The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-08-16

h9 nNiA dpplONfo Nout
choice. The son Of a
drunkard and one who Is likely to be-
come one himself is no tit husband
FOR you"
"Oh, father Vincent will never drink
intoxicating liquors. he has promised
me that he never will"
Father and daughter sat alone in the
cozy sitting room Of their country
home Louisa was as wayward as a
spoiled child She was The only one
left at home Of the little flock that
once nightly gathered there Her
brothers and sisters were al married.
The former were brawny. well-to-do
farmers, living NOT far away, and the
latter contented hard.worklng wives
of farmers. OF course. everybody ex-
pected Louisa, when her time came TO
leave the paternal roof. to marry some
thrifty tiller Of the SOIL and settle down
near the old home, as the others had
done.
And it might have been so had not
Vincent Lenoir. with his handsome
face and captivating manners. come
among them and opened her eyes to the
fact that she was not born to drudge
forever in n dismal farmhouse. So
Harvey Webb, the honest, big.hearted
fellow, who the neighbors thought
would lead away the old deacon's pet.
was discarded. and Vincent Lenoir
took his place, and a mach larger place
than poor Harvey had over filed in
Louisa's heart.
Vincent had come from distant
city. and FOR time he was greatly
lionized on account Of his brilliant
mental qualities: but when Ii became
known that he was in th, constant
habit of visiting the village tavern. and
that he often came from there extreme
ly unsteady. people shook their heads.
Then his conduct began 10 be openly
commented upon. and finally one after
another had turned their faces against
him, till the young man would have
fled in disgust from the village but for
one thlng-the deacons house held an
attraction for him.
He loved Louisa, and went one day
TO ask her to marry him just when the
Indignation of the order-loving vii
layers was at its height. and the good
deacon, who had bent his ear TO the
general verdict. withheld his consent.
Vincent, fully determined to win the
old mans consent went back to Lis
city home. and at the end Of six months
again appeared as a sultor FOR the hand
Of Louisa.
He was Sc. much improved in appear
ance and avoided so entirely the village
tavern. that the deacon. taking into
consideration that Louisa was pining 10
a shadow, gave his consent though re.
luctantly, as we have seen.
"You can marry since you seem
so bent and bound to have each other:
but shall give YOU no setting ont nor
honor you with a grand wedding such
as your sisters had This man may
take you with your good looks and
your wardrobe lust as they are, if he
loves you well enough TO care for none
of these things And he shall have
nothing else. unless"
Louisa was crying softly, and trying
her best TO keep her tears from being
seen. They did not escape her fathers
notice, however though he pretended
Inconsistencies.
"Unless he conducts himself Ike a
man, and abstaius entirely from strong
drink"
"He will, father On. l am sure he
winr'
Louisa did not say this to gain the
"setting out" or the grand wedding"
she was only anxious that her future
husband should be considered worthy
in her fathers eyes.
well. If he does. | shall know IT.
and If he does not, you will know IT,
and feel It most my child; though it
will make ne miserable too. Now |
will tell you how / shall act toward
you, and you must not think because I
do what consider my duty, that I am
lacking in love for my Youngest child"
Tie old deacon brushed his sleeve
across his eyes, and went on
"Lenoir may have you. and take you
10 his home as soon as You choose
your brothers. and sisters. and myself.
will hold no communication with you
II in five years you can come To- us
bringing with you husband who has
lived up 10 the promise he has made
you, our arms will be open to receive
You both; and then you shall have your
wedding party--your silver wedding,
you may call II. though custom does
not sanction its being held 50 soon
What do you sayf'
Loulsa said Just what almost any
woman who loved and placed n blind
reliance on her idol would have said.
She accepted the conditions hopefully
confidently, and went 10 her new home,
feeling certain that she would triumph
in her husbands rectlude.
Vincent kept his promise for a time
faithfully, and Louisa, fully realizing
the happiness she had Anticipated.
lOnged TO communicate to he. stern
relatives the fact that their fears for
her future were unfounded. But she
must not She had been forbidden
even to write 10 the loved ones she had
left for the arms Of stranger.
Months passed. and Vincent occasion
ally came home at night with flushed
face and breath that would have sug-
gested brandy 10 any one less blindly
trustful than louisa But when, as
the weeks rolled by. he went so far
as TO enter her presence actually reel.
ing as he walked her eyes could no