River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-04-28
1t Vas Worth
That Counted
By THomAs B. MoNTFoRT
CCopyright, 1904, By Daily Story Pub. COZ

II
They were Kentuckians, and everybody
who knows the Kentuckian of quality
knows how proud he is of himself, his
state and his family name.
In the common parlance of the old ne
groes of the south, the Cliftons held
their heads as high as the next one, and
they were not stepping out of the road
for anybody" They were careful in
forming associations, and whoever
would approach them on terms of equal
ity or friendship had to show family
record that would bear the closest scru-
tiny
OF all the members of this proud old
family Col. Joe Clifton was probably the
haughtiest and most exclusive. The
line with which he had encircled him
self, separating his friends and assoc1-
ates from the common run of humanity,
was very narrow, and there were few
who were able to get inside of it. Neither
wealth nor worth were sufficient to gain
admission for an aspirant unless they
were backed by clean family pedigree.
Col. Joe had only one child-a daugh-
ter. Her name was Emily. She was
young, beautiful and talented, and, fur
Their, she was the apple of the colonePs
eye. He loved her with love that was
almost idolatrous, and as she grew up
1t was with feeling Of bitter sadness
that he began to look forward to the
time when she would leave him.
1T would not be so bad,' he once OBJ
,ha fin q ho1 w W
worthy Of her But that is impossible.
Even among the best and highest fam
lilies of old Kentucky there is not a man
who is worthy of smile from her lips"
In time the colonel began to cast about
for man to whom he could entrust his
daughter with as much as moderate
degree of satisfaction. He ran the whole
gamut of his acquaintance, and finally,
after weighing each one carefully and
well, decided on one who, while he fell
far short of the colonel's requirements,
still came nearer than any of the others
to filing them.
This man was Maj. Buck, an easy 60
Ing scion of race of aristocrats. He
was poor, but too proud to demean him
self so far as to improve his conditions
by work. He was several years older
than Miss Emily, and there were some
other disparagements between them,
but he had good family record, and that
answered for the rest.
When he thought the proper time had
arrived for the major and Emily to meet,
Col Clifton sent the former an invita-
ton to visit him. The major gladly ac-
cepted, for to him few weeks or a few
months good, free living was matter
of Some moment. His acceptance was
rs prompt as anyone could have asked,
but it was very little more prompt than
his own appearance at the Clifton home.
In the meantime, Miss Emily, setting
less store by family name than her fa-
Their did, had found the acquaintance OF
a young fellow named Ben Smith. The
Smiths, in the language of one of Col.
Clifton's old negroes, twas des bout dc
poorest an oneriest oh all de no-count
white trash" And as for family honor
and quality, they never stopped to con-
slider such things.
But in spite of his connection Ben was
a most worthy young man. He was
honest, Industrious, sober and ambitious.
In his way he was proud. too-not of
his family or his ancestors, but of his
own character and good name.
The acquaintanceship which had
sprung up between Emily and Ben
Smith had soon ripened into friendship,
and, as little as Col Clifton suspected it,
it bid fair to ripen into much deeper
and stronger attachment The colonel
might have had suspicion of this if by
any means he could have conceived how
it could be possible that Clifton could
for moment entertain thought of fall
ing in love with man whose family con-
nections were so low and common as
those of Ben Smith.
1t wasn't long after Maj. Bucks ar
rival when he began to make eyes" at
Emily The colonel noticed this and he
was greatly pleased. Emily noticed it,
too, but if she was pleased she did not
show it. She was not smiling on him
any, and all the time she was meeting
Ben Smith.
Finally the major told the colonel that
he would like to pay court to Miss Emily
with view of winning her for his wife.
The colonel replied that he was willing,
and, furthermore, undertook to convey
to Emily the majors wishes This was
in accordance with an old custom of the
first families" and was no doubt quite
proper; but, unfortunately for the major,
Ben Smith was not bound by custom,
and, instead of asking the colonel to con-
vey his wishes to Miss Emily, he con-
veyed them himself.
The first opportunity the colonel had
of speaking with his daughter in private
he said to her:
Emily, have bit of news for you
that am sure will be both pleasant and
f1attering."
He paused, and after short wait she
said:
Yes, papa?"
Maj. Buck, ahem-m, has done me the
honor to ask for permission to pay court
to you with view to winning you for his
wife," the colonel went on. "It is not
surprising. considering your beauty and
goodness, but, nevertheless, it is very
gratifying"
ITO your" she asked.
Certainly. And also to you, hope"
Then T fear l must disappoint you,
papa. l do not care for the majors So
ciety at ALL"
"Why?"
'sWell, / don't love him."