Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1891-07-13
LOVE TRIUMPHED.

Nature was repressed and unsympa.
thetic.
Near the window of stately man
sion was an old man, whose life was
typified by the dreary day. Seated in
an invalid's chair, his head propped
by pillows, he YEARLY watched the
rain descend. He had a hard, bony
face, firm mouth, thin lips tightly
drawn over his teeth, and eyes to
which the softer feelings were evil
IDENTIFY strangers. His aspect, grim
and repelling, was physical revela-
ton of his character.
Muttered sternly, his thoughts ran
thus:
''My decision is final. L will speak
to her once more. I will give her one
more chance. If she yields, and she
must yield, unless totally lacking in
common sense, will leave my prop
erty to her; but if she shall persist in
Drawing my authority, L will disinher-
it her; will not leave her penny"
''What did you say, grandpa? Did
you say you would not leave even a
penny to me?"
1t was a remarkably sweet voice,
through which quivered a note of
pain.
''You heard Alright" cried the old
man, in tones that were energetic, in
spite of his extreme feebleness. "That
is-that is my decision unless you will
agree not to marry Edward Browning.
1t rests with you whether you will live
in poverty or be the most wealthy heir
ess in the State. You are like your
father, impractical and visionary. If
there were any of myself in you, you
would not hesitate for moment as to
the course you ought to pursue"
Elijah Pendergrass closed his lips
grimly, and there was a look in his
face that showed that the conscious
ness of his own superior wisdom gave
him much satisfaction.
care you certain, grandpa, that it
would be better for me were l more
like you?''
Mr.. Pendergrass was surprised by
her question. He had expected Lau-
him to yield to heriwishes.
"My great success in life sufficiently
answers you," he replied, with the
egotism of one who thinks that what
he has said has left no opportunity
for further argument.
''You really think that you have
succeeded?"
Laura's tone was slightly sarcastic.
Mr.. Pendergrass was still more sur
prised. He frowned.
"Of course have succeeded. Why
do you talk so childishly?"
81 beg pardon if 1 have irritated
you, but 1 feel that what 1 am asking
is important. And now, if you will
please tell me, l would like to know
know what you regard as success"
Mr.. Pendergrass was much surpris-
ed, and at first it seemed as if he
might petuantly refuse to crafty his
granddaughter. But after thinking a
moment, he resolved to comply with
her request.
''To succeed is to make a good liv
ing, to accumulate a handsome prop
erty, and to allow no one to get the
better of you in any transaction. 1
have always maintained that a level
headed man would not cheat himself"
'fDo you think you have never
cheated yourself?''
Hardly that. never knew man
that did not make some mistakes;
but my errors have been few, [ am
thankful to say"
81 do not share your confidence,
grandpa. I think you have cheated
yourself
Mr.. Pendergrass was astounded. He
had not supposed that Laura could be
so audacious.
II will tell you,'' continued the girl,
''why 1 think you have cheated your
self. For the sake of making money
you have deprived yourself of the
greatest blessings. You have abstain
ed from doing kind and generous acts,
consequently you have grown hard
and selfish, and have cheated yourself
of much joy that comes to one who
endeavors to benefit his fellow-men;
you have not cultivated a love for
reading, and have cheated yourself of
much interesting knowledge and in
tellectual pleasure; you have not Gull
tivated love for the beautiful in art
or nature, and thus have cheated
yourself of something of inestimable
value that can be obtained without
money and without price; you have
not cultivated any friendships, land
cheated yourself of the satisfaction of
knowing that men regard you with
affection and esteem, and above all,
you have never known the heavenly
JOY experienced by one who loves
deeply and is loved as deeply in re-
turn
Laura forgot the fear of her grand
father which she customarily felt, and
spoke with enthusiasm.
The old man noticed her glowing
cheeks and sparkling eyes with
troubled face. Could it be that he was
impressed by what she had said?
Could it be that he acknowledged to
himself that the truth had been spok-
ell. WIN Min narrow
ly, began to realize hope, but the next |
instant her spirits were dashed.
al have heard enough he cried |
sternly. 81 am now quite convinced |
that you lack good common sense, and /
that it would be foolish for me to leave |
my property to you. Your father was
just like you; he talked in the same |
way. He would persist in becoming |
an artist, and / told him he must leave /
mel hoped you would be sensible. I
1 believe you did have little sense /
until you met this newspaper report
er, Browning. He read poetry to you
and turned your head. He does not /
know how to make money or how to /
take care of it.''
eff he does not know how to make
money, he knows how to make love,
and that is more than you can do, f