The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-02-10


very short time-if you
call acquaintance at a
summer resort knowing person at all.
! think It is a very superficial kind of
knowing. Now. he comes and asks me
for my only daughter. of-hand. and,
what is worse. my daughter
Mr. Ashton paused. and looked keenly
at Louise. who, though the color
mounted to her brow, steadily returned
his gaze.
II only stipulate," he went on after
a moment. that before | accept him
as son-in-law | shall have time to
make inquiries about him in his own
country. ] am sure that is only rea-
sonablr, don't YOU think 500"
Il suppose So sail Louise, with
some hesitation. but why forbid him
the house in III" meantime? 1t seems
to mo cutie ccassary.'
We'll" said Mr.. Ashton. strokine
his beard and trying to speak in !,
lighter tone. "pcrhaps want to have
my little girl all to myself a little
longer: perhaps it may be best not to
let affairs progress further until a basis
Is agrrrl upon. However, that is my
ultma;um. He is not to call at the
house nor write to you until ] hear
from London. Do you agree?"
Certainly" said Louise, "and. as
You kn1 y, ] am going to the Maynards
TO be one of the guests at their annual
house party, it really does not matter:
] shall he there about ten days. He il
not invi,ni. AMI you will have heard by
the time | come home"
She came close to him and took his
hand in both of ler own
lie drew hor to his breast and looked
lovingly at her. How like her mothe:
she grows he thought. 'How fair
and innocent she is. Can | give her ur
10 any onc?"
He had to clear his throat before he
answered.
"Oh, yes, ! expect certainly to hear
by that time, and so have your prom
ise?"
She gave it willingly, and her father
kissed her and went out of the house
Az he walked along the street his
thoughts were not pleasant.
Just as my daughter begins to be
cOmpanonable comes this whipper.
snapper fellow. and presto. change
PAPA is nowhere, and she wants tc
It. What she can see In the fellow
don't know! He is certainly not at.
tractive to me with his airs and graces,
He knows it, too. by Jove in spite of
his fine name. and all his ancestors.
believe he is half afraid of me. ! did
not like his looks when l insisted or
delay and inquiries; he actually said
he did not know that was the custom
In this country. A Jack "a -napes. Ht
thought, no doubt, he had only to hold
up his finger and marry an American
heiress. An heiress--there's the rub
Would he Ne In such a hurry IL Louis;
had not fortune?
At this point of his indignant revert
Mr.. Ashton nearly ran over an ole
lady. slowly walking in front of him
and, having ia apologize, changed tn,
current of his thoughts.
The ,home OF the Maynards was
beautifully situated on the bank of q
wide river.
Rowing and sailing, lawn tennis
driving and riding kept the young
people out of doors enjoying the de-
1ghtful davs of late summer The
large, old-fashioned house was
crammed full of guosts---triends and
relatives, children and parents, youna
men and maidens. No one could tel
exactly how IT was managed, but Vlr-
ginia hospitality triumphs over dihi-
culties, and all were comfortably
lodged and delightfully."- entertained
Louise Ashton was the life of the