The young mans face flushed and
his eyes flashed indignation, but Mr..
Seldon looked calmly at him.
"Think SIR he added, "Ifyouhada q
daughter, would you allow Williams of
the deepest dye to approach her with
offers OF marriage, for instance one
OF your companions in vice.
"Mr. Seldom" said Kinsey, in a
voice unnaturally high, 81 cannot
permit you nor anyone else to thus
turning on his heel he left
the room muttering in an
undertone as he went.
Some hours afterward servant
& tapped lightly on the chamber door
\ OF Miss Seldom, the young lady who
was the subject of the brief converse
tion just given.
What is it, ,Robert?" asked Dora,
opening the door.
Looking sharply around to see that
ne was not observed, the servant
slipped note into her hand and re-
tired.
Dora closed the door hurriedly and
turned the key, then seating herself in
"a chair. she opened the envelope and
read the message. 1t was from her
lover.
81 have interviewed your father"
hewrote, "as you wished, and the re-
suit is just what expected. Not only
has he rejected my suit, and told me
fatty that I could not make you hap
py, but he has actually rebuffed me
with smarting insult. Heaven knows
how ardently, how passionately Ilove
you. Why he dislikes me, I cannot
imagine. His opposition drives me
nearly to the verge of desperation.
Are we always to remain thus separ-
ate, 'or will you leave all and place
your happiness in the hands of
one who loyes you with sincere
heart and who can make your whole |
life a,lessed? impatiently await your
answer, which, when you have made
zap your mind, you will place in
the hands of Robert. He will keep
our secret strictly, as he is under obli-
cations to aae of the strongest charac-
ter n.
AMy heart is yours" wrote Dora in
reply:
I'VE will be no longer separated"
answered Kinsey, ~ learn from Rob-
ert that your father leaves home day
after tomorrow, and that he will be |
absent several days. Could we have
ia better opportunity"
a Dora wrote, Let it be as you
Foolish; foolish maident In that |
weak decision might be involved, not |
the happiness of a few months or a
year, but of a whole lifetime perhaps.
klnsey was indeed q bad man. His !
character, his principles, were, as Mr.. I
Seldom said, bad, and his associates
were of the same low order. Hewasi in
capable Of truly loving a woman, for
1T is not possible for a man Who lacks |
morality to do so.
j. Kinsey was of wealthy
family, and when his thoughts first
turned to matrimony. he began look
!nRaroHnd for = wife and no ons struck /
his tane 20 strongly as Dora seldom,
Ii0 1bes4 4Asi beng wealthy, Nass bea1l.
tltnl ana ccompl liall1 d and 4 she 10.
s0lyed; q to,Ntl heF.
RI