Middletown transcript., 1900-05-19

consent, SIR"
Mr.. Hardy walked on thoughtfully
and then glanced at the young man at
his side. He was 6 feet tall, not very
handsome, as Bessie had frankly said,
but he had good face, steady, clear
blue eye and resolute air, as Of one
who was willing to work hard to get
what he wanted. Mr.. Hardy could not
help contrasting him with his own
prematurely broken down son George,
and he groaned inwardly as he thought
Of the foolish pride that would bar the
doors of his family to young man
like James Caxton simply because he
was poor and because his father had
won in a contested election In which
the two older men were candidates for
the same Office.
1t did not take long to think all this.
Then he said, looking again at the
young man with businesslike look:
"Supposing you had my permission,
what are your prospects for support
ing my daughter? She has always
mad everything she wanted. What
could you give herr"
The question might have seemed cold
and businesslike. The tone was
thoughtful and serious.
A light flashed into James eyes, but
he said simply: 81 am in a position to
make q thousand dollars a year next
spring. I earn something extra with
my pen at home"
Mr.. Hardy did not reply to this. He
said, do you know what willful,
quick tempered girl Clara is?"
81 have known her from a little
child, Mr.. Hardy. l feel as if l knew
her about as well as you do."
perhaps you know her better than
/ do. I do not know my child as
| should"
The tone was not bitter, but intense
| ly sad. The young man had, of course,
been greatly wondering at this talk
from Mr.. Hardy and had observed the
change in his manner and his speech.
He looked at him now and noted the
pale, almost haggard, face and his ex-
tremely thoughtful appearance.
"Mr. Hardy" said James frankly,
you are in trouble. ! wish ! could
"Thank you. No. you can't help me
any in this except" continued Mr..
Hardy, with a faint smile, except you
solve this trouble between you and
my daughter"
''There is no trouble between us, sir"
replied James simply. 'You know I
love her and have loved her for long
7 oINI 20
port her and make her happy. Won't
you give your consent, sir? We are
not children. We know our minds"
James was beginning to speak very
earnestly. He was beginning to hope
that the stern, proud man who had so
curtly dismissed him little while be-
fore would in some unaccountable
manner relent and give him his hearts
desire.
Mr.. Hardy walked along in silence
little way. Then he said almost
abruptly:
James, do you drink"
mo, SIR"
"Or gambler"
'You forget my mother, Mr. Hardy"
The reply was almost stern.
Mrs. Caxton's younger brother had
been ruined by gambling. He had
come to the house one night, and in a
fit of anger because his sister would |
not give him money to carry on his |
speculation he had threatened her life. |
James had interposed and at the risk |
Of his own life had probably saved his |
mothers. Mrs. CaXton had been SO un- |
nerved by the scene that her health |
had suffered from it seriously. All this |
had happened when James was grow |
ing out Of boyhood. But not day had
passed that the young man did not see
a sad result of that great gambling
passion in his own mothers face and
bearing. He loathed the thought of a
vice so debasing that it ignored all the
tender ties of kindred and was ready
to stop at nothing in order to get
means for its exercise.
Mr.. Hardy knew the story, and he
exclaimed: Forgive me, James. l did
not think" Then, after pause: "Are
you Christian? l mean do you have
a faith in the revelation of God to men
through Jesus Christ, and do you try to
live according to his teachings, with a
supreme love for God controlling life?
Do you live every day as if it might be
the last you would have to live"
James started. Was Mr.. Hardy out
of his mind? He had never heard him
talk like this before. The idea Of Mr..
Hardy caring about his religious char
acter in the event Of his becoming a
son-in-law was an idea too remote for
occurrence. He could see, however,
that some very powerful change had
taken place in Mr.. Hardy's usual de-
meanor. His words also produced a
strong effect upon the young man. He
was like thousands of young men
temperate, honest, industrious, free
from vices, strictly moral, but without
any decided religious faith.
Gam l q Christian?' he asked him
self, echoing Mr.. Hardy's question.
No; he could not say that he was. He
had never said so to any one. He had,
In fact, never been confronted with the
question before. So he replied to Mr..
Hardy:
NO. sir; I don't think am what
would be called Christian. AS for liv-
Ing as if every day were to be my last :
do you think that is possible, sirY
Mr.. Hardy did not answer. He walk
ed along thoughtfully. In the course Of
The conversation they had reached the
corner where the young man turned
down to his Office, and the two paused.
81 want to have another talk with !
Vou," Mr.. Hardy said. To-day is Tues
lay; say tomorrow evening. l want to
zee your father also, and''- Mr.. Hardy
was on the point of saying that he
wanted to ask the elder Cations for
yiveness, but for some reason he stop
ped without doing SO.
James exclaimed eagerly as Mr.. Har-
ly turned to go:
''Then you don't forbid my entertain
ng some hope Of your good will in the
natter of my love for Clara" He low A
red his voice and spoke very strongly.
You don't forget your own youth and