The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-01-01

COL. HOWARD NOW LOST ALL PATIENCE.
deplorable an event, / do not know,
nor is it necessary that should try to
imagine. 1t is enough for me to know
that Miss Graydon lives, and holds my
heart and truth. Duty and inclination
alike bind me to her in bonds which
only death, or her own commands, can
break; and, come what may, / shall
never prove recreant to my trust. Let
me remind you. my dear father, of that
old maxim, 'nobless oblige,' which
you SO often quote"
The colonel rather WINGED at this
home thrust, and remained for some
time silent, but finally said: "Wen, my
son, since you are bent upon shattering
all my plans for your welfare, I will so
far temporize with this matter as to
make you q proposition-and it is my
ultimatum. 10th you and Miss Gray
don arc yet very young, and can afford
to wait. Now, propose that you shall
at once break off all communication
with her and spend five years in travel.
If at the end of that time she is still
single, and you are of the same mind,
will withdraw all objections to your
union. and bear my own disappointment
as best / can. But, remember, the sep
aratlon must be complete; no personal
interviews must be held nor any letters
or messages sent or received. For
those five years you must be as much
strangers to each other as if you had
never met; and it is quite probable that
long before your probation expires you
will both have forgotten this boy-and-
girl fancy, and thank me for having
saved you from yourselves. Whatever
your decision may be, it will, of course,
be seemly and Imperative that Miss
Graydon should at once return to her
fathers house, as it-would hardly do TO
retain as my daughters gaverness q
young lady to whom their brother has
proposed"
Frank, although somewhat softened
by this apparent concession, hastened
to reply:
Father, must not for one instant
ALLOW you to buoy yourself up with the
false hope which is at the bottom of
your proposition. For myself. I un-
hesitatingly reject it; and nothing, ex-
cept Miss Graydon's express wish. can
induce me to comply. Neither she nor
I will ever change so long as life lasts;
hence this cruel probation would be
vain and useless. With all respect, ]
assert that you have no right, human
or divine, to ask us to waste the best
five years of our lives in such aimless
suffering as your plan would entail.
Honor forbids that / should adopt it.
On the contrary, I shall, this. day, ask
Agnes to marry me at as early a date
as can prevail upon her to Ak, BY
this sLep may incuf your displeasure
and, perhaps, even forfeit your love,
but despite your present feelings I
shall gain your respect and the ap-
proval of my own conscience. do not
ask for, nor expect, any part af gepr.
wealth, and shall be only too happy to
see all GO TO my sisters. have now, as
you know, come into possession of my
grandmother's legacy of fgs huaared
pounds y yeag, which, added to my own
exertfonh, will be amply sufficient to
maintain my wife and, if necessary,
her father also in all needful comfort.
And now, my dear fatherss he imr;1-
sivelS continued, do not cast me put of
your heart, for. you viii surely live to
acknowledge ] AM right ia this thing"
Coldly ysfesing his boys nrceteeesred
hand, Col. Howard said: ''You have
made your choice, sir. No further
words are necessary" And he turned
angrily away, while Frank went off to
acquaint his mother with all that had
occurred: Nothing, however, could ex-
ceed his aurprise when on entering her
boudoir he found Agnes already there,
supporting the dear invalid in her arms
and caressing her with all daughters
tenderness.
The delighted youth quickly crossed
the paQm. and encircling both in one
loving embrace gently asked: "Dear
mother, do you know?"
.Yes, my son, this sweet girl has told
me all, she answered. as she draw his
face down to hep own, Hand you have
my choicest blessing. But what does
your father say?" Then the whole story
came out, and Mrs. Howard broke into
flood of tears. while Agnes turned
pale as death. "0h, my boyi my boy!"
cried the poor lady, show can / eoms
fort you? caZpet oppose your fathers
aFiii, enty must only counsel submission
for the present. Try to be patient, and
time will, am sure, turn everything as
we wish"
"And what do gou ssY. Agncsa You
have hoard all the leasonls I urged upon
my father in fayor of the course which
] believe TO be right, all now rests with
you. Here, in presence of our dear
mother. ask you to cast aside every
consideration of mere worldly advan-
tage and give yourself to me with no
more delay than may be proper and
neeessaFS, " Why should we waste our
young lives apart when we know that
nothing can change or weaken our mu-
tual love?"
Agnes, who was now softly weeping,
lifted her clear, soul-lit eyes to the face
of her lover, and replied: Frank, in
this pure presence need not blush TO
confess once more that love you with
all taR Momaa's heart. Most gladly
would follow you to the ends of the
earth and share with you whatever
might come of veal or woe, Neither
would hesitate one instant to comply
with your wishes because ! might