Sharp County record., 1896-09-18


Mrs. Herbert Lathrop."
clara" said her father, when they
were well on the road, what think you
Of your hrother's choice?"
~ perfect treasure, father. know
,hey'il be happy"
Daughter, have you never thought
OF marriarc?"
No, father; why should |? l am
but eishtecn-plenty of t!me-you are
no, anxious to lose Inc, !trust|
Far from it, Clara; but You have an
onportunitv now to win a husband and
wealth and station; in fact, he is az
ready voa; you have but to accept
him. have received a proposal for
yoHr hand"
"A husband don't want-wealth and
station We have; but who is il, pray,
that thinks my hand worth the hav-
ing? Not Herbert lathrop, hope; if
so neither hand nor heart have | for
him
Not Iathrop, Clara. lie is but a
dependent on his uncle. The would-be
bridegroom is the uncle himself-my
'r.crd. John Lloyd"
What! Father! What! And yon
would have me wed john Lloyd, man
not younger than my father? Impossi-
ble!"
"And why, my child, impossible?
Lloyd has great wealth, and he loves
you, Clara. You would be the mistress
of his home and shine as a star; be-
sides you love no one else, do you?'
NO, no one else in the way you
mean; and neither do l love John Lloyd.
l did respect him; but now"
CLARA, the love of such man as
John Lloyd should cause no girl to re-
spect him less. You should consider
it an honor to be loved by such man.
well, father, you wish me to marry
him not lovinp him?"
"Ah, Clara, you would love him web
in time"
And mother?"
"She knows nothing of it yet. l
would not tell her until had talked
with you"
"The idea Of my marrying Fannie's
father, a girl scarce a year younger
than am l. Mother, l know, would
never listen to it,"
Your mother, child, has romantic
notions in her head; but look you well
to wealth and station, for there lies
happiness"
81 think not, father; not for me, for
l value neither beyond reason"
swell, what will you say to the suit
of my friend Loyd?'
81 will say, dear father, that 1 love
him not"
"But you respect him?"
81 respect him."
"And may love him?'
"No, father, viii not say that"
"But you win marry him?"
Since your heart is bent on it viii
think the matter over; but do not love
John Lloyd"
That night Clara repeated her con-
yersation with her father to her moth
er, who was scarcely less surprised
than she had been.
$50 your father wants you to become
the wife of this old man. because he is
rich. Was there ever such worship
cr of gold, But Of course you'll not
marry him?"
"If | don't, mother, we will have an
unquiet home; you know how set ia.
ther is in his ways"
81 guess do; I've lived with him for
25 long years, but do you never marry,
I save to please yourself" Z.
The next morning Clarence knew all
about it. His father evidently had told
him, and when he left Clara he con-
graduated her.
NO, Clarence" she said, "do not con-
gratuatc me. In your case congratula-
tions are well, but in mine, should
marry Fannie's father do you thin;
they would be well timcd?'
"No man in Carolina, sister, is more
esteemed thsn John Lloyd. His name
would almost head the list; then
wealth and station,"
81 see that you entertain fathers
views; you'd have your sister be step
mother 10 your wife, who is but year
her junior-pray, do you marry Fannie
because John Lloyd is wealthy? Do you
marry her for esteem, for station, or
for what?"
II love Fannie, Clara
"And think | should marry where |
do not love?'
NO, Clara, no, but surely"
"Yes, surely, l suppose you thinl,
that | can love your wife's father
enough to marry him? | love your
wife, and that is enough for YOU"
Here Fannie joined them, "Clara
dear she said, 81 know not whether to
laugh or cry-shaIl You wed papo?"
u know not, Fannie, he has not asked
me yet, but in any event shall not love
you less"
flush" sOd Fannie, "hcre comes
Herbert Let him know nothing about
1t, Mt least not now."
Nor did Herbert, buthc surmised that
something was omiss in his plans, and
try as he might he could get no oppor.
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