Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1898-04-14

{ DEED, we 90 not expect ner 10 return
/ before tomorrow"
rs she out Of town? l certainly un-
! deFstood from her that she would be
/ at home all this afternoon"
Probably she forgot the engage
ment; possibly she changed her mind.
! She went out with Gussie Groves, say
| ing that she would remain with her
| till tomorrow"
The adjutant stood on the steps med
/ itating. He was disappointed. puz-
/ zled, annoyed. Miss Zenith stood two
| steps above him. pleased by his very
! evident discontinue. and hoping that
! he would not linger too long. fearing
| possible accidents. The accident hap
4 pened. 1t was announced by the voice
OF Miss Stella, who, leaning over the
! balcony above them, said:
why. Mollie, Step in, adjutant, l
am coming down at once"
Miss Zenith was in a quandary.
Should she risk an open encounter
then and there with her sister and at
the same time insult the adjutant?
She would rather escape the latter.
She fully realized the probability of
defeat if she brought on an engagement
when her sister had the presence of
to conquer Under such conditions
she would be more than ever formida-
BILE.
Miss Zenith having hastily deter
mined upon her course showed the
adjutant in and then appealed TO Mrs.
Zenith to act at once. Mrs. Zenith
consented to act, but put of action un-
til the next day.
The next day, still urged on by Miss
Zenith, Mrs. Zenith entered the par
lor while Miss Stlla and the adjutant
were there planning for an evening
ride, and without circumlocution ad-
dressed herself to the task she had as
sumed
Lieutenant Jaquese, your friendship
is very agreeable TO us; all of us ap-
preciate the honor you confer upon
the family by your friendship. You
have our highest esteem; our greatest
respect. Therefore l hope that you will
not misinterpret my motives; but as a
mother of girls ! feel myself compelled
to suggest a caution which, with only
your youth to guide you, you may not
rightly appreciate A high regard for
yourself, a motherly regard for Stella,
a proper regard for usages of society,
all impel me to say that it will be bet
ter if you are somewhat less marked
and particular in your attentions to
Stella. She is but a child and alto
gether too young to know her own
mind"
Il am flattered by your personal
concentrations yet l am at loss to
determine precisely what it is you
wish? Whether l am forbidden the
premises or required to hereafter ig.
more the existence of Miss Stellar"
Neither. l said truly tnat the
friendship you manifest for us is graf
flying. But it is desirable that it be
general and not SO marked for Stella.
She is but a child and l simply desire
that you recognize and remember that
fact
My dear Mrs. Zenith, l entertain
no thought that threatens her happi-
ness"
Because OF her extreme youth we
do not wish an especial intimacy to
grow up between you. If it were one
of her elder sisters it would be diff
ferent matter"
Very different. l respect and ad-
mire them Miss Stella l admire and
love; and intend to some day marry.
had not designed to speak to you upon
this subject until the war is-over and
we are ready to consummate our alli-
ance; but what you have said renders
the avowal necessary. We hope for
your approval"
"If you have been so hasty as to
contract any such engagement you
will now consider it dissolved. We
cannot assent to it now; We cannot
permit it to continue II, in four 0r
- I44L 1fx ir1nl IN
renew the engagement, we will inter-
pose no objection, so far as / know at
present. In the meantime, no engage
ment or obligation exists between
you"
Unless some reason more potent
than her youth Is given for the deter
mination of our engagement, l must
still and ever regard myself as her af-
fianced husband. If she desires the
contract to terminate that wholly
changes the case and however much I
may suffer, I can only submit"
when l promised to become your
wife. dear Homer, / did so as wo-
man, not as a child. I did so rational
ly, fully realizing the Importance and
seriousness of the step to both you
and me. l believed that you could
make me happy all my life; that l
cannot be happy without you. / be-
lieyed that l could make you happy
all your life; that you cannot be happy
without me. / shall not allow any one
upon the earth, save you, to annul that
promise Ma, left the nursery long
ago There Is not in Minersvale an
other girl, though she be three times
my age, who is more competent to
decide for herself in important matters
than | am. I always know my own
mind upon all things. / thoroughly
understand myself now, / hope that
you understand me too"
Il will permit neither my child
nor a stranger to disregard or defy my
desire in such a matter as this. Mr..
Jauuese this childish engagement must
be broken off unreservedly and at once
on the instant--or your visits here
must cease.
Then my visits cease, Of course. l
am engaged to your daughter and II
we both live / shall be ready to con-
summate that engagement. 1t was our
intention to defer our marriage until
the war ended; but if, to protect her,
il be necessary, | am ready to marry
at any time-at once. We intend to
marry presume that you know |
your daughter sufficiently well to real |
ize that as long as we are mutually and
equally determined, any efforts to pre-
vent our union will inevitably be fu- |
tile"
You need have no apprehensions |
that she will require protection against |
us by you or any one else; she Will be
subjected to no indignations and to no
restraints to which she can object; but
for the present your foolish engage
ment is terminated"
The adjutant made no reply to Mrs.
Zenith. but to Miss Stella he said:
II will see you at any time and at
any place you may designate and we
will then talk this matter over, after
celebrating in the meantime. We
owe profound respect to the wishes OF
your parents; but we should not lose
sight of the duty we also owe to eacn
other. Parents may err as often and
as seriously as their mature children.
Very well. Meet me at Morton's
tomorrow at four o'clock"
Mother and daughter accompanied
the visitor to the door and he depart
ed without further adieux.