The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-07-01

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daughter loves me. Heaven knows
why. am grotesquely unworthy.
With a fair field would fear no rivals,
but you are going to take her away.
You will not permit her to give me any
promise. Che must remember me ~
one Of whom her father disapproved
Is not that putting me under an unfair
disadvantage Your influence will al
ways be against me-
"Not at ALL" interrupted the judge.
Il see your point clearly, and am glad
you have made 1t. Your mind shall b
set at rest Immediately. 1 will tell her
In your presence precisely what my
views are. and you will find them sat
isfactory."
He stepped toward the door. while
Rowan. with his eye on the umbrella in
the corner. fairly gasped at the near
prospect Of deliverance. He saw for .
moment the white cameo Of the judges
clean cut face against the dark oak
panel Then the door swung open. 70
sealing the lighted hall beyond
"Prudencew exclaimed her father.
whats the matter, child? Here IL Mr..
Rowan
Il don't want to see him. sobbed the
girl 81 never want to see him againl
Look at my hatT
''This is most extraordinary" said
| the judge, taking her hand and draw
| ing her into the library. why, you're
all wet
"And just look at my hatr'
She held 1t at arms length. and the
sad blue mass dripped audibly upon
the hardwood door.
"Why didn't you come with the um-
brella?' she demanded suddenly Of
| Rowan.
His voice stuck In his throat. He
waved his hand feebly toward the
Judge.
Father" continued Prudence. "I 1m
gsing to my room to change my dress.
As for Mr.. Rowan, am done with him
forever" -,
She cast one awful glance upon the
speechless and trembling youth, ana
then, with all the dignity which her be-
draggled gown permitted. she swept
out OF his sight.
81 will trouble you for an explana-
/ don, sir" said the judge.
He got II, straight out. without the
slightest taint of equivocation, for
Rowan had reached a point where It
was q positive pleasure to accuse him.
self. Indeed he dealt with his own fol-
iy 20 frankly and displayed such a per-
fectly just yet obviously new apprecia-
tion Of 1t that the judges resentment
Il 80 81 Cd fvnf o.
near to admiration
MY young friend" he said, 81 think
you have learned a valuable lesson. Do
not forget II. Reflect frequently upon
the extreme simplicity of the thing
which you attempted to do tonight and
the dire failure that you made Of It
Believe me, every day of married life
Is full OF problems far more difficult.
II you could not devise q way to get
my daughter out of that arbor and she
was not strong enough to bear the
calamity of a spoiled hat, how could
you hope
zone moment, sir" cried Rowan
Tell me what you yourself would have
done In my predicament"
MY boy" said the Judge kindly and
confidentially. 81 should never have got
into II. There. there Is the value Of ex-
perience. That is the sort Of wisdom
which makes happy marriages. When
you have learned not to invite trouble
But enough of lecturing. In two years
time l shall find you wiser. and Pru.
dence will have forgotten all about the
blue hat So l bid you cheerful good
night. And. by the way. permit me to
. offer you this umbrella. You win find
rain without"