The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-07-31

Those upon whom had right to rely
for sympathy were ready to desert me
first of ALL 1t was cruel and unkind.
Had / asked to be allowed to marry Mr..
Dale? Had either of us ever limited at
the subject? Never!
And yet my father was the first to cast
suspicious and make insinuations, for
understood his unjust taunt Sleeps
clothing, indeed! Detraction was the
surest way to make me love him; for lie
there was any one under the sun whose
sentiments were noble and unselfsh..
whose motives were manly and disinter--
ested, believe it was Roger Dale. Why
had my father spoken in such high terms
of my good sense only six months ago if
he thought it necessary to caution me
again today? felt bitter and wronged.
Just then my glance CHANGED to fall on
the tin box in which were the securities
my father had given me in the autumn,
and blushed as | reflected that except
to deposit the dividends that were sent
to me | had done nothing toward under
standing the care of my property. | had
used the checkbook to give a little money
in charity and to pay some bills, but the
pile of financial pamphlets lay on the
shelf of my desk still unread. had not
had time to devote myself to them, or
rather the time had slipped away before
[ realized it.
There was some ground after all for,
my fathers reproof. 1t was possible
that my neglect and apparent disregard
of his wishes had led him to speak Sc
verely of Mr.. Dale. The thought COM
forted me and brought sleep to my eyes.
l rose early, and spent an hour before
breakfast in reading the annual report
of one of the railway companies in which
', held stock: and went down stairs with
confused mind, but with sense Of
awakened virtue was cheerful and
animated at table, and asked several
questions concerning mortgage bonds
and sinking funds that brought pleas
ant expression to my fathers face.
The reason why felt so buoyant was
not merely the light heartedness of re-
pentance. My romantic spirit had con-
ceived scheme for convincing my father
that he had unjustly sneered at Mr..
Dale's business capacity. | was resolved
to consult him as to my investments, and
I felt sure that the profits accruing from
his sage advice would plead his cause,
more eloquently than any words of mine.
Let but my father perceive my admirers
sterling qualities, and | knew that he
would be eager to make amends for his
injustice by pushing him forward in BUSH
ness The idea took strong possession OF
me, for ever since hearing Aunt Helen
speak of Mr. Dale's lack of means had
been eager at heart to assist him. [
would gladly have asked him to put my
money into some commercial venture,
and have insisted upon his keeping q .por-
ton Of the gains but to that felt he
would never consent,
And yet | did not believe that | was IL
love with Roger Dale The Thoughts
never occurred to me. | was ready to
have our relations continue indefinitely
as they were But / was not able to re-
gard the hostility Of my family without
impotence that added spice CT martyr
dom to my interviews with him. The
very fact that others thought i'll made IL
all the more incumbent upon me to be
steadfast and undoubting.
Fuc pr rSONTINTTED |