The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1894-06-23

of your feelings towards her?' he asked
presently. looking up at me in a fear
fully anxious kind of way that made
my heart ache: Not in Words said
Not in Words he repeated, still look
ing at me, but she knows?' Il have not
told her. said. Mo- he replied, moi
| in words again repeating my answer.
Have you asked Mrs. Sinclair to be-
come your wife?' Yes he replied.
'When?' Almost this minute he an
swered And what WAS her reply?
Her reply said my father, rising from
his seat and looking about him in Il
perplexed way, was that if l had your
full and free and absolute consent she
would marry me- My free, full and
absolute consent said, low repeating
my father, my heart beating wildly.
What a selfish thing love is. l would
have laid my life down for my father, but
l could not give up Marie Sinclair. II
was one thing to be in love, another to
tell the woman that you love her, the
very confession you feel may be your
loss Of her: ! felt as if I would
like to go to my father and
take his hand, but somehow my
heart was against him; it seemed
to me that he had acted an unl1ind and
a cruel part towards me, his only son.
Then tears came into my eyes, and ]
felt perfect fool His voice brought
me to my senses. Speak Ned he said
|
solute consent to marry Mrs Sinclair?
No. l said. by the Lord. nor My
father staggered where lie Stood bu,
he stiffened himself with an effort
felt that he was suffering. l longed tc
fling myself into the old mans arm,
and say yes the moment after l had
said no. Then We leave it to her. he
said. Il love you both too we'll to come
between you; I love her too well to
give her up without it is her absolute
wish; but'-he pushed past me and
rang the bell. 1t seemed a prosaio
thing to do, and it brought me out OF
my cloud of romance. Father said,
going up to him and laying my hand
on his arm, forgive me!' He shook me
from him, without word, as a servant
entered the room. Tell Mrs. Sinclair
my son wishes to speak with her.
Just as Ned arrived at this dramatic
situation it happened that another bell
ways work up to what is called
dramatic climax, though in the present
case Mrs. Henshaw's return from tho
Fat home Ned had men toned was in
itself not altogether inappropriate.
AS the great hall bell rang Ned paused
| in his narrative. saying: THAT'S my
wife; she will be here in moment.
have just time to tell you that 1 mar.
ried Mrs. Sinclair, and that we have
neither of us seen my father since the
day when he had those few word.
with me about his matrimonial inten
lions. left the house. within an hour
of Marie confessing her love for me-
and the dear old chaps last words tc
me were: Ned Henshaw, 1 will neve,
forgive you!
but he shallr' l said, just as Mrs
Henshaw, the heroine OF Ned's story
entered the room, a handsome, well
dressed. happy-looking woman, not an
hour over thirty. She went up to Ned.
said she had had delightful time and
informed him that the carriage was
waiting; all this before Ned had time
to introduce us. On second thoughts
concluded to 60 with them to Rich
mond, and as we sat chatting on the
terrace after dinner I could not fee!
surprised at the division in the Hen.
shaw household at Bath, but I made
up my mind that I would close up the
l~hreach and bring father and son to
| Kether on friendly, il not familiar,
| terms. After tho age OF sixty one ha'
| not rmauy missions in lie, This IL
| mine ppar old HRrAhaMi