Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-11-15
CHAPTER ".

Three days had passed since our ad-
venture in Don MiguePs house, and as
| had herd no more about the broken
crucible began to hope that if there
had been a storm it had blown over.
But on the fourth morning, after
breakfast. my father told me to follow
him into his study. and guessed that
an uncomfortable half hour was in
store for me- was not wrong.
John" said my father. what were
you doing at Don Miguers house three
nights ago:"
81 went to see Inez." l replied, trem-
bling, but defiant.
do you often go?"
Yes. father"
"Why?"
He was looking at me so gravely. and
he spoke so quietly. | knew he was
very angry thought. however, that
the boldest course was the best, so ]
spoke the plain truth
Because IneZ is my sweetheart
Your sweetheart? Hun" and he
stared NJ me harder than ever
Yes father" | said twirling my
cap IN my fingers uervOusly, "and-and
l want to marry l'.r.'
"Oh. is that so? .l.-w old are you?'
Tin in my nineteenth year"
quite true qu!fe true. Your state
mcntS are generally reliable, John. II
IS your GI. good point. But l may re-
mind yoC s..a; i. Is; also tue that you
celebrated your eighteenth birthday
just a m1uth ago, You'd forgotten
that for the momentr'
NO. father"
mo? Well. just for the sake of argu.
ment. We will say you are is. Rather
young to marry. isn't itE'
"Yes. father" | answ, red, but
Never mind the but John. You
are too young to marry. and that's one
point against you. How do you pro-
pose TO support a wife? Pardon my
asking; it's a very pertinent question:
81 thought perhaps that you'-
well. ont with it, John. You thought
perhaps that T.
THAT yoa would set me up in some
business"
Good! | was afraid that you were
going to suggest that | might share
my income with you, but I'm glad to
find that | misjudged you. Let me
see. What sort of business should you
prefer? fishermans? You shake
your head. A poacher? No? Well,
Pm afraid can't think of anything
else for which you are suited. 1t is
very sad. but really don't think you
can support wife at present. Point
number two. Johnw
But, father
wait a minute. have two more
points to urge yet. and then you can
have your say. Point number three
the lady is a foreigner. Point number
four have other views for you. Now
let me hear what you have to urge on
your side
81 love Inez."
"Ah. And
"She loves me-"
"And"-
Nothing else"
"Well, John, they are both, no doubt,
very cogent reasons. | shouldn't ad-
wise you to trust too much to the sec
ond. by the way, but | am afraid they
are not sufficient. Now, sir, listen to
me You are an idle, good for nothing
scamp. and from cory side | hear
nothing but bad reports of you. You
and your companion in mischief, Alex,
ander ireland. are a disgrace to the
town. Don Miguel tells me that you
utterly ruined an experiment Of his
which had taken months of constant
work and had cost him large sum OF
money He had just brought it to q
successful conclusion when you caused
him to spill his precious liquid on the
floor, and he demands that | shall
make good the damage. What do you
say to that?'
''That you won't do it," I answered,
for knew my father.
"Well, no. | don't consider that he
was engaged on lawful work, so shall
refuse to pay. But that is not the
point Your conduct is simply dis
graceful, and | have resolved to put a
stop to it. | have obtained a sizarship
for you at Clare Hail. Cambridge, and
you shall start off there in two days"
"But | want to go to sea-" cried.
81 choose that you shall not"
''Am | to be parson, then?
Certainly. Have you any objec-
tionT
81 hate the work. l said sullenly.
"Oh, that's unfortunate, but I'm
afraid can't alter my decision. Now
go and remember forbid you to speak
to Don Miguers daughter"
But, father
"This discussion is at an end"
Thus it happened that two days aft,
er the conversation with my father !
was on my way to Cambridge, con
demned to fit myself by hard study
for the calling Of parson.
My father was ineXorable. The life
he said, had proved a congenial one to
my ten brothers and must, therefore
be the best for me too. l combated