The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-12-29
" was a strictly honorable and thor.

would change him? Would his practi-
cality ultimately Succumb? Would he
not, rather, like most other men, find
at last an unexpected fire kindling and
cracking in his breast?
| called upon him one evening. and
in the course Of our conversation /
asked him about Miss Latrobe.
The affair is off,, he said, grayely,
holding up a small sealed packet
You don't mean to say sou
Yes; it's a bad job, and | am very
sorry about it; but it can't be helped.
It's the old mans doing. | hope he's
satisfied now. He's the most unreal
sonable and disagreeable old fellow |
ever had the misfortune to meet"
But what did he do"
well, we fell out about the settle
ments; there was where the hitch
arose. I'm sure ] did all | could to
please him. | told him to settle what
money he proposed to settle upon his
daughter-it wasn't so very much.
after adjust as he pleased. Or he
might settle nothing at all upon her.
just as he pleased. It was his daugh
ter | wanted, not his money | thought
Of assigning to my wife my policy of
inslrance-it is 4cr a larger amount
than most men carry-and as to the
real estate | put that along with it.
tie whole thing being assigned to trust
eeS for my Wife'S sole benefit in case Of
my death. But it did not content him.
He had no confidence in me. and gave
me no credit for any affection He in
sisted that any MONEY | might III fut-
IRE become possessed Of | should bring
into the settlement. | fatty refused
this. 1t was most absurd as / had my
business to consider 1t might be very
desirable ~ and by to invest more
money in it, Why should | be hind
cred from investing my own money III
any way | deemed best? He wouldn't
give i'll, and / wouldn't / begged her
to marry me without the old mans
G nsent. Poor girl! She was in Il
dreadful way. She didn't dare do that
SO it's all up
'Tllis packet" he said. opening II.
"contains all the letters [ ever wrote
to Edna. And here is a little present
gave her. sent back to me-" 1t was
ling, a large. purple white diamond
heavily set in plain gold last the val
liable, simple. substantial present |
could have f:sncied Ben Whitley select
ing for his betrothed.
Il suppose they will expect me to
send back all Edna's letters to me-" he
said, rubbing his chin thong htfully, as
he HANDED me a cigar and took one
himself. We smoked md talked OF
other matters. Just IS | was leaving.
he held my hand for IN Instant, and
said, quietly: Il Thick I shall try to
see Edna once more, for particular
reason
A few nights afterward | saw him
in eli al, ,.1t ix1
his manner He did not speak and
look SO gravely; in fact. he was in
rather letter spirits than usual
Il hope YOU did not mention what ]
told you the other night that my en-
gagement was broken--as it happens
it, isn't broken; it's on again / told
you / should see Edna again. Well,
l.ncW that SIZE often went with her
father and other relations to Lincoln
Park Sundays, for a walk after church.
| could not call at the old mans house,
you know, because / felt that / had
been kicked out of that, or just aS
good. So | went to the park. | soon
saw Edna with her father aud lot OF
other people. She saw me, and under
stood my sigIs that | wanted to speak
to her OH the quiet. Watching her
chance, she slipped with lae into the
greenhouse. She looked scared, and
tears were in her eyes, SO | put my
arm around her waist. / didn't care a
bit who saw me. | ;sked her to for
give me for not sending back her let
ters, but that the fact was, | could not
do it. You love me still, then. Ben?
she said. OF course, | kissed her for
answer. Then she began to cry
Come, Edna, | said let's get mar
ried right away, whether papa likes it
or not Poor child, she could not
speak for crying, and she looked at
me- and then she gave me such a fun
ny little nod and began laughing
through her tears. 1t was the prettiest
thing you ever saw. We kissed each
other Il few times, and then / turned
and saw cid Latrobe / bowed polite
ly and said:
/" Mr.. Latrobe, Edna and | are going
to be married; that's quite settled
Suppose you give us your consent.
We'd much rather have it than not
'Well would you believe it, he held
out his hand and said, in a queer voice;
Come home to dinner | ought, per-
haps to have told Edna that the reason
| could not send back her letters was
because had used them to light pipes
with: but it doesn't matter now Come
and see us married Thursday"