Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-10-03
THE LIEUTENANT'S TRIUMPH.

More than 40 years ago there was a
beautiful country place near st. Louis
known by it's owner and his neighbors
as Arcadia. Probably the present
summer resort in southeast Missouri
received it's name from the memory of
this adjacent country home Of this,
however, | have no knowledge.
The owner of this beautiful home
was Jonathan Wear. retired mpr-
chant. who made his money in the
early days of the west by transporting
goods frcm st. Louis to Santa Fe over
land, and later by selling Missouri
horses along the gulf coast country at
enormous profits.
Jonathan Wear had an only daugh-
ter, Marion, who was at this time in
her 18th year and the acknowledged
belle of the county. She was not only
beautiful in form and feature, but, oW-
ing to the death Of her mother while
the girl was an infant, most of her
time had been spent in her
fathers library and in association
with his business affairs Hence her
u
was charming.
OF course such a young woman as
Marion Wear could not live unnOticed
in any community and naturally she
bad many attendants and suitOrs, par
ticularly among the rich young gentle
men of the day, and the army officers
who were a conspicuous feature in ali
Vot hf.Y'I Of
Among these were two who became
recognized rivals for the fair Marion's
hand and heart. They were Theodore
Barrett and Lieut.. Harry Gray.
Barrett was the son of an old friend
OF Jonathan Wear. who had grown
rich and retired as had Jonathan, and
placed Theodore in Il position where
he would one day become heir to a
large amount of money and property.
He was handsome man, was Thee
dore, very dark, with black hair and
eyes, and he was yeritable leader in
the fashions Of those days.
Lieut.. Harry Gray was the son of Il
military officer who had 1e tired from
the army because of his age, leaving
to Harry only a career similar to his
own, which had been we'll begun
The young lieutenant had dark brown
hair and eyes, and was a veritable
athlete by reason of his training at
West Point and some experience on
the plains.
One bright morning Theodore Bar
rett rode out to Arcadia rather later
than usual, and being informed by the
colored servant who answered the bel
that Miss Marion had gone out walk
ing with Lieut.. Gray. he asked to see
old Jonathan Wear.
Mr. Wear was reading a newspaper
in his favorite room, and so Theodore
was promptly shown in. They talked
awhile about the weather and the
prospects for crops and such uninter-
esting details as men are wont to open
conversations with. but it was evident
the younger man had something I'm
portant on his mind, and it was not
long before he came to business rather
abruptly, in this fashion:
'sNIr. Wear. | want to say to you, as
an old friend of my father, that l am
now in receipt of a permanent income
of $4,000 a year from properties in
herited from my mother. My father
has promised to settle upon me an
other $4,000, provided l shall marry
with his permission, and at his death
of course I shall come into possession
of $4,000 year, and final property of
perhaps $250,000."
ir,rf5, cot hn
old gentleman, with a rather puzzled
air. And then he waited, looking
steadily at Theodore. There was quite
a long pause, and then the young man
said:
Il have told you all this, Mr.. Wear,
because l desire permission to marry
your daughter, Miss Marion
'Well," said old Jonathan, slowly,
Il have nothing whatever to say in
such an affair just now, for long ago
determined not to influence my daugh-
ter's inclinations in the least, except,
maybe, to make sure she knows her
own mind. l know how much misery,
grief and sin are caused by marriage
without affection, so, while there are
many advantages apparent to me
in the match you have done us the
honor to propose, the decision rests
with my daughter. If she loves you,
we'll and good. only that she is yet too
young 10 think of marriage"
II understand, then, sir, that l have
your conditional permission if [ can
obtain Miss Wears consent"
you have"
II thank you, sir. Good morning"
Theodore left the room and mount
ing his horse, rode slowly away in the
direction of Arcadia park, a lovely
spot in the Wear homestead, and a
fayorite walking place of Miss Mar
TONS.
Meanwhile Marion. accompanied by
the lieutenant, had been strOlling
along beneath the old trees for which
the park was famous. They were
both curiously silent; on other occa
sions anything and everything haC
furnished food for conversation, bu
today, from some unaccountable cause
if either made an observation it me
with a monosyllabic reply.
But presently Marion paused in he
walk and looking straight at the lieu
tenant said: ''What is the matter, Mr.
Gray? You do not seem to be enjoy
ing the day, the walk nor my com
pany."