The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-07-27
III.
An UNWILLING Bride.

An Unwilling Bride.
Brian Mowbray was one of the bril-.
liant, versatile young men, with appar.
emily a genius for everything, of whom
so much is expected in youth, that the
talent Of ten ordinarily clever mer
would hardly suffice to realize such
expectations.
But he had reached the middle age
without accomplishing anything in par
of a pretty and silly young woman, and
subsequently the father Of a very love-
ay daughter.
As the most ordinary young man can
often accomplish this much, and even
more. 1t was not regarded as an extra
ordinary achievement On the part OF
young Mowbray. Rather the contrary,
for when he had reached middle age,
and was admitted to be a failure by his
warmest friends, those who sought to
excuse and to Justify their w past
enthusiasm, declared that his foolish
marriage had ruined him.
Anyway, whatever the cause, the fact
was there, glaring and u~ndeniable.
"Pcor Mowbray was "a failure-an
unlucky fellow who always came to
grief-worse ~still-whose ventures al
ways brought others to grief, also
when foolhardy enough to join him III
them"
His latest effort had been in Wall
street, and it was Philip Grayson VINO
had held out a friendly hand.
But Mowbray's customary ll-lucK
pursued him; his venture was a losing
one. and entailed equal loss on Gray
BON.
Philip only laughed good-naturedly.
The loss was a trifle to him, he mao
already fallen in love with Clarice. he
told the father Of the existence OF TINS
tender sentiment, and asked for ner
hand in marriage, promising TO settie
upon her the bulk of his fortune. ana
also to make such provision for ner
parents as would place them IN anu
.ence the rest of their lives.
Mowbray accepted the rich su1tor
with effusion. In his daughters name,
he promised that the wedding snouio
take place within a month. Then, al
most embracing his future soh-ln-laW,
he addressed Philip a~ffectionately as
spear how" wrung Philips hand with
,ouite natural heartiness, and flew to ac-
Quaint his daughter with the happiness
in store for her-for himself-for ev-
-erybody.
The Interview between Brian Now
bray and Philip Grayson had taken
place in the downtown Office of the lat
ter yentleman, and the prospective
'father-i1i-law had promised to call n a
same evening at the mi%llionaire's home.
to bring with him the Joyful news OF
the bride-elect's consent.
This proposal somewhat disconnected
the ardent lover, who would have pre-
ferred to rush at once to his love and
do his W counting; b when Now
bray strongly represented the timidfty
of his daughter, and the likelihood that
her maidenly delicacy might take alarm
at such hasty and unexpected Woo1ng,
Philip felt constrained to take the fatn-
.er's advice to proceed more slowly. =
Mowbray took the quickest way home
his vivid Imagination already revel-
ing in the pleasures to be enjoyed at
the expense of his rich son-tn-laW.
lie had just reached his w door,
when. like a cold shower bath, came
the remembrance of his daughters pas
sionate attachment to young Austin.
and the engagement, sanctioned, both
by his wife and himself, before Shir-
ley's departure for Australia, TWO years
before.
cit was madness for me to have given
INV consent" he half-murmured, for
getting that Shirley Austin had then
seemed an excellent match for his pref
,ty but penniless daughter. But The
fellow is dead, thank heaven, and The
devils in It IL the girl Is going to
thwart me low, when I have a chance
of making all our fortunes-with her
help. But, pshaw! I'll stand no non
sense. She must accept Grayson, and
Rladly, gratefully, too! Her mother
can weep and I can look heart broken,
and Clare is a good ~child-bless her
heart!"
with this comforting reflection, Mr..
Mowbray hastened to acquaint his lam
aly with the joyful news he carried.
Clarice Mowbray was, as her father
said, a good child but. as he soon
learned. she-had, where her heart was
concerned, gone far beyond childhood.
She was a woman, with all a woman's
determination and strength where her
affection was placed; and when her
father first preached the subject Of q
marriage between her and Philip Gray
son, he was met with a prompt and Wig
orous refusal. K '
Mow,bray stormed, entreated, threat
ened-all in vain. Clarice answered,
firmly: i*
mo, father; never will I promise to
marry MI. Grayson while my hand and
heart both belong to Shirley Austin!"
4f..But Austin Is dead, girl. ! tell you!
You can't marry a dead mani" thun-
dered Mowbray,' becoming indiscreetly
coarse and rough.
Clarice grew pale. but h shook her
head and answered, quietly:
"Of this I have no convincing proof
yet. An idle runior is not sutficient ev-
1dence to my mind OF a calamity 50 ter
,rible as shirley's death would be-"
..Then, IL not dead, he is worse!. pur-
sued her father, cruelty. You have
had no word from him for more than g
year. Ii. he Is still living.5#wha kim @
a lover do you call that? He has Tor
gotten you and married some other girl
long age. Australia 10 e long way on,
md two years-the period.of your en-
.sagement, n / remember correctly-a
long time to. wait Austin has Wisely
~.consoled himself with some one not as y
Z away from the city Of New York.
Clarice became even paler,s hong
Neraeyes dashed indignantly; but .a sne
I answered, steadily ::gs N RAE
#SsYou know that youh wronE @Sh1rley