The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-03-23

more ana more apparent, ana herDert
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-
ly, and the old man was perfectly de-
lighted both with Ellen and her suitor,
and began contemplating purchasing a
certain cozy cottage he knew Of as a
bridal gift to his ward.
Ralph de Lisle was seated in his IL
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 servant en-
tered to say that Miss Ellen's beau
wanted to see him.
The sailor entered and bowed awk-
wardly enough to the dignified man
who rose to receive him. The broad
bHmmed hat. which not ,one of the
family had yet seen him remove. kept
its place even in the august presence
Of Ralph de Lisle, who wondered men
tally whether he wore it in bed, and
concluded that custom on shipboard
must have been the constant wearing
of his hat habit with the sailor.
You ward, Miss Ellen, is very beau
tiful and good" began the young man,
stammeringly, and no doubt blushing-
ly, though little Of his whiskered face
was visible.
Old Ralph rubbed his hands together
gleefully, and determined to help the
embarrassed lover.
That's a fact" said he; "she is
handsome, and better girl never lived.
You wish my consent to marry her?'
The sailor hung his head.
"Yes, if you please"
"She'S the same as daughter to US,
you see, and We shall miss her terribly.
But her happiness is the main thing.
If the dear girl loves you, and wishes
to marry you, 1 haven't the least OBJ
lection. Sailors are good, whole-souied
fellows, know, and you'll be kind to
our darling"
'I'll try my best to make her happy"
said the lover, in mumbling tone;
"but I'm not sailor, as these clothes
make you think. 1 got them under
price, so 1 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 short
pause. he added: Il feared you might
withhold your consent on account Of
my poverty"
Poverty! Nonsensew said old Ralph,
magnanimously. mot consent be-
cause you are poor? Why. riches
should never be weighed against the
heart and its affections; and If you are
not a sailor, as we supposed, you are
a noble fellow, I am sure; and let you
be who you will, 1 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 any
thing else. So you see, I have great
confidence in you"
Him. muttered the young man,
and with a 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 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.
"It's the most outlandish thing l
ever heard of, and some one ought to
tell him." muttered old Ralph. as the
ceremony was about to be performed;
"but if Mrs. de Lisle and Ellen can
stand it, I'm sure can. But he don't
go to the table with that thing on his
head, if have to knock it off with my
cane. I'll teach the ignoramus little
decorum."
The words were pronounced which
made Ellen Mrs. Somebody-old Ralph
neither knew nor cared what her new
name might be as long as she was
well out of the way Of his son.
AS the little company were about
being led to the dining-room to partake
Of the wedding dinner. Ralph stepped
up to the groom and said, as politely
as his rising cholor would let him:
"You will oblige me. sir. and bestow