The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1899-09-30


| You must put that idea out of your
| head once for all. l could not combat
dislike active as hers
| Her dislike? Hers? That beggarv
! his face working What dye mean, sir?
| tell you it shall be. Shal"'
| Talking like that will not mend mat
tiers. 1t certainly will not alter the fact
| that | myself personally am objection
able to her. l can see that it is almost
! as much as she can do to be civil to me
to sit at the same table with me. l en-
| treat you not to set your heart upon this
| thing. for it can never be-
| Il tell you again that it shall"' shrieks
the old man, violently. What. is the
cherished dream of lifetime to be set
| aside to suit the whim of GIRL penni-
| less creature? She shall be your wife,
| swear it, though l have to crush the
consent out of her" He falls back clum
| silly into his chair, huddled heap
| Seaton in an agony of remorse and fear
hangs over him, compelling him to swai
! low cordial lying on the table near.
Here, sir. Be patient. All shall be
as you wish. l implore you to think no
; more of this matter. Yes" in answer to
the fiery eyes now more CHASTITY than
| ever in the pallid, powerless face, Il
shall try my best to fulfill your desire"
| He feels sick at heart as he says this.
and almost despcable; but can he let the
| Old man die for want of Il word to APP
peaSe the consuming rage that has
brought death lowering with outstretch-
ed wings above him? And yet, of what
avail is it all? A momentary appease-
ment. Even as he comforts and restores
his father, there rises before his mental
vision that pale, proud, sorrowful face,
that is all the world to him, and yet,
alas. so little.
Vera having made up her mind to 60
to her uncle and fully explain to him that
neither she nor Griselda desire any
change in their way of living, waits pa
tiently for Seaton's departure from his
fathers den, and now, at last, seeing
the coast clear, goes quickly forward
Uncle Gregory, | wish to say some
thing to you she is beginning, hurried
", hating her task and hating her nearer.
when suddenly she is interrupted
'Hah! For the first time. let me say,
| am glad to see YOU" says the old man.
grimly. Hitherto | have been remiss.
| fear, in such minor matters of Ell
quette. Sit down. l. too. have something
to say to you" He fixes his piercing
eyes on her and says, sharply: You have
met my son several times!
Yes" says Vera.
''You like him. with watchful
glance.
Il can hardly say so much' coldly.
He is neither more nor less than d COM
pete stranger to me-
LAS yet. Time will cure that: and |
speak thus early TO you, because it is
well that you should make up your mind
beforehand to like him."
Why" she asks.
Because in him you see your future
| husband
There is a dead pause. The old man
sits with bright unblinking eyes fixed
upon the girl, who has risen to her feet
and is staring back at him as if hardly
daring to understand. From red to white,
| from white to red she grows: her breath
| fails her, passionate Indignation burns
| hot within her breast.
Absurd" she says, contemptuously.
Call it so if you WILL" with an offend
ed flash from his dark eyes, but regard
| it as a fact for all that. You will marry
| your cousin, let me assure YOU"
That | certainly shall not" decisive
! ly.
That you certainly shall. Did you
not know that your marriage with my
son was the last wish, the last command
of your father?''
| He is lying WELL so well that at first
| the girl forgcts to doubt him.
My father" she says, with much
amazement. He never so much as men
toned my cousins name to me-
ITO mo bowavpr no did 10 yo,, J,
to see the letter?'
| This is bold stroke. Vera hesitates-
| then, No. says she, steadily Even
if my father did express such a WISH
| should not for a moment accede to it. |
| shall not marry to please any one, dead
or living, except myself
| 80 you now think. We shall See" re-
| turns he, in an icy tone.
May l ask Tiff your son is aware of
, this arrangement?
MY son is willing" says Mr.. Dysart.
! slowly.
| At this moment the door is thrown
open and Seaton himself enters.
You know she cries. Her tone is
| low, but each word rings clear as n bell.
/ You know. Oh cowardr' she breathcs
very low. her slender hands clinched.
: Reused from his lethargy and stung by
! her contempt. he would now have made
! his defense, but with scornful gesture
! she waves him aside and leaves the
| room.
Great heaven. how did you dare so TO
insult herr cries the young man. In ter
| rlble agitation, addressing his father. He
casts burning glance at him. Dysart
! covers before it.
Out of evil comes good" he says, sui
! lenly, land l did it for the best" He
/ stretches out his hand to his SON See,
then,' he cries, entreatingly, Il did it for
| you-for you,'
For me. You ruin the one hope
had, which meant silence-time-and you
say it was for my good"'
I Il thought to compel her, to brighten
her into a consent, and | will vet cries
thus upon me. | have not betrayed YOU
without meaning, and all for the fulfill
ing of your desire-and mine"
You misunderstood me-" says Seaton.
curbing his passion with difficulty. 4
would not have her as a gift on such
terms. Is it Il slave | want, think YOU:
No, not another word. | cannot stand
ii tonight. Forgive me, father, if |
seem abrupt, but
He seems heartbroken as he turns
| aside and disappears through the door
way.
Long after he has gone the old man
sits motionless, his head bowed upon his
breast.
Curse herr he says at last; the
same blood all through and ALWAYS to
my undoing. Cursed be her lot indeed il
she comes between him and me. But
that shall never be-"
Presently he passes through 4 door on
his right hand, gropes his way along the
unllghted passage. Unlocking and enter