The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-20

| to be desired.
All this beauty, which his. father had
undertaken To deny TO him, without even
seeing It, made young Eben desperate.
"Then you want me TO marry some other
woman" he said.
"No, mol Never!" she exclaimed al
most wildly as she threw her perfect arms
around his neck and began To sob at the
| thought. Her quick emotions were not
the least Of her charms. .
And that Is why she did not take IL well.
| She would, and she wouldn't listen TO
either side OF the question. Young Eben
must obey his father, and he must never
cease to love her, nor ever marry any one
else And nothing was ever to induce her
to waver in any respect. Ii was delightful
| and somewhat perplexiDg.
IF you won't settle the matter" no
nid finally, ~ will" This, by the way,
| was what he had intended from the first.
Settle it, how!" she asked in some
alarm.
BY marrying YOU" no said firmly,
"but not just now. / will do nothing
rashly.'
1t must bo said that the next few
months were pretty hard ones for the boy.
| He had set himself TO wait till he should
bo of age the next December, not with
the thought OF defying his father even
| then, but because he would render his serv-
Ice Loyalty TO the last day So time went
on. His duty was done at his desk In the
| counting room SO well that his father
could not complain, rigid tuskmastcr
| though he was His sweetheart was not
Neglected, and yet he found time, or made
| Il, TO keep up his studies faithfully.
OF course, the birthday came in due
| time. Birthdays do. In the morning old
Eben met him with something like emo
| lion.
II have looked forward to this day." no
said, ''as anxiously as you. You have been
good son and believe you always will
be. / am proud of you, and believe you
will live 20 be proud of yourself. Now
that you are man / want To start you
with this II Is yours to do with rs you
like"
"This" was check for q small fortune.
He took IL from his pocket as he spoke and
handed it to the young man, who flushed
with surprise and perfectly natural pleas
ure as he looked at It,
''It would be idle, sir, to try TO thank
you in words for this, or for all your kind
ness to me all my life," he said. "But
have something else TO ask. Even this
princely gift of money seems small COM
pared To that"
Old Eben's face darkened. He did not
like to hear money spoken OF lightly, and
1t seemed an ungracious speech. However,
lie spoke kindly and with all sincerity.
"What is it, my son? You are not likely
20 ask anything that could refuse today"
II want you, sir, to reconsider what you
said about my marrying. Let me intro
duce you to the woman
The dark face grew rigid. "Let us un-
derstand this now," said tho father inter-
rupting. 81 insistupon your obedience so
long rs play the part of a fnther. / have
no legal claim, / know
Don't talk of legal claim, father"
said the son, interrupting in his turn.
Every well. 1t is not claim, but am
still your father, and so long rs you con-
tinue in my home you are my son. Let
me hear no more of this folly. will never
consent to this marriage. Do you under
standS'
II do, God help mel'' exclaimed young
Eben. "And you must understand me
also. i shall certainly marry the girl
love, and do not change, sir, any more
than you. will obey you in all else, but
not In that. !"
"Then we may as well part now," said
old Eben, stung beyond endurance by the
first defiant words he had ever listened TO.
"You can have no claim on me hence
forth"
"If we part" said the lad his voice
breaking, let us part in kindness at
least. ask for nothing more" And he
stepped forward with his hands out
stretched.
But the other drew back "I said you
had no claim on me. My kindness was
for my son, not for an migrate. Obey me
and everything shall be as 1t was. II not,
go now."
With despairing gesture the young man
turned away, but his father spoke ngain.
"Stop moment" no said. You have
forgotten your check" And no pointed
TO where young Eben had dropped it on
the table. ~ gave you that, sir, before
you had detled me- 1t is still yours"
81 cannot take 1t, father" said young
Eben, with some spirit, though not def
antly. "You would not give it to me
now, and 1 cannot receive what does not
come from your hearty good will.
"As you choose" said his father. IL
certainly would not give 1t to you now"
And after the young man left the room
he picked up the slip of paper and tore it
in bits before throwing it into tho fire.
Then, seating himself at the table, he rang
for his breakfast When 1t was brought
however. nc sat for an hour looking
straight before him and finally, leaving 1t
untouched, he arose and went to his office.
"God help your poor father" said Mil
dred rs she nestled in young Eben's arms
in tho shelter of their new home the night
before Christmas.
"Amoni" said young Eben. "He Is
poor indeed in his loneliness, but never
can cease loving him."
CHAPTER III.