Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-11-30
When Clifford Ridley, millionairc's son

When Clifford Ridley, millionairc's son
and in his own right richer even than his
father, wert to ask Deacon Brastow for
the hand of his daughter in marriage,
he felt consciousness of rectitude that
was distinctly agreeable. Ridley's at
tcntions to Angela Brastow had excited
the gossips of the little down east town,
but he was going to make that all right
on this Thanksgiving afternoon.
He felt like the fairy prince whose
duty in the story is to make every one
happy. Poor old Deacon Brastow would
feel that he had sailed out of all his
lifelong worries, and for Angela it
would mean a change from the little
frame house for which her father hadn't
been able to afford coat of paint in 20
years to veritablc palace and time of
I Thanksgiving indeed.
The young New Yorker had an idea
that the first part of the interview
might not be altogether agreeable, so he
had prepared a somewhat hasty declara-
ton of his intentions, but the deacon S
unexpectedly prompt and cordial How
de do?" knocked it all out of his head.
Glad to see you looking so well and
so thankful" exclaimed the deacon.
Santiago malaria can't stand this down
east air. You ought to give a good ac-
count of our climate when you get back
to New York"
81 shall" said Ridley, "and of the
down east people as well.'
81 guess we can return the compli-
mcnt," rejoined Brastow. you've
made yourself pretty popular hcreabouts,
except with some Of the old ladies. They
regard you as a base deceiver."
I'm afraid my conduct has been open
to criticism" he said.
Eyes, it has" replied the deacon. you
got well when all the old women in town
had said you were going to die. They'll
never forgive YOU
Indeed" said Ridley, much relieved.
"I'm afraid | must plead guilty to that.
But it doesn't worry me. You see, I'm
not Interested in the old ladies', but in one
OF the very young ladies'"
you don't say! exclaimed the deacon.
Nothing serious, | hopeY'
ut is extremely serious" said Ridley,
and then he paused. He did not know
just how to take the deacon, who was of
different type in conversation from
what he seemed on a casual view.
Ridley had rather avoided him up to
this time. Loungng upon the front steps
of the deacon's house with Angela and
other young people, he had frequently
seen BrastUw come home to his dinner or
supper, but on such occasions the deacon
had always hurried by. with an apologet-
ic manner, for the New England parent
never intrudes upon his children.
SO Mr.. Ridley of New York had made
the mistake of supposng that Deacon
Brastow was Of a timid nature and would
be embarrassed in his presence. He had
expected also that his prospective father
in-law would have n magazine dialect,
whereas he pronounced the language with
great accuracy. as became one who had
been member of the school committee
for many years.
SERIOUS, is it," said the deacon. you
don't mean to say that you're in love
with AngelaW
Il mean just that" replied the young
man earnestly. Il have thought that
you might doubt the sincerity of my in
tentons, and So
"Oh, bless you, no" said the deacon.
81 didn't know you had any; that's all
Let me assure you, then" said Rid
ley, that my mind is thoroughly made
up. | want her for my wife"
The deacon drummed weird and slow
little tune on the desk beside him.
"Too bad, too bad" said he. II gave
Angela just bit Of a hint that she might