The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-04-21

am coming down at once"
Miss Zenith was in a Quandary.
Should she risk an open encounter
then and there with her sister and at
the same time insult the adjutant?
She would rather escape the latter.
She fully realized the probability Of
defeat If she brought on an engagement
when her sister had the presence OF
her lover to stimulate her resolution
to conquer. Under such conditions
she would be more than ever formida-
BILE.
Miss Zenith having hastily deter
mined upon her course, showed the
adjutant in and then appealed to Mrs.
Zenith to act at once. Mrs. Zenith
consented to act, but put on action un-
til the next day.
The next day, still Urged on by Miss
Zenith, Mrs. Zenith entered the par
lor while Miss Stlla and the adjutant
were there planning for an evening
ride, and without clrcumlocution adj
dressed herself to the task she had as
sumed
Lieutenant Jsquese, your friendship
is very agreeable to us; all of US ap-
preciate the honor you confer upon
the family by your friendship. You
have our highest esteem; our greatest
respect. Therefore hope that you will
not misinterpret my motives; but as
mother of girls feel myself compelled
to suggest caution which, with only
your youth to guide you, you may not
rightly appreciate A high regard for
yourself, motherly regard for Stella,
a proper regard for usages OF society,
all impel me to say that it will be bet
ter il you are somewhat less marked
and particular in your attentions to
Stella. She is but child and alto
aether too young to know her own
mind"
Il am fattered by your personal
concentrations; yet l am at loss to
determine precisely what it is you
wish? Whether / am forbidden the
premises or required to hereafter ig.
more the existence of Miss Stellar"
Neither. / said truly That the
friendship you manifest for Us is graf
flying. But 1t is desirable that 1t be
general and not so marked for Stella.
She is but a child and simply desire
that you recognize and remember that
fact
MY dear Mrs Zenith, entertain
no thought that threatens her happi-
ness
Because of her extreme youth we
do not wish an especial intimacy to
grow up between you. IL 1t were one
of her elder sisters 1t would be a diff
ferent matter"
Very different. / respect and ad-
mire them. Miss Stella admire and
love; and intend to some day marry.
| had not designed to speak TO you upon
this subject until the war is over and
We are ready to consummate our alli-
ance; but what you have said renders
the avowal necessary. We hope for
your approval"
IF you have been so hasty as to
contract any such engagement you
will now consider it dissolved. We
cannot assent to it now; we cannot
permit it to continue. If, in four or
five years, both of you are inclined to
renew the engagement, We will inter-
pose no objection, so far as l know at
present. In the meantime, no engage
ment or obligation exists between
YOU
UNLESS some reason more potent
than her youth is given for the deter
mination OF our engagement, / must
still and ever regard myself as her af-
famed husband. If she desires the
contract to terminate that wholly
changes the case and however much /
may suffer, can only submit"
When l promised to become your
wife, dear Homer, I did so as wo-
man, not as a child. / did SO rational
seriousness of the step to both you
and me. / believed that you coulo
make me happy all my life; that l
cannot be happy without you. | be-
lieved that / could make you happy
all your life; that you cannot be happy
without me. / shall not allow any one
upon the earth, save you, to annul that
promise. Ma, left the nursery long
ago. There is not in Minersvale an
ether girl, though she be three times
my age, who is more competent to
decide for herself in important matters
than l am. / always know my own
mind upon all things. l thoroughly
understand myself now. l hope that
you understand me too."
Il will permit neither my child
nor a stranger to disregard or defy my
desire in such a matter as this. Mr..
Jaquese this childish engagement must
be broken on unreservedly and at once
ON the instant-or your visits here
must cease"
Then my visits cease, OF course. /
am engaged to your daughter and II
we both live l shall be ready to con-
summate that engagement. 1t was our
intention to defer our marriage until
the war ended: but If, to protect her,
it be necessary, am ready to marry
at any time-at once. We intend to
marry | presume that you know
your daughter sufficiently well to real
ize that as long as we are mutually and
equally determined, any efforts TO pre-
vent our union will inevitably be fu.
tile"
You need have no approximations
that she will require protection against
us by you or any one else; she will be
subjected to no indignations and to no
restraints to which she can object. but
for the present your foolish engage
ment is terminated"
The adjutant made no reply to Mrs.
Zenith, but to Miss Stella he said:
81 will see you at any time and at
any place you may designate and We
will then talk this matter over, after
celebrating in the meantime. We
owe profound respect to the wishes Of
your parents: but we should not lose