Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1906-08-16

| duty to be as plain and straightfor
ward-aye, to use your own words
as fair and aboveboard' as you are
| have to tell you this: You may sup
pose, and very naturally, that as The
| daughter Of the lord Of the manor
Of man with large estate and oc
cupying a prominent place in the
county Olivia will have a doWry
suitable TO her position"
BARLEY Bradstone opened his
mouth but the squire, with a gesture
of gentle dignity, motioned him tc
silence.
Hear me out. find it difficult
TO tell you what | have to tell you
say that It Is only reasonable that
you should suppose my daughter
would come to you with a marriage
portion suited to her rank in life
| am sorry, bitterly sorry, to tell you
that Olivia will go to the man she
marries with empty hands,"
If the squire had expected his
auditor to express establishment or
chagrin. he was agreeably relieved,
for BARLEY Bradstone merely nodded
his head.
ut Is a matter of perfect indiffer-
cnce to me, sir, he said with a
3hrug Of the shoulders. ut Is
Olivia ! want, not money; thank
Heaven ] have enough-too much
porhaps-of that already. If you
give me your consent"
"One moment more" said the
squire, Interrupting him in a low
voice. II is my duty to tell You
something more. Bradstone If you
are utterly Indifferent to the fact
that she viii have no dowry. you
may consider that, as my only child,
she will and should inherit this" and
he waved his hand. What If |
tell you that she will not even do
thar"
Again BARLEY Bradstone express
cd neither surprise nor disappoint-
mont
Nor he said. "Wnll, that is of
no consequence to me, sir. AS !
said, 1t Is olivia | want, not money
nor the Grange; though, mind you
think IT pity that fine old
property that has been In the fam
lily SO long"
Should depart from 1t for ever"
said the squire In a low, sorrow
stricken voice. "a pity! Yes!
But so It must be! Bradstone, having
told you this much | may-indeed It
is my duty to-tell you all. You see
before you man who is a living
lle'--his voice broke-"a sham and a
counterfeit, The Squire of Hardwood
who cannot give his daughter poor
thousand pounds as a wodding-pres.
cnt, the lord Of the manor every acre
OF which he Is In hourly danger of
losing. BradstOne, am weighed
down, sunk to my neck In debt, and
the Grange may at any moment be
In tho bailiT's hands!"
He did not drop into a chair or
burst into tears, did not even utter a
groan but stood with pale set face,
and steady unilinChing eyes--the ar
lstocrat even in this moment of his
deepest humiliation, the humiliation
or having to confessh is ruin to this
paravenu, would-be son-n law
BARLEY Bradstone looked at him
with the grudging admiration of a
vulgar mind for that higher type
which 1t can never hope even to
initiate; how he would have sighed
and gro0ned and groveled II he had
had to make such a confession!
There is my case" said the
squire, after moments pause. And
shall not deem you selfish or unrea.
sonable If, after having heard it. you
withdraw your proposal, Bradstone. 3"
But do not do anything OF the
solt' said BARLEY Bradstone. II
repeat II. 1t makes no difference
to me, sir-not bit. As to The
estate going, I'm not SO sure that that
can't be prevented"
The squire shook his head sadly
"Oh, / don't know" said BARLEY
Bradstone, thrusting his hands into
his pockets. I'm not SO sure of
that And now, sir, let me initiate
your candor You've told me how
YOU stand: III tell you my position.
| holieve-it's difficult to calculate
eNactly--that I'm worth threeouar.
tiers of a million, more or less. and |
should think"
The squire raised his brows.
Yes, that's about the figure. Now.
If Olivia says Yes il she accepts me
I'm prepared to settle fifty rhous.
pounds upon her for life. for her own.
you know and Ill give her The
Naples, too. If that isn't enough. If
you think that it ought to be more"
The squire's pale face went Grim.
son, and he made a gesture of
reputation.
No, no! It. is most liberal most
generous he said, and for the first
time his voice quivered. 1T is too
large a settlement for a portionless
girl"
Not for my wife" said Bartley