The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1904-04-29

Emily lifted her head high and looked
her father straight in the eyes. In a
steady, firm voice she said:
The gentleman love is Ben Smith
Ben Smith" he sported. Great
Scot, can it be possible l heard Alright?
Can | believe that a member of the proud
family of Cliftons has so far forgot her
self as to fall in love with one of those
common Smith trash. Ben Smith! My
Lord"
Whats wrong about Ben Smith,
she asked. isn't he honest. sober and
Industrious? Hasn't he worked and
scraped and managed every way to get an
education so he could teach school? And
hasn'the saved his money and gone down
to town to study law with Judge Pow
ers?"
Whats wrong with Ben Smith," he
snorted. isn't he a Smith, with no more
family name than a snake? Isn't that
enough"
mo. l love Ben for what he is, and
I don't care anything about his family.
l would love him just the same if he
lever had an ancestor. It's the man,
what he is himself, that I are for"
The colonel stormed. He threatened
to shoot Ben Smith on sight, and de-
clared he would lock Emily up in a room
if he eve knew of her speaking to Ben
Smith again. He further declared that
she should marry the major in spite Of
everything.
That very night Emily and Ben Smith
met, and she told him of the majors
wishes and of the conversation with her
father. Ben listened, his face very pale,
but his lips set close together.
ut is all right" he said finally. Il
have no family record; and don'tknow
anything about my ancestors, and I
care less; but, in spite of all of that, | am
a better man than Maj. Buck, and some
day l will prove it to your father if we
both live. With your love to cheer me
on | can face the world with a bold heart,
and sweep obstacles from my path as
fast as meet them. And, no matter what
anybody says, l am sure of your love for
all time"
Yes, to the end of eternity it i syours,"
she replied.
And some day" he went on, 81 shall
have the right to claim you for my wife"
"You have that right now" she muir
INJURED. II would marry YOU tonight if
you wish it."
He started to take her in his arms, but
suddenly checked himself.
DO hot tempt me- he said. II wish
to be honorable and honest, and worthy
of your love, but it is not always easy.
TO make you my wife now would be like
stepping into Heaven-if only had the
right. But l must not think of such q
thing. There is too wide a difference be-
tween us. | will not pull you down to
my level, but l will grow up to yours.
Some day | will be worthy to claim you,
and then I will claim you, but I must
prove myself first"
II will wait for you"
Il know you will, but you will not
wait with the Impotence 1 shall"
Time passed and then by and by there
began to come little scraps of news to
the colonel's ears about things that Ben
Smith was doing down at town. First
he had been admitted to the bar, then he
had O a case of Importance after a
fight that was marvellous for keen man
agement. Then there were rumors that
he was developing into a great orator,
and was forging his way to the top in
political matters. But all this made lit
tie impression on the colonel, and he was
still bitterly opposed to the idea of a
alliance with the Smiths.
Maj. Buck, although he had about
all hope of winning Miss
was not averse to making numer-
ous and lengthy visits at the Clifton
home. He enjoyed the c~olonel's society
very much, and he enjoyed the colonel's
dinners even more. The colonel gave
him a warm welcome always, for he still
had hopes of having him as a member
Of the family.
But after awhile the major ceased to
make his visits to the colonel, and short
" after thati it transpired that the colonel
was badly involved financially. When
the whole truth came out it was found
hat the colonel had been going security
Tor the major for large sums of money
and that the major, forgetting his fam
lily honor, had gone away leaving his
debts for, the colonel to pay.
The colonel would have lost every
thing if Ben Smith had not taken mat
Lers in hand, and, by resorting to CO.
ercive measures, induced Maj. Buck to
pay his own debts. This saved the
colonel's possessions, and at the same
time it softened his heart toward Ben
Smith to such an extent that he reluc-
family consented for Emily to marry him.
He probably concluded from the con-
of the two young people that this
would inevitably happen sooner or later,
and thought he might as well give his
consent and have it over. It was easy
to see, though, that he was by no e
pleased, and that he looked down on Ben
as a creature very much inferior to him
self.
After the marriage things drifted
along in the eve tenor of their way, Ber
and the colonel seeing but little of each
and the latter geldom mentioning