Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-08-03

You see ii WASH 50 blessed inetfec-
tual after all. I said this young Jacka-
uapes here shouldn't marry my daugh-
ter without my consent, and l say 1t
yet-Ive come 120 miles on a wild en-
gine To be in time To say it. Now, then,
if you re entirely satisfied in your own
mind that | am master in my house
hold. you may 20 ahead with your job
ana finish it-and III give the bride
away.
If the cacophonous blast from one Of
the locomotives outside which punctu
ated the sentence had been an explosion
of dynamite the effect of this declara-
tian could scarcely have been more
startling. Two or three cowboys on the
outskirts Of the throng were moved To
cheer Justify, but Of those most nearly
concerned the young man was the nrsJ
to recover his presence Of mind. Taking
Miss Bostwick' ; hand, he looked up at
me and said very modestly:
Il think maybe were safe to go on
now-that Is if you can make out to
find the place again.
take no shame in saying that l had
to fight a sharp battle for equanimity,
but having won it, l went on with the
ceremony with what shreds and frag
manjs of dignity l could collect upon
the spur of the moment.
At the proper question the brides
father played his part, apparently with
out a single thought of his superficial
uuiitness, though those who We're near
est smiled in spite of themselves, and |
could see that my young scapegrace
was grinding his teeth to keep down
the unsaemly desire to laugh outright
ut his father-in-law' personal appear
auce
When the ceremony was concluded,
the man Of machinery took matters In
hand with hearty brusquerie.
Now, Hardwicke, you tell Tony to
get up Il nice little hot supper for four
no. make it six, and 90 get your wife
and Join Us. You two'-to the young
rebels-"can take Dr. Penburton up
stairs with you while | wash up. Be
tween you you've managed to give me
a (qualified) hard afternoon of it, but
you didn't get much the best of the old
man, after ali. Now, then, clear out,
and III 90 rinse a little of this gudgeon
grease off.
The waiting room was clearing for
the depaI ture of the west bound train,
and | began TO make my excuses.
No you don't, said the blacka
moor good naturedly. IF you re obliged
to get to Carbonoro tonight, I'll send
you over on special engine, but you We
got to stay and grace this marriage
feast whether or no. You owe me that
much for getting you here alive.
yielded, not altogether reluctantly,
it must be confessed, but l declined the
special engine. l had had quite enough
of that species of journeying to last me
lifetime
On the stairs / overlook the run
aways, and Roderick was saying:
"Well, all's well that ends that way
| suppose but III have to admit | feel
a bit aged, dom t you, Ellie2 When you
threw up your hands and went over to
the enemy, wanted to drop through
the floor Whatever made you go back
on me at the last moment that way?'
She smiled archly and slipped her
arm two inches farther in his. You're
not particularly acute this evening, are
you, Alan, dear2'' she said lightly.
You mustn forget that know your
father law a great deal better than
you do. :"
Roderick stopped short and put his
hands ON her shoulders. Look me in
the eye and say that again, he COM
manded. ''Do You mean to tell me-
but | don't believe it. If did, I'd go
into politics tomorrow and make You
Mrs. Embassador-tha what I'd do. "
But to this day believe he is not
quite sure.