The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-03-09
HANAA's ROMANCE.
Young Grocer Aspired to Hand of
Coal Magnate's Daughter and
Won Out.

Nearly thirty eight years ago Mark
Hanna was just strating on bis bust
ness career as a grocer in Cleveland.
tie was poor, plodding and to the
casual observer very everyday sort
of young man. Daniel Rhodes was
one of the rich coal owners of the
State. He had one daughter, Gussie,
the very idol of his soul. Around
this lively girl the busque old father
had wreathed all the sentiment, all
the hopes of his future existence.
Everything was to be done for Gussje.
Mrs. Rhodes, her fond mother, was a
Joint idolator at the DAUGHTERS
shrine, and the doting parents had
dreams of a rich, influential suitor, a
splendid marriage and brilliant So
cial career for Gussie. when, as u.s.
ual, the unexpected happened. Gus
sic Rhodes met and loved the OBJ
scure, poor young man, Mark Hanna.
Mr.. Rhodes was astonished when the
daring young grocer called upon him
and asked for the hand Of his daughter.
He refused absolutely to grant the
young suitor even time enough to beg.
He said mo- curtly and sharply, and
when he saw his daughter he tried to
scold her, but instead he took her in
his honest arms and begged her not
to think of this unknown man, Han
na." He said he never, never could
consent to such choice for his child.
Gussie Rhodes told her father. with
many reassuring embrace, that she
would never marry without his con-
sent, and she added: But, papa,
dear, l shall never marry any man
but Mark Hanna"
Then she promised her father not to
see her lover or write to him for a
year ct least. She kept her promise,
and in the course of a few weeks, al
though she never audibly murlnured,
and was sweetly gentle and loving to
all about her, she grew pale and wan.
She neither ate not slept. The old
father was at his wits end. Someone
proposed foreign tour for that
change of scene which is supposed to
work wonders in heart affections, and,
presto at few hours notice, father,
mother and daughter were on board
an Atlantic liner.
For nearly a year the "change of
scene'' prescription was faithfully
pursued, and the patient, always
cheerfully submissive, gentle anu
charming, obviously grew Trailer day
by day. Almost in despair the old
man brought lis child home again,
and one morniong he gathered the
courage to ask her if she still cared
for Mark Hanna.
"Why, father,'' she replied, Il
shall always love Mark. I told you
that, you know, year ago.
Poor old "Uncle DAM Rhodes !!
That was a bitter day for him, but be
was equal to the occasion. Sending
for the obscure young man, he said to
him:
Mr.. Hanna, Gussie loves you, that
is my only reason for accepting you
as her future husband. You are poor
I'll fix it so Gussie can live as she has
been accustomed to, and suppose I
must see you marry her,
Now the coming young man cast
ever SO slight shadow Of his future
greatness on the opportunity of the
present.
''Mr. Rhodes,'' said be, Il most
grate1ully accept Jne glfJ OF your
daughters love. To marry her is for
this world to become a paradise for
me. but | cannot make her my wife
unless she will be content to live as
my means will enable u.s. l can
neither accept aid nor permit my wife
to accept it from any one.,'
So Mark Hanna and Gussie Rhodes
were married, and the bride went from
her fathers big house to live in tiny
little cottage, where, with one maid
of-all-work, she was as happy as queen
for some years.-Pittsburg Dispatch.