Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-06-05
WITH HIS CONSENT.

Alpheus Monrough had made his pile
as SPECTATOR. principally in rails, but
he still amused himself by dealing now
and again to the extent of S1,O00,0o0 or
SO, although for general business he
had practically retired from change.
He was widower, with an only daugh-
ter, Miss Phyllis Monrough, aged 20
a fine, handsome blonde, who had taken
up the study of Science.
Phyllis had, of course, heaps of Of
fers, eligible and otherwise, but she
had not met the man whom she cared to
marry, and, at her urgent desire, her
father had sent her to Harvard to en-
able her to pursue her studies.
She went to the university with a
mind fully made up to devote her life
to science and to abjure matrimony.
In fact, as she herself put it, she had
locked up her heart and thrown away
the key.
But we are told that "love laughs ut
locksmiths, u and, in confirmation there
of, she had not been long at Harvard
when she found herself head over ears
in love with George Stanislaus Rocker
ton, who was studying law there.
Young Rockerton came from good
family, was rich, good-loolsing, and in
every way eligible; but when Phyllis
wrote to her papa informing him of her
tender passion and asking his consent
to her engagement, she received tele-
gram Che was SO urgent that he would
not wait for the post to carry his re-
fusaI:
"No. Come home at once"
Phyllis had SO rarely been denied
anything that she was angry, aston
ished, dumfounded, broken-hearted all
at once. No mere words can accurate
ly describe her feelings. However,
there was no help for it. She must
obey. And so, after an interview with
her lover, in which they vowed eternal
attachment, she precipitately threw up
her studies and her newly-found hopes
of bliss and returned to New York.
Her father received her kindly, but
with o firm-set countenance, which sho
knew from her observations of his deal
ings with others indicated that his
mind was made up, and that nothing
could alter it.
She, Of course, burst into tears to
begin with. But 1t made no visible eff
feet on her parent.
"My dear Phyllis" he said, you cam
not imagine how it pains me to be
obliged to run counter to your desire,
but when have explained matters to
you, I hope you will agree with me and
give up the idea of marrying this young
Rockerton.
when was q lad, my father had o
farm out west, the adjoining farm to
which belonged to Ralph Rockerton,
| the grandfather of the young man you
have met.
II need not go into details; it will
suffice for you to know that my father
and old Rockerton had bitter quarrel,
and that feud arose between the two
families which can never be healed.
"But, papa urged Phyllis, ut is o
very long time ago, and don't think
that quarrel between my grandfp-
Their and his grandfather should be
any reason why Geo-I mean MIR.
Rockerton-should not be good hus-
band to me. He is rich. I've always
done as you've wished, and now, when
l feel that my life's happiness is at
stake, you make this stupid objec-
ton"
Shesobbed af1esh, but her tears were
thrown away on her obdurate parent,
SO she tried to cross-examine him on
the subject of the quarrel.
"It must have been very dreadful
quarrel, papa, for you to harbor re-
venge all these years. Tell me more
about 1t. If my life is to be blighted,"
she said, signing deeply, II should like
to know why"
Mr.. Monrough felt himself getting
into n corner with his daughters wiles
and tears, and he got bitangry.
lit was about stream, my dear,
which ran between the two estates.
Old Rockerton insisted that the water
was all on his land, whereas it was the
boundary, and we had the right on one
side of the stream and he on the other.
But it really distresses me to think
about that dreadful time, when for two
whole years 1 walked about with my
life in my hand, so to speak. beg you
will say no more on the subject"
"Well, just one question, papa"
asked Phyllis, with an eye to future
contingencies. WAS anyone killed ?"
mo. No one was killed." answered
Mr.. Monrough; but your GRANDPA
Their was shot in the arm, and can
never forgive NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS."
1t soon became evident to Mr.. Mon
rough that Phyllis was really fretting
and making herself ill about that con
founded fellow Rockerton," as he said
to himself. He was q man of action,
and determined to give her thorough
change.
Phyllis, my girl" he said the next
morning ut breakfast, "how would you
like to go to England for bit?"
"Oh, papa J" She exclaimed, with the
most brilliant look on her face that he
had seen there for a long time. "That
would be delightful. You know I've
always wanted to go across and see the
old world. But can you spare the
timer"
"Well, no, my girl, can't just now"
he replied. II am obliged to remain
here for time, as l have speculation
on which requires my presence on the
spot, but Mrs. Laking is going over by
the next Cunarder and she would chap
eron you to your uncle's in Manchester,
where you could stay and nmuse your
self till arrived. which probably would
be in about three months"
So it was settled, and the following