The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-01-01
] COpYRll5F1T T 1881.
A.M.KELlOGG NesvS pAPEAc

tain consequence of familiar inter
course between two young and mutual
" attractive people of equal social po-
sition; and hence, unfortunately, neither
OF you was apprised of our intention. "
ST am very glad indeed that we were
not" rejoined Frank, 'for whereas
Lady Louisa and i are now the best of
friends. we should probably have been
at daggers drawn if either of us had
known that our future lives had been
thus summarily disposed of. Why,
father! could no more think of pro-
posing marriage to my old playmate,
Lady Louisa Grafton, than to one of my
own sisters. and am very sure that she
looks upon me much more in the light
Of brother than that Of a possible
lover. Besides"
'sStuff and nonsenser' interrupted the
colonel: ''she is barely nineteen years
of age, is heart whole, absolutely free
from all entanglements, and is, more
over, girl of sound sense and judg-
ment, and in all respects a dutiful child.
You are not so very dull nor such a bad
looking fellow as to make the task of
winning4her very difficult one, if you
make the effort"
(which I shall never do, my dear
father. Nor do agree with you that Lady
Louisa is quite heart whole, for have
reason to believe that she is far from
Indifferent to the devoted attentions of
Sir George Mansfield, who is in every
way q most desirable suitor and one of
my own best friends. Besides, as was
about to say moment ago, my affec-
tions are unalterably fixed upon Agnes
Graydon, and to her my faith is pledged.
AL my hopes ct happiness are centered
in her, and, though were offered my
choice OF all England's fairest daugh-
ters, 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 well as direct viola
ton of my solemnly pledged word?
Have you well considered what may be
the effect, nay, what saiil be the certain
result Of your obduracya Is it nothing
that you should espouse p penniless
bride and thus in one moment destroy
your brilliant prospects, and sink into
an inglorious life Of obscure poverty?
L. it a light thing fop you, the heir OF
Linwood, 10 relinquish your birthright,
forfeit the love of your parents and de-
scend to the level of the common herd of
nobodies, to whom you ought by right
be patron and laWgiFer2n
'Father,l the Yeung man sadly re-
piled, IT 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 brays them oil FgastkAsF than
sacrifice NY h9n9r and betray the trust
OF the only woman 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
knew nothing Of yogr wishas aAd gam
not thegAfoge Be Charged with disre-
garding them. ! have but exercised the
inalienaple right Of my own manhood
oousoienss CO oad Iii ns I thas S SaSs S chosen sen
wisely and well. When, some few
weeks ago, ! attained to legal age, Il did
not on that account cease 70 feel for
yop thai aeleeenee 70 which YOU are en-
titled, not only as my father, but also
because OF all the love and kindness
with which you haze eyer tleated me;
bnt I did pHrRosely deter declaring my
self TO Miss Graydon until that time had
come when my legal as well as moral
right to do SO was unqgestionahle, no
earthly reason, that / could divine, ex-
isting to the contrary. I do not desire
to set aside your authority. and would
now obey your slightest reasonable
wish as readily as If 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. ylRe-ssrying pQitrQQiA, 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
immoiate On the altar ok 4 miserable
expedisncE. DO you think, air, that
riches and broad-sprcading lands can
give content and happiness, or that
even imperial honors would not be too
dearly bought in exchange for trna
woman's love? Wherein, nv dear
fathe{s has Jain the real Joy of your bwn
life2 Has II mot been in the companion
ship and affection of my blessed motherp
and would not the wealth of the world
appear to you as dust in the balance
when ,vh Esyshsd a.gaitnsas tAss priceless
This was touching the stern old
sdldier In tender spot. and he was
evidently affected by his sons earnest
appeal. but would not yet yield his
ground; though now he spoke without
anger: II believe, Frank. that Fou arc
quite sincere ia aiithat you haSS said.
and n seeftainly sounds plausible; but
your whole argument is founded upon
the assumption that your attachment
for Miss Graydon is fixed and uncharget
able. and your destiny necessarily inter-
woven with and dependent upon hers.
Now If she were to die tomorrow
would you not forget this dream in,
say, two yeaFa. and form for yourself
new ties equally as strong as those
which at present bind you to hera"
s'What might do, sir, IN case Of 20