Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-02-27

" morning anu IL wac
of this the old man was thinking as he
glanced at her across the table. She
had more than fulfilled the promise OF
her childhood. The golden hair was
chestnut now. and pushed behind her
ears in heavy, ripping masses OF light
and shadow. Her eyes had taken n
deeper tone-they were like wells
whose depth you could not guess at.
Her features were delicately irregular.
the forehead low, broad and white; her
chin was dimpled as an infants. and
her mouth still ripe and red as dam
ask rosebud. She wore pink muslin
wrapper. tied with white ribbons, and
in her hair dropped a cluster Of apple
blossoms.
"Margie, dear" said Mr.. Trevlyn.
pausing in his work Of buttering muf-
fin. 81 want you to look your prettiest
tonight. / am going to bring home a
friend Of mine-one who was also your
fathers friend-Mr. Linmere. He ar
rived from Europe today"
Margie's cheek lost a tribe Of its
peachy bloom. She toyed with her
spoon. but did not reply to his remark.
did you understand me. child? Mr..
Linmere has returned"
'Yes. sir"
"And is coming here tonight. Re-
member to take extra pains with your
self. Marcy. for he has seen all the
European beauties, and l do not want
my little American flower to be cast
in the shade. VIII you remember IT."
Certainly, il you wish it. Mr.. Trev-
iyn."
"Margie"
"Sirv'
you are aware that Mr.. Linmere is
your afianced husband, are you not?"
II have been told SO"
And yet in the face Of that fact
well. of all things, girls do beat me!
Thank heaven, have none Of my own"
he added testify.
Girls are better let alone. sir. 1t
is very hard to feel ones self bound
to fulfil a contract Of this kind"
Hard! Well, now. / should think it
easy. Mr.. Linmere is all that any rea-
sonable woman could wish. Not too
old, nor yet too young; about forty
five. which is just the age for man
to marry; good looking. intelligent and
wealthy-what more could you ask?"
You forget that do not love him
that he does not love me-"
Love! tush! Don't let me hear any
thing about that. l loathe the name.
Margie, love ruined my only son! For
love he disobeyed me and l disowned
him. I have not spoken his name for
years. Your father approved Of Mr..
child you were betrothed. And when
your father died, what did you prom
ise him on his deathbed?"
Margie grew white as the ribbons at
her throat.
81 promised him that would try
and fulfil his requirements"
THAT you would try! Yes. And
that was equal to giving an unqualified
assent. You know the conditions of
the will. believer"
II do. If marry without your con-
sent under the age of twenty-one, l
forfeit my patrimony. And l am nine
teen now. And shall not marry with
out your consent"
"Margie, you must marry Mr.. Lin
mere. Do not hope to do differently. 1t
is your duty. He has lived single all
these years waiting for you. He will
be kind to you, and you will be happy.
Prepare to receive him with becoming
respect"
Mr.. Trevlyn considered his duty
performed and went out for his GUS
tomary walk.
At dinner Mr.. Linmere arrived. Mar
gle met him with cold composure. He
scanned her fair face and almost fault
less form with the eye Of a connoisseur
and congratulated himself on the for
tune which was to give him such bride
without the perplexity of wooing. She
was beautiful and attractive. and he
had feared she might be ugly, which
would have been dampener on his
True, her wealth would
laye counterbalanced any degree OF