The Opelousas courier., 1893-03-25
str mean.n returned the father, more

| below his or her station. Our station
has risen and those who were once j
social equa1s are n5 longer 50. Person
ally, Hoburton is an estimable young
fellow, but must insist tkat the pro-
jected alliance be broken off at once"
If Kate gave her fathor a look of scorn
it was lost on him, for he continued
without looking up: "You have always
been a dutiful daughter, and / have i'm
plioit confidence in your obeying my
wishes. w have a.socisl status to main
tain. It would be flying in the face Of
Providence to disregard the advantages
which our altered circumstances present.
This you would be doing were you to
marry a poor man."
"Why father" exclaimed the daugh.
ter, "Mr. Hoburton is by no means poor.
He has, as you know, over $4,000, and
with the assistance that you might now
afford he could easily add to it,"
"Ah," said her father, ''you forget
that while he has $40, 600, you will have
ten times that. He is altogether too
many rounds in the ladder below you,
and the eooner he is Informed of the
change the better for all concerned. No,
no." said he. i%nterrupting her as she was
about to continue the argument. 81 can
never consent to the marriage. I should
commit a fragrant breach of duty were
TO allow the equilibrium to be thus DIS.
turbed. After you have thought the
matter lei candidly you will see that
my position is the only one tenable,"
The daughter sat for some time after
her father had left the room, over
whelmed with grief at his proposition.
She thought of Jack struggling along
in the west to prepare for her a home.
and the idea of abandoning him just
because her father had acquired wealth
was not to be tolerated. Even if she
had not loved him so dearly she could
net be so base. She went to her room
and poured forth her grief in an agony
of tears.
Finally she gathered up sufficient
courage to write to JACK, and in a
wretched tear-stained scrawl she con-
fessed her fathers disapproval of the
marriage. While che was penning this
letter, full of endearments and protesta.
tons of constancy-constancy she de-
clared that would endure even if her father
"should acquire ten millions" the pa
ternal Croesus was seated in hiss1rivate
office, writing a letter of a contrary
sentiment.
MI. Merivale wrote two letters, one to
Mr.. John Hoburton, politely reessiesting
the discontinuance of attentions to his
daughter, the other to Mr.. Joel G. Ho.
burton. President of the Arapahoe Min.
ing Company, Denver, Col, stating that
he would have the pleasure of calling
upon this official the following week ON
business relating to his mining interests.
Dir. Merivale arrived in Denver on a
Thursday afternoon and took apartments
at a hotel.
Early in the evening, while inspecting
his person in the mirror after the com
pletion of a careful toilet, he was startled
by a knock upon the door. He opened
it and stepped back in unfeigned aston
ishment, for who should be standing
there but his ouce presumtive son-in>
law, young Jack Hoburton.
81 saw your name in the register"
said Jack, "and have taken the liberty
to seek an interview"
"step in" said Mr.. Merivale, and
with cool pomposity he waved him to a
chair.
"Now," said he, as he seated himself,
''my time 10 precious. I suppose you
wish to confer concerning your unfor-
tunate relationship with my daughter,
but upon that point I have nothing
to say than what | expressed in my let
ter. Ihave duties to perform as a parent
that you doubtless understand, and l
hope you will not dwell upon a point
that must necessarily be painful to us
both"
~ did call for the purpose you sug.
gest," said Jack, "for hoped that after
all the circumstances were made known
you might possibly not be SO much op-
posed to IL union. In the first place,
you know, Kate and I love each other,
and in the second place, I have acquired
sufficient property to maintain a wife,"
Eyes, yes, all that is true, nc doubt
broke out Mr.. Merivale, but ssuf1.
Gent is only a relative word. My
daughters prospects are not what they
were. l believe I made you aware of
that In my letter, did I not9"
ssYes," replied the young man, con-.
tinuing his argumentative manner, shut
my prospects are good. I have made
some money and what I have is safely
invested"
A frown settled over Mr.. Merivale's
brow, and he rose and walked rapidly
up and down the room. "The subject
annoys me-" said he, land ] must beg
you to close this interview. ! have al
ways considered you a promising young
man, and if things were different I
would say, marry my daughter and re-
ceive my blessing, but as it is, never.
and I must ask that the matter end
here"
He opened the door aud Jack took
leave, the perfect picture Of a broken.
spirited youth. When well into ths hall,
however, he broke into an ~uproarious fit
of laughter.
The next morning, on repairing to the
Office of the Arapahoe Mining Company,
Mfr. Merivale found the President absent
and took a seat in The reception room.
After he had waited for some time the
door suddenly opened and Jack Hobur-
ton entered.
Mr.. Merivale rose to his feet with an
angry scowl. "Young man." he
blurted out, II cannot have you follow.