The Opelousas courier., 1892-07-30

cOmo lua gill
very glad to see
you, for it gives me an opportunity to
congratulate you upon your brilliant de-
gree"
"Thank you, Mr.. Daniels managed
to respond. 81 did my best at college,
and now / hope to succeed as we'll III
my profession"
"Why, of course you will; you know
/ always said you would make your
mark. But why do you not sit down,
my boy7 Have a cigar2"
Ny hosts cordially gave me courage;
and / took a cigar from his case and sat
down more at ease than / had felt all the
long day. But as I smoked and re-
fected my doubts returned; had come
to ask for so much, and could offer SO
little.
swell, we'll, well, to think Of It'll"
Mr.. Daniels said, almost as much to
himself as to me. tsHow easily I can re-
member the time when you and Elsie
were little children. Now she Isl young
lady, somewhat of a hoyden still, GER
tainly; but she will get over that before
long, I have no doubt. Aud you, Frank
Hoyt, whom / saw, but a few short years
ago. playing your part as her little beau,
in your short trousers and shorter
Jacket, are now a man and have obtained
your diploma as a civil engineer. All
the prizes of Queens Collegel The Gold
Medal of the Royal University | say,
Frankie abruptly interrupted himself,
81 presume I shall have to call you Mr..
Hoyt now"
II hope not, sir" I answered, 81
want to be always Frank to you, and to
be frank with you," continued in an
attempt at pleasantly, 81 came to
speak with you about a matter that con-
Germs us all-me particularly"
HAh,n be said, interrogatiyely.
"Yes, sir" / answered, determined
quickly to bring our conversation to a
decisive point. DsThe fact is, / an
anxious to obtain your consent to Elsie's
becoming my wife,.
He was silent for what appeared to
me a long time. Then he took off his
glasses, and, and striking them gently
upon his knee as if to aecentuate his
his words, said:
Frank, I believe / told you that
deem you a a And | also expressed
my pleasure at the suspicious manner il
which you begin your career; begin your
career, mind you. But" his manner
grew more formal, "what have you, sir,
that warrants thoughts of marriagei
What prospects, None, as5et, that have
taken shape. Your little property yielded
enough to pay your expenses while al
college, for you were a steady young
man. Now you have a profession, but
to marry with nothing else-and to
marry a girl like Elsie, accustomed I'd
luxury-it is out of the question,
s'But, Mr.. Daniels"
81 know what you would say he
continued. aYou have confidence 10
your ability, and doubtless yon will sue
coed, provided nothing untoward hap
pens to you. But in your profession
there are many difficulties to contend
with; however, you are too young to
consider them. Another thing, too,
Elsie is still a child a girl of seventeen
hardly knows her mind. Mr.. Hoyt, to
sum it all up in a few words. I am
obliged to refuse my consent"
| bit my lips. tsMr. Daniels I finally
found courage to say, ssare there no CON
ditions, no."
swell, Frank, he said, ttI should
peremptorily dismiss you, but / like you
too well for that. I'll tell you what ]
will do. ! will secure you an appoint
ment as assistant engineer on the Te-
huantepec Railroad, of which you know /
am q director. II you succeed in be-
coming the chief engineer with a salary
Of at least u thousand Mexican dollars,
and Elsie then wishes it, | will withdraw
my opposition
tMr. Danielsl' | exclaimed, grateful
" clasping his hand.
tsBut let me finish, 7 he said. ssDur-
ing the time that you strive to achieve
your purpose, there shall be no engage
mcnt between you, and furthermore you
shall not communicate with each other.
I want Elsie TO be entirely free.
knew that to ask for any modification
ot his conditions would prove futile;
therefore, / thanked him as pleasantly
ssI could, and bowed myself out.
Ny poor little ~sweetheart's eyes swan
in tears when | told her what her fathers
decision was. Her hands upon my
shoulders, her little furm close to me,
her lovely hair approaching and receding
with each breath { drew. nads me ap-
preciate with all Its terrible force, the
import Of j separation from her.
sBut, darling, my brave Elsie said,
milling encouragement through her Tears,
ssI dare say father has forgotten his
youth; he does no Understand how lid
ends oar souls
4 held her in my FIRM embrace.
Darling. : she continued, e want
gop q so and work hards The time viii