Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-03-14

they'll be happy"
Daughter, have you never th,ught
of marriage?"
NO. father; why should L? am
but eighteen-plenty of time-yo, arr
not anxious to lose me, trust?"
Far from it, Clara; but you hav. an
opportunity now to win u husband and
wealth and station; in fact, he is al
ready won; you have but to accept
him. have received proposal .or
your hand"
"A husband don't want-wealth and
station we have; but who is it, priv.
that thinks my hand worth the ha-
ing? Not Herbert Lathrop. hope;
SO neither hand nor heart have 1 FIR
him."
Not Lathrop. Clara. He is but Il
dependent on his uncle. The would-bl
bridegroom is the uncle himself-my
friend. John Lloyd"
What! Father! What! And Won
would have me wed John Lloyd, a man
not younger than my father? Impossi-
ble!"
And why, my child, impossible?
lloyd has great wealth, and he loves
you, Clara. You would be the mistress
of his home and shine as star; be-
sides you love no one else, do you?"
mo. no one else in the way you
mean: and neither do l love John Lloyd.
l did respect him; but now"
CLARA, the love of such man as
John Lloyd should cause no girl to re-
spect him less. You should consider
it an honor to be loved by such man."
'Well. father, you wish me to marry
him not loving him?"
"Ah. Clara. you would love him well
in time"
"And mother?"
"She knows nothing of it yet. 1
would not tell her until had talked
with you"
"The idea of my marrying Fannie's
father. girl scarce year younger
than am l. Mother, I know, would
never listen to it."
'iour mother, child, has romantic
notions in her head; but look you well
to wealth and station, for there lies
happiness"
81 think not, father; not for me. for
value neither beyond reason"
swell. what will you say to the suit
of my friend Loyd?"
81 will say. dear father, that love
him not"
But you respect him?"
II respect him."
"And may love him?'
mo. father. will not say that"
But you will marry him?"
Since your heart is bent on it will
think the matter over; but do not love
John Lloyd"
That night Clara repeated her con-
versation with her father to her moth
er. who was scarcely less surprised
than she had been.
SO your father wants you to become
the wife of this old man, because he is
rich. Was there ever such Worship
er of gold! But Of course you'll not
marry him?"
"1f don't, mother, we will have an
unquiet home; you know how set ia
ther is in his ways
II guess | do; I've lived with him for
e5 long years. but do you never marry.
save to please yourself"
The next morning Clarence knew all
about it. His father evidently had told
him, and when he left Clara he con-
graduated her.
mo. Clarence" she said, do not con-
graduate me. In your case congratula-
tons ere well, but in mine, should
marry Fannie's father. do you think
they would be well timed?"
mo man in Carolina, sister, is more
esteemed tnan Jonn I4oyu. ms name
would almost head the list; then
wealth and stationl"
81 see that you entertain fathers
views; you'd have your sister be step
mother 10 your wife, who is buta year
her junior-pruy, 10 you marry Fannie
because John Lloyd is wealthy Do you
marry her for esteem, for station, or
for what?"
81 love Fannie, Clara"
"And think should marry where I
do not love?"
mo, Clara, no. but surely"
Eyes, surely. l suppose you think
that can love your wife's father
enough to marry him? love your
wife. and that is enough for you"
Here Fannie joined them. "Clara,
DEAR" she said, 81 know not whether to
laugh or cry-shall you wed papa2"
81 know not, Fannie, he has not asked
me yet, but in any event shall not love
you less"
"Hush," said Fannie, "here comes
Herbert. Let him know nothing about
it, Mt least not now"
Nor did Herbert; buthe surmised that
something was amiss in his plans. and,
try as he might, be could get no oppor-
tunity to talk to Clara by herself. and
he felt certain that they had some
secret that he knew not of. True, 1t
might be something connected with the
engagement OF Fannie and Clarence.
but it worried him, and when night
came, and he went to his room, he
pondered long before he fell asleep, and
when he slept it was to dream of Fan
ME, Clarence and Of untold wealth.
CHAPTER ".
ANGUS BRUCE AND THE CLARA BELLE
Smithville, town of several hundred
inhabitants, is located on the Cape Fear
river near its mouth, and scarcely more
than three miles from the open sea, and
here dwelt many pilots and fishermen
The pilots gained livelihood by thu
hazardous business Of taking trips daily
in their open pilot boats, out the inlet
and often half-dozen miles to sea, fol
the purpose of meeting incoming yes
sells, and plotting them through the inle
to Smithville harbor, and often up tx
Wilmington.
The life was very hazardous, and
-,,,,v ,,;1ot, oppu,llv hod THAR frpi