The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-06-11
TWO WEDDINGS.

When Dpood Harris heard the chrory,
musical laugh of his wife in the paEior
as he sat in the library. he laid aside
his book, tossed his cigar from the WIZ
dow and went to the scene of merli-
ment. Though they had two little tots
that precluded the possibility of gloom
mess in the household, the father WAS
as much lover us in the DAYS of court
ship and would have been irre<sistibly
attracted by that laugh even though his
business in hand had been much more
serious.
What is il now, little one ?" he asked,
with a sympathetic smile, as he entered.
The diminntiye title did not at all H.
the glowing and happy young matron
to whom 1T WAS applied. for she was tail.
graceful and possessed of that rare
beauty which is found in expression
rather than in an analysis of features.
Her feelings flashed upon her face with
diStinctnesSs that was not to be mis-
taken by those who knew her well.
/ was just going to tell Miss Arch!ey
abOut the time your father interviewed
NE, brood. and you know that a laugh
is always my prelude TO story. In
itself and in the sequel it will nrver
cease to be funny to me-"
Go ahead. I'm going to stretch my
self in this easy chair and hear IL all
over again"
There is only one of the characters
to be introduced TO you, Kate" she
began, addressing the visitor, and You
will soon know him. Up to about the
time Drood and | were married his
father was a perfect ogre. That's what
he WIS, brood, perfect ogre. We two
foolish young people became engaged
without consulting his austere majesty.
lie lived in a splendid mansion Just
outside the town, set well back from
the road in a grove of oaks and naples
Its location Was typical of his exclusive
hess. brood was back from college, aud
had been Admitted to the bar before he
asked me to become his wife. He is
gifted with eloqrience. you know, and
l have no doubt would have made a con
vincing argument in my behalf, but
after ht. had stated that was a music
teacher without means the ather would
hear no more. He threw the case right
out of court. brood must choose be
tween me and his prospective inherit
ance OF course, the dear fellow never
hfSitated.
But brood is an only son, and such
a son as it is hard for even the sternest
father to cast out. SO he came to the
little cottage where / lived with my aunt
TO frighten me out of the field
Misguided man." laughed Miss Arch
ley.
Il would have warned him had I
known" chucklcd the husband.
Father Harris is a large, imposing,
grim-looking man with piercing eyes
end a masterful way. He came without
n doubt as to the inerrancy of his judg-
ment and without any apparent con
ceDtion= of the fact that there were
others even more vitally interested than
himseIf.# When seated he went straight
to the subject. We had been talking
for ten minutes when auntie came in,
and could see that she bad not come to
wave the olive branch. Her lighting
Qualities never showed at such ad-
vantape as when exerted for my de-
fense.
81 have Just been talking to your
niece, he said. after formal bow, and
do not find her as tractabie as l had
Eoned 7 haze told her that to marry
my son would be to ruin his chances in
life. For her to persist in the folly they
have arranged will be to deprive him
of = quarter of a million of property
AM, brilliant career.
..1Pardon me- said auntie, with mar
row escape from snort, 1T VIII he
your fault and yours only if these losses
lie visited upon your son. 1t is you who
threaten TO cast him out penniless. No
one else has thought of being cruelty