Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-07-01

or four miles, to where the men were
| telling timber for the mills. Come,
| Clara he added, you shall go with
me-
Clarence and Fannie had gone horse
back riding, and Clara went with her
| father, leaving Herbert Lathrop behind.
This act first opened his eyes to the
fact that perhaps after all there was
! doubt about his being able to win
Clara. or even obtain the consent of her
father.
well, I must have one of them.'' he
| said. Clarence lost no time with Fan
ME, and the little mink said yes; while
to me she said no and laughed in my
face. One of the girls must surely be
Mrs. Herbert Lathrop.''
'Clara," said her father, when they
were well on the road, 'what think you
of your brothers choice?'
ga perfect treasures father I know
they'll be happy"
Daughter, have you never thought
of marriage?''
NO, father; why should L? I am
but eighteen-plenty of time-you are
not anxious 10 lose Inc, trust? ?"
Far from it, Clara; but you have an
opportunity now to win husband and
wealth and station; in fact, he is al
ready won: you have but to accept
him. have received a proposal for
your hand"
ga husband don't want-wealth and
station we have; but who is it, pray,
tf DIT thinks my hand worth the hav-
ing? Not Herbert Lathrop,I hope; if
so neither hand nor heart have I for
him.
Not Lathrop, Clara. He is but
dependent on his uncle. The wouldzhe
bridegroom is the uncle himself-2ny
friend, John Lloyd"
''What! Father! What! And you
would have me wed John Lloyd, a man
not younger than my father? Impossi-
blei''
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?"
mo, no one else in the way you
mean; and neither do I love John Lloyd.
L did respect him; but now
'tClara, the love of such a man as
John Lloyd should cause no girl to re-
spect him less. You should consider
''We1, father, you wish me to marry
him not loving him?"
''Ah, Clara, you would love him well
in time
"And mother?'
'She knows nothing OF it yet. 1
would not tell her until I had talked
with you
''The idea of my marrying Fannie's
e.
than am I. Mother, 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"
Il think not, father: not for me, fer
L value neither beyond reason"
well, what will you say to the suit
of my friend Loyd?'
81 will say, dear father, that love
him not
But you respect himS'
L respect him.
''And may love hin? p
NO, father, will not say that"
But you will marry him?'
''Since your heart issbent on it I will
think the matter over; but [ do not love
John Lloyd
That night Clara repeated her con
versation with her father to her moth
er, who was scarcely less surprised
than she had been.
$50 your father wants you to become
the SVife of this old man. because he is
rich. Was there ever such a worship
er of gold! Bat of course you'll not
marry him?'
s'If don't, mother, we Will have an
unquiet home: you know how set IA
Their is in his ways"
II guess I do; I've lived with him for
25 long years, but do You never marry,
save to please yourself"
The next morning Clareace knew all
about it. His father evidently had told
him, and when he left Clara he con-
graduated her.
mo, Clarence" she said do not con-
graduate me. In your case congratulA-
tions are well, but in mine, should i
marry Fannie's father, do you think
they would be we'll tiIned?''
No man in Carolina, sister, is more
esteemed than John Lloyd. His name
would almost head the list; then
wealth and station!''
Il see that you entertain fathers
views; you'd have your sister be step
mother TO your wife, who is but a year
her junior-pray, do you marry Fannie
because John Lloyd is wealthy? Do youa
marry her for esteem, for station, or
for what ?''
Il love Fannie, Clara
''And think I should marry where I
dc not love?''
NO. Clara, no, but surely Z
Eyes, surely, I suppose you think
that L can love your wife's father
enough to marry him? I love your
wife, and that is enough for you"
Here Fannie joined them. Clara,
dear she said 81 know not xba+ber r.,