Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-04-05

SOAAOOOAoIlOIl, LUZ d ucW WOOcr, WHO
came in the loose garb Of a sailor, and
who constantly wore a broad-brmmed
hat seemed to have completely turned
the young girls head.
How or whence he came Ralph did
not not know. His wife assured him
that the sailor had been properly in
troduced by mutual friend, and he
was too rejoiced at the turn affairs
had taken to ask many questions. How
glad the old man felt that his son stay
ed away from home so much. He was
uneasy every time he saw the sailors
broad hat overshadowing Ellen's little
shutdown in the garden, lest Herbert
should return and impede the progress
Of this, to him at least desirable court
ship.
The sailors devotion to Ellen be-
came more and more apparent, and
Herbert absented himself more than
ever, and made no attempt to regain
Ellen's wandering affections when he
was at home.
Mrs. De Lisle watched the progress
Of the sailors love-making complacent-
~, and the old man was perfectly de-
lighted both with Ellen and her sutton,
and began to contemplate purchasing
certain cozy cottage he knew Of as
bridal gift to his ward.
Ralph de Lisle was seated In his H.
brary one evening, thinking delighted
ly how, with Ellen married, it would
be an easy thing to bring about the
much-desired match between Herbert
and Isabel Denver, when a servant en-
tered to say that Miss Ellen's beau
wanted to see him.
The sailor entered and bowed awk-
wardly enough to the dignif1ed man
who rose to receive him. The broad
brimmed hat, which not one of the
family had vet seen him remove, kept
it's place even In the august presence
Of Ralph de Lisle, who wondered men
tally whether he wore 1t in bed, and
concluded that custom on shipboard
must have made the constant wearing
Of his hat habit with the sailor.
"Your ward, Miss Ellen, is very
beautiful and good" began the young
man, stammeringly, and no doubt
blushingly, though little Of his whis-
kered face was visible.
Old Ralph rubbed his hands together
gleefully, and determined to help the
embarrassed lover.
''That's fact" said he; "she is
handsome, and better girl never lived.
You wish my consent to marry herr"
The sailor hung his head.
eyes, If you please"
"She's the same as a daughter to us
you see, and we shall miss her terribly
But her happiness is the main thing
II the dear girl loves you, and wishes
to marry you, I haven't the least OBJ
lection. Sailors are good, whole-souled
fellows, know, and you'll be kind to
| our darling"
"I'll try my best to make her hap
py," said the lover, in a mumbling
tone; "but I'm not a sailor, as these
clothes make you think. 1 got them
under price, so l bought them. 1 am
poor, and have to economic. But I
am young and strong, and will take
care that your ward does not lack for
the comforts Of life." Then, after a
short pause, he added: II feared you
might withhold your consent on &C.
count Of my poverty"
Poverty! Nonsensew said old
Ralph, magnanimously. "Not consent
because you are poor? Why, riches
should never be weighed against the
heart and its affections; and if you
are not sailor, as we supposed, you
are noble fellow, l am sure; and let
you be who you will, believe you are
worthy to be Ellen's husband, and you
shall have her, too, since you are both
agreed, in spite Of poverty or anything
else So you see, have great conf
dence in YOU"
HIN" muttered the young man,
and with repetition of his awkward
obeisance, he left the room.
Ralph de Lisle, through his wife,
supplied Ellen's purse handsomely for
the purchase Of her wedding trousseau
but as she was to marry a poor man
she preferred not to spend money SO
foolishly, she said. So her bridal dress
was simply white null, and very
sweet and pretty she looked, as with
her eyes cast down and her cheeks red
der than the reddest rose, she stood in
the great drawing room Of De Lisle
Hall in the presence Of very few
friends Of her own and the family's
who were met to witness the marriage
The bridegroom gave her loving
glances from under the inevitable
broad-brimmed hat, which he shocked
Ralph de Lisle by actually getting mar
ried In.
Its the most outlandish thing
, ever heard Of, and some one ought tt
teal him." muttered old Ralph, as tn,
; ceremony was about to be performed