The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1893-02-08

| inquired, nerv0usly.
"Whatp exclaimed the daughter,
reddening; edo you mean that he should
forsake mo because we have been for
tunatep
~ mean," returned the father, more
coolly, "that since our circumstances
have materially changed we should regu-
late ourselves accordingly. My principle
is the same as have always endeavored
to inculcate. No one should ever marry
below his or her station. Our station
has risen aud those who were once our
social equals are no longer so. Person
ally, Hoburton is an estimable young
fellow, but must insist that the pro-
jected alliance be broken off at once"
| II Kate gave her fathor look of scorn
it was lost on him, for he continued
Rwithout looking up: "You have always
been dutiful daughter, and have i'm
plicit confidence in your obeying my
wishes. We have social status to main
tain. 1t 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 poor man"
"Why, father" exclaimed the daugh.
ter, ''Mr. Hoburton is by no means poor.
He has, as you know, over $40, 900, 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, 900, you will have
ten times that. He is altogether too
many rounds in the ladder below you,
and the sooner he is informed of the
change the better for all concerned. No,
no, said he, interrupting her as she was
about to continue the argument. ''I can
never consent to the marriage. should
commit fragrant breach of duty were /
to allow the equilibrium to be thus DIS
turbed. After you have thought the
matter over 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 home.
and tho idea of abandoning him just
because her father had acquired wealth
was not to be tolerated. Even II she
had not loved HIM so dearly she could
not 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 she was penuing this
letter, full of endearments and protesta
tions Of constancy-oonstaucy she de-
clared that would endure eveniif her father
"should acquire ten millions".-the pa
ternal Croesus was seated in his private
office, writing a letter of contrary
sentiment.
Mr.. Merivale wrote two letters, one to
Mr.. John Hoburton, politely requesting
the discontinuance OF attentions to his
daughter, the other to Mr.. Joel @. Ho-
burton, President of the Anpahoe 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.
Mr.. Merivale arrived in Denver on a
Thursday afternoon aud took apartments
at hotel.
Early in the evening, while inspecting
his person in the mirror after the COM
pletion of careful toilet, he was startled
by knock upon the door. He opened
it and stepped back in uufeigned aston
ishment, for who should be standing
there but his once presumtive son-in-
law, young Jack Hoburton.
~ saw your name in the register, "
said Jack, "and have taken the liberty
to seek an interview"
"Step in," said Mr.. Merivale, end
with cool pomposity he waved him to a
chair.
"Now," said he, as he seated himself,
''my time is precious. suppose you
wish to confer concerning your uufor-
tunate relationship with my daughter,
but upon that point l have nothing more
TO say than what l expressed in my let
ter. have duties to perform as a parent
that you doubtless understand, and
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 our union. In the first place,
you know, Kate aud l love each other,
and in the second place, have acquired
sufficient property to maintain wife,"
"Yes, yes, all that is true, no doubt, f"
broke out Mr.. Merivale, " but 'suffi-
cient' is only a relative word. My
daughters prospects are not what they
were. l believe made you aware Of
that IN my letter, did l notl"
"Yes," replied the young man, con.
tinuing his argumentative manner, ''but
my prospects are good. l have made
some money and what l 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, sand ! must beg
you to close this interview. have al
ways considered you a promising young
man, and if things were different /
wSuld say, marry my daughter and re-
eeive my blessing, but as it is, never,
and l must ask that the matter end
here"
He opened the door aud Jack took
leave, the perfect picture of a broken
-