Middletown transcript., 1906-09-08
but / cannot marry you.

am the only chiId yon know and
mother IS dead Then, too lie
is rich and proud, and ambiti.sps
for me He will never be willing
for me to marry poor man. and
| cannot marry without bis con.
sent.
Will ynu Il he gives il asked
The young man, eagerly.
Yes, dear, and be vsry happy.
she answered, with b smile.
Mr.. Prescoit turned iInIsa-
iienfly TO greet a visitor who had
just entered his ONCE. His keen
eyeiastantly measured the young
man before him strong. honest,
and from the country. What
can ! do for you, sir? he asked
abruptly, for business was press.
ing.
Give me your daughter, Lau-
renee answered, quietly.
Give you my daughter? and the
old man almost jumped from his
chair. And who are ysu, sir? he
demanded in a sarcastic tone.
Ny name is Laurence, replied
the young man.
Well, sir, Mr.. Laurence, what
prompts you to make such pre-
ppsterous request as this?
Our love.
Our love! Do you think my
daughter loves you?
know she does, answered
Laurence.
HIM, said the old maa, re-
membering things which Aursra
had written that now made him
uneasy; but it takes more than
love to get along in this world,
young man. What are you?
What have you got?
I am a teacher and have q
home.
What's it worth! demanded ne
old man, in a business tone.
Worth living in, replied Lau-
renee, seriously. Prescott was
at the point of ordering him from
the room, but something in the
young mans strong, honest face
restrained him.
Well. he said instead, this is no
place for that king of thing; come
to my house this evening, and I
will have somethiug to say to
you. Good nioDniug, sir.
The old man was disturbed all
day. Of course it was all sheer
nonsense to think Of his daughter
marrying a poor school teacher;
yet somehow he felt that this
young man with the steady eye
and intellectual face was not to
be dealt with as an ordinary nui.
sance.
That evening they talked on
many subjects, and Laurence's
sincerity and strength Of mind so
far won Prescott's appreciation
that he offered the young man a |
position in his business, with the
promiseto consider the question |
Of marriage with his daughter
after success had been won.
No, replied the young man, l |
cannot enter your business toi
win doubtful success. I am al
ready successful ia my own ceun-
Try and In my own way. There
must stay. He then told the
Did man of his dream of happi-
ness, and he told it well, for his
heart was in it and he was sure
If its truth. Laurence's enthus-
asm impressed Prescott so
strongly that he promised to
hink over the matter before alb.
refusing his consent, but
'ald he could give him no real
lope. Laurence asked if he
night not come again the next
'vening, and Prescott conseated. l.
The next morning a letter came
rom Aurora telling her father in /
straightforward way the whole
tory of their love.
And you know, papa, am old
nough and have seen enough of
he world not to be easily infuenc.
d. Ihavenever met any man be-.
ore thai ! could love, but / do
oye this one with ms whole
eing. Love is all that counts,
'apa; anyway, it is with me. She
rged that her happiness de.
ended upon his consent to her
marriage with Laurence, but as
nred him she was eyer.his duti.
u daughter, and would do moth !.
lg without his consent.
Mr.. Prescott went home early :
nat afternoon. 1t was a cold. :
rosty evening. He drew his :
hair up before the blazing crate 1
nd sat down to think. After