The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-05-20


life. For her to persist in the folly they
have arranged will be to deprive him
of quarter of million of property
and brilliant career
"'Pardon me-" said auntie, with a mar
row escape from snort, 1T will be
your fault and yours only If these losses
be visited upon your son. 1t is you who
threaten to cast him out penniless. No
one else has thought of being cruelty
unjust toward him.
"'You are mistaken, madam. have
told this young lady that the matter
rests entirely in her hands. She has
the deciding power
"'You are accusing yourself of moral
cewardice, sir. You profess to love
your son, yet you stand ready to cast
him out as pauper provided you can
blind your conscience by accusing some
one else of the enormity. Laura's love
is such that it will cling to him after
you have stripped him of what appears
to have supreme value in your eyes.
You propose to disown your own flesh
and blood. When you have done your
worst, she will share the fate you so
unnaturally inf1ict.'
"'You employ strong language. mad
Am. But it is not for you to say how
much my heart enters into this affair.
There are social considerations that you
cannot appreciate. To ignore them by
permitting this marriage to take place
would be to place milestone about my
sons neck. But see possible way out
Of the difficulty, and have presented
it to your niece. If she will 90 at
my expense to any of our more select
selninaries, where she cal, acquire the
education and the accomplishments
such as should be mad by the wife of
brood Harris, the objections urge will
be withdrawn. But she fatty refuses
Now auntie was grand in her anger.
or course, she resented, as we'll as re-
fused, sir. Such an offer was an insult
to Wilcomb. Social considerations,
indeed!' Then she opened with grape
and canister. DO you speak French,
German and italian in addition to your
native tongue, Mr.. Harris? Are op-
cratic managers besieging you to sing
on the stage? Were you ever abroad
three years at time improving your
mind and mingling in society at the
European capitals? Can you tell me
the name Of your great-greatgrandfa-
ther? How many of your direct ante
cedents fought in the revolution? What
is your family coat-of-arms? What dig.
nitaries of state are attracted here be-
cause of your provincial greatness ?
What one Of your proud race in either
branch ever sacrificed million to help
a loyal friend?'
Il tried to stem the rushing current.
why go into family matters, auntie %
Don't interrupt, Laura. This man
invited it. For him 10 raise the ques-
tion of family, when took such credit
to myself for waving it in his behalf!
hope, sir, that you will inform your
self before you undertake a matter so
delicate, and if you do withhold that
boys patrimony we will not be without
compensation
"'How so, madame?' asked Father
Harris, who was more nearly van
quished than he had ever been before.
"'It will not be necessary for us to
meet his father again
"'Oh, auntie!' exclaimed, that is
not like YOU
| ~ think that madame is very con-
sistent in, her language Then, turn
ing to me, he calmly admitted that he
| might have underestimated me and
asked me if would sing for him.
"'She could scarcely be expected to
sing for a quarter of a million dollars
/ under existing circumstances declared
(; anntie, sarcastically. l had no idea
| that man of his temperament could
be passionately fond of music, but
J felt that he had gone through very
bad half hour, thought of brood and
sang an old Scottish love song-sang
as never sang before, for it was the
cry of my heart to its lover I could
scarcely believe it, but Father Harris
has since admitted that there were tears
in those cold gray eyes of his, and he
had me sing until ring at the door.
bell announced some one else to be
entertained Then he put his arm
around me, looked down into my face
| with a smile that had lost everything
! but tenderness and told me how proud
he would be to have me for a daughter
| 4 was foolishly mistaken he said, but
my son should be a sufficient peace OF
feripg.' Then he added, disconnected
ly: Your aunt is certainly remark
able woman
"It was only little later, you know
that I unexpectedly came into a for
tune which we had given up as lost
but in the meantime it had been ar
ranged that auntie was to become my
mother-in-law. How those two hot
heads reconciled their tempers anc
learned to love in so brief n courtshiI
is beyond me. But auntie frequently
hopes that have as good husband as
hers. Detroit Free Press.
Puzzler.
H.s. -.<rsv