Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-06-19

confidence in me. He gave me credit for
no sort of affection for his daughter He
! insisted that any money 1 might in future
become possessed Of l should covenant to
bring into the settlement. II was most
absurd. or course. couldn't consent to
il. I.had my business TO consider. 1t may
be very desirable by and by to invest fur
| Their capital In IT. Why should l be him
dered from investing my own money in
| the way might deem best? OF course, my
| wife and my children-if l ever have any
will reap the benefit of it. just as much as
l Shall However, he wouldn't listen to
| me; SO there was nothing more to be said.
1 told Ellen exactly how the matter stood.
| She's of age. l asked her whether she'd
marry me without her fathers consent
| Poor grill she was in a dreadful way. But
she didn't dare do that. She shrunk from
OFFENDING her father; so there's no help for
1.-THE things broken or and I'm not to
! be married, it seems-ths time, at any
rate"
He spoke rather SOrrowfully, but still
( without the slightest trace Of temper I
] endeavOred to console him in a common
] place sort Of way. 1t was a difficult mat
/ ter to know what to say upon such an oc-
/ casiOn. and consolation at ali times is apt
( 20 run into rather commonplace forms.
| He opened the small packet he had been
holding in his hand.
This is pleasant" he said. Here are
all my letters to Ellen. And here's little
present 1 gave to her. sent back to me-"
There were not many letters. They were
written. I could see, in my friends usual
| bold plain, legble hand. Their contents
I could guess; little enough like conven-
tional love letters probably-very unec-
static compositions yet simple and to the
| purpose, and unmistakable enough. The
present was a ring. large diamond heavily
set in plain gold; just the valuable sub
stantial, simple present I could have fan
cied Tom johnson selecting for his be-
/ trothed.
| Il suppose they'll expect me to send
back EHen's letters to me" he said.
Undoubtedly"
ITS the usual way when engagements
come to end like this?"
Certainly. it's the usual way"
He rubbed his chin and seemed TO re-
| fleet little.
"Have cigar" ne said, land cts
talk about something else; this is not
the most agreeable subject in the world.
Tell us what you have been doing with
yourself lately"
SO we fell to talking again about this,
| that and the other. Presently 1 left him.
As 1 went away he said quietly, 81 think
l shall and see Ellen once more, for par
ticular reason"
| l did not ask what that particular reason
was, and he did not tell me.
A few nights afterwards saw him again.
| He was at no time subject much to change
I of mood, or at any rate seldom betrayed
| any variation of that kind. Yet it struck
me that. if anything. he was in rather bet
| ter spirits than usual
/ you didn't mention" he said. what 1
/ told YOU the other night-that my engage
meut was broken OFF,"
| / explained that 1 had not mentioned it
| for a particularly good reason. had not
seen any person whom it would interest
10 be informed Of the fact
! ITS just as WELL ne said, because, as
| it happens. the engagement isn't broken
| off: or rather it's on again"
Indeed, I'm sure I'm very glad to hear
! It."
''I told you I should try and see Ellen
/ again. but what I wanted came without my
| continuing 1 called on her friends, Mrs
Kenyon. one afternoon and found Ellen
was there That dear won-an-God bless
her-found an excuse for leaving us to-
gether Ellen looked rather frightened.
and the tears stood in her eyes; but 1 told
her there was nothing TO be alarmed at,
and that I wanted to say a word or two.
then told her that I was sorry had not
sent back her letters as l ought to have;
but the plain fact Of the matter was. 1
couldn't do IT, You love me still then,
Tom?' she said. of course 1 do. Ellen 1
said; who's been telling you I don't?
Then she began crying terribly. Come,
Ellen l said. let's be married whether
papa likes it or not; only say the word.
She didn't say the word. Poor child!
don't think she could speak for crying; but
she looked at me. and she gave ever such
little nod. and then she began laughing
through her tears. 1t was the prettiest
thing you ever saw. OF course, l kissed
her. and insisted on going home with her.
When we got TO the house l secured an
interview with her father, and found the
old gentleman in a good natured mood.
So I took the bull by the horns. so to speak,
and putting out my hand said, Mr.. Long
street. Ellen and I are going to be mar
ried: that's quite settled But YOU and
may as we'll be friends all the same. We'd
much rather have your consent than not.
Suppose you give it to us He was so as
tonished. that. before, 1 think. he quite
krsw what he was doing, he'd taken my
hand. and so the thing was settled"
1 congratulated him heartily. Presently
I said by chance. How lucky it was you
didn't send back Miss Longstreet's let
tersr
My dear fellow, that was what l want
ed to explain to her. couldn't send them
back"
'You found them too dear to you?'
AT last, then, he'd been betrayed into
feeling of romance.
''Not at ALL" ne explained. "I couldn't
send them back because hadn't kept
them. I'd destroyed them"
Destroyed them?"
yes What was the good of them? 1
only keep business letters; they're all reg
ularly docketed at my office. But for
EHens letters. they were no use. 1t was
10 good keeping them. l confess TO a NOR
bid fear that somebody that ought not
might see them. and so put my anxiety at
rest by destroying them"
you didn't tell her that?'
mo: I hadn't time. never arrived at
a.