Middletown transcript., 1893-10-07
the couch in the sitting-room.

the couch in the sitting-room.
Being much urged. the tearfu
figure on the couch consented to tel
the reason Of the woe that possessed
her.
She confessed that she had become
acquainted with young man without
her mothers knowledge. She knew
she had done wrong, but that wasn't
the trouble.
The young man had said be loved
her, nd now she would never see him
any more. With this doleful perora.
tion she wept afresh.
"Who was the young mani" de-
manded Mrs. Dodge. somewhat start.
led and doubtful what attitude to
take.
Miss Dodge confessed that it was the
young Mr.. Berkeley. Mrs. Dodge was
decided at once.
"You did right in the end, Lillian,
though you did wrong at first. You
must have known that I would never
hear Of any alliance with that family. !"
Miss Dodge, through her tears, felt
it her duty to make another confession.
She did not send the young man
away. She did not believe she could,
even remembering her mother, but the
young man himself had told her that
his father would never think Of con-
senting to their marriage.
Later, Arthur K. Berkeley, in des-
cribing to Lillian his fathers attitude
after the announcement of Mrs.
Dodge's commands to her daughter, said
that the Judge ''got up on his hind
legs at once"
Some such graphic expression is
needed in treating of Mrs. Dodge at
this point in the interview.
She felt that she had been insulted;
that the whole line of Dodges away
back to prehistoric ancestor had been
insulted, and that her own family line
had been dragged in the dust as well.
She had been injured before. To that
injury had now been added insult.
But she would see. Heaven might
witness that she loathed the thought of
an alliance with the Berkelys but refu-
sal of such an alliance, if refusal there
were, should come from her side.
Judge Berkeley should not interfere
with her daughters happiness. That
was one thing certain.
Later In the evening Judge Berkeley
arrived. He took off his tall hat and
looking very grand and very deter
mined.
Mrs. Dodge received him with old.
lime politeness. She was equally deter
mined.
A determined and hostile man and a |
and hostile woman, both be-
ing advanced in years, make bad COM
oinaiion, bat are compelled by breeding |
md instinct to preserve certain exter-
nal politeness. 1t lasts longer and there
Ire fewer opportunities to let off steam. |
The widow and the Judge got hope
essly entangled in their discussions.
Both had expected in the other an atti-
ude that was not now uppermost, if |
present at all.
When the Judge came away the only
listinct impression tina: he had in mind |
vas that he had in some way achieved |
he purpose of his mission. He thought
hat he ought to feel triumphant, but
le did not feel so.
Mis-. Dodge had more definite idea
# the interview and it was more nearly
10 her. Judge Berkeley had
asked for her daughter for his
on. That was satisfactory. but be-
ore he asked she had committed herself
q way that left her no alternative and
he hadconsented.
The next morning Arthur and Lill-
an held ratificatin meeting in the
garden.
The widow Dodge saw them from her
window and thought she would put as
,ood face on the matter as possible
Ind give them her blessing. She went
iown her gravel walk toward the gar
len.
The Judge saw them from his win
low and wanted, des ite himself, to
meet his future daugbteI-in-law. He
walked down his gravel walk toward
he garden.
The gate had been long fastened with
wire and bolts. The Judge could not
limb the fence. He undid the gate.