Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-09-03
CHAPTER VIII.
Treats of the Availability of
of Sir Harold Hartrey.

Treats OF the Availability of Temper
of Sir Harold Hartrey.
Sir Harold Hartrey was of n very
ancient family, and the ~baronetcy was
one of the oldest in the United King
dom. He was a harsh man, and would
always have his wv way, and had Il
great opinion of his w Importance.
He usually resided at Hartrey Park,
where he could be the great man OF
the place, in preference to London,
where nobody knew or cared much
about him. In appearance, he vas q
thorough gentleman; he was kind TO
the poor, stiff and formal TO his supe-
riors in rank, and cold, hard and re-
pelling to those whom he thought
might as ,e.t themselves his equals.
Nav little knew how great the diff
culties were with which Ernest would
have to contend, and he had not cared
TO let her know the worst; Il yet it
appeared to the young squire tina
while his father lived, there must ever
be a bar to his marriage with the malt
ster'S daughter.
The morning on which John Gridley
set out from the little Portsmouth inn
To walk to Hartrey Park, Sir John
Hartrey sat i'm his library. 1t III n
handsome ro,In, completely lined with
books, though it must be confessed
that their owner rarely took them
from the shelves. Still, it was a COM
Portable ROOM: and here il was that
Sir Harold was accustomed To write
his letters and receive his business Wis
itors.
When he sat in that room there a
always a certain stiffness in his n
ner. 1t was a kind of business manner,
in which the baronet became o
Self-important than ever.
When Ernest Hartrey was hidden.
after breakfast. by his father. to fol-
low him TO that ominous library, he
felt that the conversation would be a
serious one; and he followed with a
grave face, for he guessed his mar
riage would he the topic under discus
sion. and that now he would have 10
fight Mays battle and his own; and he
was right in his surmise.
ERNEST" commenced the father, as
soon as they were seated, II wish TO
talk TO you on an important matter
Ernest bowed. He guessed what was
coming.
You are now of age TO think of mat
rimony. | was a year younger than
you when | welded your mother. Has
it ever entered your head that you
should marry?'
1T has. sir"
Tint is well. ! am glad to find
your frame Of mind suitable to what |
would say 10 YOU. | have been for
some months past looking for n wife
Tor YOU, who would be suitable in the
matter of rank and riches, and some
weeks ago had Il conversation with
my friend, Lord Dorchester, on the
subject
Here he paused, as if expecting an
answer from his son; but Ernest made
none. N tie baronet continued:
IN the course of this conversation |
sounded the marquis on a matter
winch had been uppermost in my
thoughts for some time. and was
pleased to lind his opinions agreed en-
llreiy with nine, md that he was will
ing to do all in his W to bring
a5o;;t a marriage between his second
daughter and Yourself"
Again Sir Harold paused for some re-
mark from his Sun
have You nothing to say, Ernest:'
Yes, sir; ! have TO saw that mucb
rs | regrer the disappointment il may
'ausa you, the marrige you o
cannot be-"
NONSENSE! You don't know what
y httie. petty, wretched village trades.
man! 0 are mad, sir, mad!'
speak, sir, in sober earnestness
ana mean what say. l will marry ma
one but May Rivers
You shall not marry herr cried his
inturiated father. II swear hat
Whiie have power to move a limb
that miserable, intriguing country pirl
shaii never be your wife! NY consent
You shall never have-my money Won
snail never havei The title I canpot
Keep from you; but live upon II # Won
can! Persist in your determination
marry at your peril-starye. ana Wi,
not give You so much as n crust. and
tne last representative of the Hartrevs
shail die a pauper in the workhousar,
iou are excited. sir, at present. we
VIII talk again on this matter when Won
are cooler" ~
HOW dare You say i am excited. Won
uhsrateiui son! ! am calm-ouite
caih! and the baronet dashed his fist
violently on the table.
We're you to see the lady, my dear
iatner' you would alter your opinion OF
NOT !! Some red-cheeked, bold.
iacea country weneh has entrapned
you Tor your money-soyse village airt
some half-respectable-,
Remember, sir" said Ernest. ,oudlv
n nrmiy, you are talking Of the lady
VINO WIZ one day be my wife n youy
daughter. Think of that, and moder
ate your language"