The Press., 1893-01-05

to secure my property through the hand of my daughter. But were it otherwise I would never consent to her marrying out of her sphere. You have my an- swer, sir; good day.
 Mildmay stood on the walk while the old man walked stifdy away with head held high. His flcc was crimson and his hands were clil ched in wrath. He began to stride rapidly up and down the pavement, muttering under his breath; ssThe proud old beggar. As if had in- tended designs On his property" and then he broke into a hearty laugh < Judith must have been on the watch for her father, for the moment he opened the door she flew to him weeping, clasped her arms around his neck and cried: | .Oh, father, you cannot know the miser- able state of poverty, misery and desti- tuition to which we are reduced! have tried not to trouble you with these things, tried to earn a little money secretly for our needs, but you refused to let me rent part of the house; you refused to let me take pupils and receive pay for them. You mortally offended those good Sparklers when they offered me my pay, and there was nothing could do to earn money but to secretly take in sewing from the Ladies' Aid society, and now they have no more to give me. Come with me, father, and let me show you to what we are reduced"
 She led him into the kitchen and opened one by one the cupboards, tho pantry, the safe, the flour barrel and the bread box-all empty, not an ounce of meal or a pound of potatoes. Then she led him to the coalbin and the place where the wood was kept. That, too. was empty.
 "You see, father she said sobbing, .swe must go to the almshouse or live on the charity of the town-the silent poor fund. Which shall it be?'
 The old man turned without word, wandered back into the living room and fell prostrate into his chair. He seemed dazed and lost for a time, and looked about him with wandering eye. When he tried to speak his tongue was thick, as if he had received a slight stroke of palsy. Judith in fright knelt down beside him and began to chafe his cold, trenulous hands. She heard him murnuring the name of Mildmay. "That young man, you know, Judith''-he made an effort to clear his voice-"offered me ready money for the western land, and re- fused it because thought him spec ulator-but the money would keep us | from-from starving. Do you think, Judith, he has left town? Do you think he would reconsiderY'
 | "He would not take the land now, | father, unless you consent to his talk ing me-"
 ''And you would marry him, Judith a mere nobody, not of our class?' said the old man fretfully.
 "You don't know him, father--what he has done for himself and others-be- cause he is too modest and unpretend- ing to boast of his success. He is the great man i1s his part of the country and the richest. millionaire, they say, and it is he who condescends to take a penniless girl like me. He has done it all by his own energy and genius. It is not for his money l care, father. He showed me what he was in heart and mind before, suspected his wealth?'
 You love him, Judith?'
 "With all my heart.'
 elf he had only been of the family of old Sir Bruce, the right Mildmays,' J murmured Renwick; ''but perhaps he is, after all, without knowing it," the old man went on, frightening, ''a collateral branch, you know, Judith. Do you think you could call him back? Could you write or telegraph"
 "I will try" said she. Perhaps may succeed" She ran to the door, flung it wide open and called .'Harry!' with her clear silve1v voice.
 l The young man must have been am- pushed in the near neighborhood, for suddenly he appeared, darting up the steep path toward the house. Judith's face was radiant as he came toward her in answer to her summons.
 ''Come in," cried she, beckoning with her hand. ''I have convinced father that you are at least an indirect offshoot of the race of old Sir Bruce Mildmay and twice as good and noble as any other Mildmay that ever lived, though he bore hundred Plantagenet quarter ings in his escutcheon."
 | THE ENID