The record-union., 1897-04-18

mark the wickedness of womenkind. The
next morning l received a letter from
the aunt, which showed her character
in its true light. This epistle stated that,
as the guardian of her niece she refused
to sanction a match between us, that
she forbade me even to see Jenny: and
finally the letter ended with plain hint
that Dick Monteith was to wed my
nymph. This atrocious letter was coldly
signed, Yours obediently, Jane OAR
row.
Need I state the effect on my delicate
frame? l was seriously ill for quite
three hours-and reclining on sofa in
a darkened room, 1 laved my burning
brow with eau-de-cologne. Wildly but
POLITICALLY, I cursed the elderly dra-
gon who held my Jenny in thrall; and
cast about for some means whereby to
release my princess from durance vile.
An opportunity of meeting with her pre-
scented itself sooner than 1 expected.
1t was the custom of my loved one
to take the evening aif in the green ar
cades of Pottlebury woods. On occa-
sions, Dick, the ruffian, frequently
haunted her steps, and forced his odious
attentions upon her. 1 determined to
repair to those sylvan solitudes and-pro-
vided Dick was absent-plead for Jenny
to crown my love with sweet consent.
Could she refuse me and twenty thou
sand year? / thought not. So after
fortifying my nerves with an excellent
tonic, 1 sailed forth to seek the desire
of my heart There is yet romance in
the land if one knows where to look
for it.
AS I strolled along the emerald bank of
the Stour, beneath the shade of gnarled
oaks, 1 CHANGED suddenly upon a nymph
and her satyr. The former was Jenny,
the latter Dick: and the latter was
pleading at the feet of the former, while
the former averted her head in disgust
from the latter. She saw me approach
through the dusky wood and instantly
bounded toward me like a startled fawn.
Clinging to my breast, she implored me
to save her from the odious persecution
of Monteith. am not a strong man, and
willing as / was to kick Dick, I feared
that the task was beyond my powers.
However, it did not do to exhibit fear
in the presence of beauty; so hastily
placing her almost inanimate form upon
the daisied turf, 1 advanced boldly on
the enemy
How dare you insult an unprotected
girl, sir?" 1 cried, steadying my knees
for the encounter. Miss barrow has
appealed to me for protection, and she
shall have it at the cost of my life
Il did not mean any harm, Pottle-
bury" replied Dick, retreating before
my fierce eye, but love her"
His obvious fear gave me courage, and
L advanced boldly.
Il love her also" said grandly. "She
is not for you, but for me. However, let
her decide between brute strength and
Intellectual force. Miss barrow" I ad-
ded, turning to her, "choose-Hercules
or Apollo?"
In a moment her choice was made,
and again her clinging arms were round
my neck.
Apollo" she cried, with fervor. 81
love you, Philibert, not Mr. Monteith."
You see, Dick, she has chosen the
better part
Il see," was the gloomy response;
but l am not going to give her up to
you"
Again / removed the arms of my
Jenny; again 1 advanced on the bar
barrie Dick, and this time refinement
triumphed over savagery. He re-
created before the fire of my eye, and
when L pointed in silence to the road
he departed in gloomy anger and let
US alone. / turned to Jenny and found
her laughing Historically
How brave you are, Philiberti" she
said. recovering, when l offered my
vinaigrette.
Il did not know you were so cour-
ageous."
TT was my eye that did it," I replied
in a satisfied tone.
And again she was seized with hys-
terra
With some difficulty I Gained this
unnatural mirth, and then we sat down
on the messy bole Of an ancient tree
to discuss the future.
My aunt" she said, permitting her
lily hand to lie within my fingers, my
aunt is in the position of a woman
scorned. She loved you, Philibert and
you refused her love. Now she hates
you and she is determined that you
shall not marry me, but rather that I
shall become the bride of Mr. Mon
teith.''
''Fairest," I replied in tender tones,
what matters it that your aunt should
forbid my suing? If you lose a thou
sand a year by not gaining consent to
our nuptials, have 1 not sufficient mon
ely for US both? In these arms shall
you rest secure from the wild wooingS
of Monteith; and when you are Mrs.
Pottlebury, none shall say you nay"
ooh, Philibert," she exclaimed "how
wonderfully you speak; how thrilling
are your tones But l dare not marry
without my aunt's consent 1 would
not come a pauper to my poet Wait,
dearest-wait. Time may remove the
spoken word which binders our union.
1 dare not meet you openly, Philibert;
but write me letters, and see that they
are delivered secretly; but in such fond
epistles make no mention of Aunt Jane,
lest they should fall into her hands
Write poetry for me- and place it before
the local population in the local news
paper Thus 1 will be assured that my
Philibert is true to his Jenny"
Ravished by the magic of her words
she had caught a breath of eloquence
from mel consented to these ro
mantle plans. We parted with deep
signs on my part, and hysterical mirth
on hers, and wended our several ways
What she had suggested, 1 did
wrote fond letters, carefully avoiding
mention of the dragon aunt; / COM
posed sweet verses, which appeared in
the "Pottlebury Planet''-my own
newspaper, in which 1 could insert
what I chose-and for two months
lived in a delicious whirl of intrigue
and secrecy. Sometimes we met by