The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1893-10-21
"Grandfather!" I cried.

CTlCu.
"Oh, Of course" he laughed "Don't
make protestatcns. I know you are
go0d-hearted boy and will grow fond of
me if we live together long enough.
But to proceed. want you to stay
here with me, to make this house your
home. Are you averse to the idea?'
Il like it exceedingly, sir replied.
Every wel," said mny grandfather.
"Now for the rub. desire you to mar
~, and that as soon as you can COM
plete dashing courtship."
AS the young lady with whom had
just fallen in love was still in my mind,
I cannot say that my thoughts few to
her. But said to myself that this was
deligl tful.
II will marry very willingly, grand
father" said, ''but before I begin to
pay my addresses to the young lady I
must be introduced to her, and as yet l
do not know her name"
~ Her name" MY grandfather replied,
"is Laura Forrest
[ started. This was placing things in
a new light. My grandfather contin-
ued:
''You know that your grandmother
died years ago, and that I married
again. My second wife was young
ly were handsome, and when she came
home she brought with her little
niece, an orphan. The child has been
brought up in this house. When her
poor aunt died she remained here She
is eighteen years old, and a little
beauty. She is spending a few days
with her mothers relatives, but she
will return soon. That is the girl I
have picked out for you. I shall not
leave her a dollar, but as hope to see
her married before die, that will not
matter" -,
I listened in silence. Oh, what fall
was here. With this idea in his mind,
of course my grandfather would set
himself against all the other brides
whom I could choose and I felt that it
would be impossible for me to marry
any one but the little angel I had fall
en- in love with.
I sat silent, as I said, but my grand
father proceeded:
you may rely upon it that Laura is
charming, my dear boy, and now I
hope that you are ready to promise to
Afterward I devoutly wished that 1
had temporized; but I was young and
ardent. Instead of begging for time to
consider, I started to my feet and cried
out:
"No, no, no! thousand times no.
grandfather! I could never marry a
woman I should detest as I should this
Laura Forrest, if she was forced upon
me under these circumstances. Be
sides, I adore another girl would
do anything else, anything, grandfath-
err " - -, ..:s5s s'sAs 's
I Ipaused, for the old gentleman turned
pale, and put his hand to his heart
Yes he said, ''anything but crafty
my dearest wish. You to whom I am
willing to give all have spent my life
in accommodating.
Dear grandfather" said, "why not
leave the girl fortune?''
"Her relatives would keep her single
and spend it for her," he said 1.-The
men of that family are not to be trust
ed. Dick, she's a. sweet girl, a lovely
girl, tell you"
ITO me she would be ugly and hate
full if I took her on such TERMS" said I.
"And I have calculated on this thing
for MONTHS said my grandfather.
l had nothing to say, but that wished
from my heart that I could oblige him.
We were very silent until dinner was
announced. Then we sat down together
without a word. On my grandfathers
plate lay a letter.
"Ah!' he cried, opened and read it,
and handed it to me with the remark:
See for yourself what you have done"
And I certainly suffered some remorse
as read these words:
Dear Sir,-In an hour you have blot
ted out forever all the many favors Of
the past. You have injured and insult
ed me beyond reparation; you have Of
fered me to- a stranger for his wife
I had returned from my uncles and
crept on tptoe to the library to sur
prise you. Hearing you in conversa-
ton with a stranger, fingered for
moment behind the portiere, and heard
ALL Tell your grandson that I never
would have accepted him. would hate
and despise a husband won on such
terms, as much as he would g. wife so
bought.
Adieu forever,
Laura
II loved her as though she We're my
own child,' said my grandfather, and
without finishing his dinner he left the
table, ,:.5..
Later nc sent me word by q servant
that if wished to ride I should find
a horse at my disposal. I was glad to
avail myself of this opportunity for
passing the time, and, mounted upon
a splendid animal, was soon galloping
over the country.
Once out in the fresh air, I had but
one hope-that chance might guide me
into the presence of my unknown love;
and it seemed indeed that, for once,
"desire became phophecy," for at a
turning of the road I came suddenly
upon a little group Of young people
gathered about the gateway of a cot
tage. Among them she stood. JOY
filled my heart; doffed my hat and
bowed to her. She turned her back to
me. ~
'She has not recognized me,'' I said.
L alighted and advanced, hat in hand.
inlay I be permitted to hope you
have not forgotten me, miss?' began.
She turned &and stared at me coldly.
'Your intrusion is an impertinence.
sir" she said. You have no right to
speak to me-" c4r..| ~ t>
Well, actually I had not. What I
could do but to saw: "Beg nardon. y