The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1905-09-14

"Oh. father. Vincent will never drink
intoxicating liquors; he has promised
me that he never will"
Father and daughter sat alone in the
coy sitting room of their country
home. Louisa was ms hayward as II
spoiled child. She was the only one
left at home Of the little flock that
once nightly gathered there. Her
brothers and sisters were all married,
The former were brawny, well-to-do
farmers. living not far away, and the
latter contented, Woodworking wives
of farmers. OF course. everybody cx-
pected Louisa, when her time came to
leave the paterDal roof, to marry some
thrifty tlller of the soil, and settle down
near the old home, as the others had
done.
And 1t might have been so had not
Vincent Lenolr, 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 dismal farmhouse So
Harvey Webb. the honest. blg-hearted
fellow. who the neighbors thought
would lead away the old deacons pet,
was discarded, and Vincent Lenoir
took his place, and a much larger place
than poor Harvey had ever flied In
Loulsa's heart!
Vincent had come frcm distant
city. and for n time he was greatly
llonlzed OIL account of his brilliant
mental qualities, but when 1t became
known that lie was in the 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 to be openly
commented upon, and finally one after
another had turned their faces against
him. till the young mnn would have
fed in disgust from the village but for
one thlng-the deacon's house held an
attraction for him.
He loved Louisa, and went one dry
to ask her to marry him just when the
indignation of the order-loving VII
layers was Mt 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 hack to his
city home, and at the end OF six months
again appeared as suitor for the hand
of Louisa.
He was so much improved in appear
ance and avoided so entirely the village
tavern. that the deacon, taking into
consideration that Louisa was pining to
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 out nor
honor you with grand wedding such
rs your sisters had. This man may
take you with your good looks and
your wardrobe just rs they are, II 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 like a
man. and abstains entirely from strong
drink"
"He will. father! On, am sure he
j. will"
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. IL he does, shall know 1t;
and IL he does not, you will know II,
and feel It most, my child; though 1t
will make me miserable, too. Now
will tell you how I shall act toward
you. and You must not think because
do what consider my duty, that am
lacking in love for my youngest child"
The old deacon brushed his sleeve
across his eyes, and went on:
TENOR may have you, and take you
TO his home as soon as you choose.
Your, brothers, and sisters, and myself,
VIII hold no communication with you.
II in i've years you can come to us
bringing with you a husband who has
lived up to the promise he has made
you. our arms will be open to receive
you both; and then YOU shall have your
wedding party-yonr silver wedding,
you may call it. though custom does
not sanction its being held SO soon.
What do yon say?"
Louisa said just what almost any
woman who loved and placed blind
reliance on her idol would have said.
sne accepted the conditions hopefully,
confidently, and went to her new home,
feeling certain that she would triumph