Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1892-06-10

and Elsie then wishes it, 1 will withdraw
my opposition"
"Mr. Daniels" exclaimed, grateful
ly clasping his hand.
"But let me finish" he said. dur
ing the time that you strive to achieve
your purpose, there shall be no engage
ment between you, and furthermore you
shall not communicate with each other.
| want Elsie to be entirely free
knew that to ask for any modification
of his conditions would prove futile;
therefore, thanked him as pleasantly
as could, ard bowed myself out.
My poor little sweetheart's eyes swan
in tears when I told her what her fathers
decision was. Her hands upon my
shoulders, her little form close to me,
| her lovely hair approaching and receding
with each breath drew, mado me ap-
preciate with all its terrible force, the
import of separation from her.
"But, darling" my brave Elsie said,
smiling encouragement through her tears,
81 dare say father has forgotten his
youth; he does not understand how he
rends our souls"
| I held her in my firm embrace.
''Darling," she continued, 81 want
you to 60 and work hard; the time will
come when papa will be as proud of you
as ann
kissed her.
"And then l shall grow older and more
sensible, more dignifed. My pride in
you will make me more worthy to be
your wife. This severe trial will make
it unnecessary for you to scold me any
more for my unconventional boisterous-
ness; and we shall go through life, so
happy, so"
Conclusive tears rendered her speech
less. She lay sobbing in my arms.
was tempted to proach an elopement,
but the thought was quelled by her re-
gaining composure..,
DARLING" she said, II want to be
worthy of you; and this is not doing it.
I'll tell you, dear, what we will do, We,
must not communicate with each other,
but we will keep diary, and when our
probation," she suppressed a sob, sis
over, we will exchange our little books. I"
I will not recite the agony we suffered
in the weeks that followed; nor can l
even now think with equanlmity of the
heartrending farewell.
Daily 1 wrote her imprisoned letters;
for five years these letters were penned
in my diaries; and I felt that she was
doing the same. My work, first with
the chain and then with the theodolite,
was appreciated; but our chief engineer
not only kept in excellent health, but
also seemed perfectly satisfied with his
post. I then occupied the second po-
sltion in the corps of engineers, and saw
no hope of attaining the advancement
for which I longed. Then suddenly we
heard that the railway was about to be
sold to syndicate, and that the cele-
brated expert, Mr.. Selden-Jones was
coming to examine the work.
"Humph" snorted our chief, 'Jones
was q classmate Of mine. I dare say, he
thinks he knows all about railway con-
structlon, and will condemn our work.
I'll be hanged if dance attendance upon
him. Hoyt, when he comes, you do the
graceful, as per instructions from home.
| Here is the letter."
The document contained a private
note to our chief in which he was in
| formed that the great expert was most
affable gentleman, but objected to being
addressed otherwise than as Mr.. Selden-
| Jones.
YES" sneered the chief-engineer,
81 presume he now parts his hair in the
| middle as ne does his name. If he don't
like Jones, let him buy a handsomer
name. AS far as Pm concerned, shall
write home that I'm an engineer and
not diplomatist. If they don't like it,
they can have my resignation as soon as
they please. In fact, Pm beginning to
yearn for the fog of dear old London
again; and Pm getting old and lazy"
My heart beat violently at his words.
If he resigned, should probably become
his successor; and Elsie, my darling, for
whomI had suffered so much, would be
mine.
About a fortnight later Mr.. Seldom
Jones arrived and our chief received him
courteously yet bluntly. Do what I
would, l could not induce him to address
the we'll know expert save as Mr.. Jones;
but l followed our instructions, land found
Mr.. Seldon-Jones courteous in manner,
thorough in his work, and not at all
overbearing; and he had pleasant way
of giving information or instruction,
speaking as if he supposed that I knew
as much as himself about our profession,
and vet teaching me much that could
never have learned from any one except
himself.
Two months after he had left US, the
sale was completed; and all the staff,