The morning times., 1895-08-23


There's the hotel bus" cried the girl,
hastily changing the subject perhaps
the driver can tell us something"
a long, empty vehicle was passing them
on its way up the street. Strong called
TO the driver, and he stopped
Did you bring up a tall gentleman
this morning with white mustache and
goatee and gold eyeglasses"
Yes, SIT; your father, don't you mean?r
The young couple exchanged startled
glances.
How did you know?"
He was inquiring for you, sir, as soon as
ever he got to the hotel, and when he found
you were gone he went and hired d buggy"
a bdGgy-what for?"
He asked his way to Judge Westons
place i'll the Montecto. He said the Judge
was near relat tive OF his"
a near relative" groaned the horrified
Strong, while his companion turned away
her face, although whether TO conceal u
look Of anguish or laugh VIII never be
known
The omnibus proceeded on its way.
we must hurry" said the young man,
squirting his horse TO canter. The less
time they have together before explana-
tiOns are made the better"
What do you think they VIII do?"
asked the girl.
= don't dare to think. You see, on every
thing except this family tree business our
Tespectived parents are as far apart as
civilized humans can be Your father
now, is an elder in the church, while mine
has lost ali the religion he ever had, aud ne
has never recovered from the habit efusiug
swear words. acquired during years OF
service in the regular army"
on. dear! Oh, dear!"
Then, again, Judge Weston is an ardent
Republican"
And is your father a Democrat"
Worse than that-he is a Muswump"
How interesjinsl I have always IOnged
TO see one Of them"
And my father believes that Bacon wrote
ShaEeSpeaTes plays"
"Heaveusi Let Us ride faster Papa viii
have slain him before we get there
Really, Catherine" =" said the young man,
when they had slackcEcd their pace 10
climb the hills. lit would not surprise me
If they positively refused 10 enter into part
nershIp as fathers-in-aw."
Never mind, Richard, s" said the girl,
me anything when my happiness was at
stake-as 1t is now"
Strong shrugged his shoulders Mine
has, ," ne answered. He is made o flint. the
Old general, and If he should take it into
his head to say no it would be awkward in
ways don't like to mention"
Never mind. " said the girl. smilfn,
again, and lifting her Veil to the rim OF the
Iaunty sailor hat
And moment later the young man felt
much encouraged, aud the gaIop was re-
sumed.
On slight knoll surrounded by a grove
of live oaks and faced with an avenue of old
palms, there stood the ample residence of
Judge Weston. As the young people
came through the gate and eutered upon
the gravcled roadway, they observed TWO
elderly gentlemen emerge from a small
forest OF rose bushes and start briSkIv
down the path toward them. Presently
the shorter of the two took his companion's
arm, and they walked along in evident
peace and amity.
They haven't found it out yet" the
young man whispered
Judge Weston assisted his daughter to
alight. Catherine, said he, This is Gen
Strong, the father of our young friend" "
The general bent low in an oId-fashioned
obeisance, and Miss Catherine instinct
lively made him courtesy out OF the minuet.
Father"
Dick, my dear boyl"
See hcre!" exclaimed the Judge, sud
denly. You are mistaken, Richard. in
what you told me about Ebenezer Strong"
The young man braced himself for a
struggle.
And to think, Dick" cried the general.
reproachfully, that you never mentioned
to the judge that your t-great-grand-
father, Hezekiah Strong, married a Wes-
ton"
1T was stupid Of me to forget that" a." said
the young man, huskily.
And now that have seen Miss Gather
inc" said the general, taking her hand and
passing his arm under her waist, my only
regret is that the relationship is not sew
eral degrees nearer yet"
Then Catherine looked at Richdrd, and he
told what happened on the way To town
Straightway there was a great amount of
handshaking and good deal Of kissing
done in broad daylight under the palms.
The Land of Sunshine.
.