Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-10-03

to the valley, partly hidden by belt
of stunted trees, stood a large house
with extensive stabling and an ornate
conservatory.
Johns eyes took in the details of the
place with an angry CLEAN; 1t had
looked much the same thirty-odd years
before, when he had bent his way to-
wards it for the first time And It
brought back to his mind wildly the
incidents of that visit; the cold, cut
ting courtesy of the man who had
wheedled away the woman he had
loved by f1attery and promises the
mans well-bred attitude of cynical at
tention.
ut is true, Mr.. Allen, 1 have pointed
out to her that you are but working
man; an excellent workingman, have
no uoubt, but still a workingman, earn
ing a humble wage, which is, l feel
sure. though have no exact knowledge
on the subject, quite insufficient to pro
vide her with more than the mere es-
sentials Of life" Raymond had said,
with the calmness and elaboration of
man who is not afraid, though Allen
could see he trembled. 81 do not feel
that have laid the case before. her in
a way unfair to you, sir; have no
need to, for the facts as they stand pro
claim her engagement to you-she is
girl of superior rank, tastes and so
on-most injudicious and your state
ment that she has declined to see you
supports my hope that she has finally
decided to become mistress of Valley
House, where she will have all she
cares to ask for. / may add that l
love her; it may excuse anything In my
conduct which you, with excusable pref
udice, may regard as not quite fair. |
do not wish to make enemies. At the
same time am not dependent on any
mans friendship"
1t was the same Raymond, grown old,
who half rose as Allen was shown into
the same room more than thirty years
later on a somewhat similar mission.
The change in Allen was more marked
than the change in Raymond. He was
now too old to tumble with his cap as
he had done-too conscious Of his power
to be abashed by the others steady
glare, and 1t was another's heart that
he had come to gladden..
"I've come to speak about my boy
my Bob, Mr.. Raymond" he said,
straightly.
"Sit down, Allen. Your son? Yes;
fine lad-a fine, good-looking young
man. l passed him yesterday, and it
struck me then that he is just the figure
you were at his age" said the iron
founder, leaning back In his chair.
"He's a chip off the old block, Mr..
Raymond, but trimmed and polished so
that the grain of him shows up better
than 1t did or does in the old block it.
self. He'd make a very fine husband
for your daughter"
"a very worthy young man, no
doubt" said Raymond, calmly, without
change of his agreeable smile. But
the idea you mention is manifestly RI
diculous. l have told my daughter so,
1 have told him so, and that ought to
have been enough"
Allen drew his great hand over his
beard twice or thrice and stared
straight at the iron founder.
I'm not going to argue with you,
William Raymond" he said, gravely;
you can beat me at that-you did once
before, IL you remember. And we're
old men now, widowers, both Of us,
with a child apiece, and so 1t isn't
seemly, perhaps, for us to argue on love
affairs. But remember your Phyllis
mother ought to have been my wife.
She's the spit of her mother, and my
boy loves her as well, that's past
and ought to be forgotten. 1t isn't,
though, and I-I-well, I've set my old
heart on my boy marrying my lost dar-
ling's daughter. There, William Ray
monu! 1 know"
1--WE should get on much better If
you could eliminate sentiment from the
discussion, though, really, any discus
sion on this subject is wasted breath,
time and-ingenuity."
Allen stiffened, and the kindly light