Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-08-20
q l. | Y / a
OF 1T WAS FOR HER SAKE
By CHARLES CARVIcE
Bv CHARLES CARWCE

ward-aye, to use your own words,
as fair and aboveboard' as you are.
I have to tell you this: You may sup
pose, and very naturally, that as the
daughter of the lord of the manor,
of a man with large estate and &C.
cupying a prominent place in the
county, Olivia will have dowry
suitable to her position
BARLEY Bradstone opened his
mouth but the squire, with gesture
of gentle dignity, motioned him TO
silence.
Hear me out l find it difficult
to tell you what l have to tell you
l 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.
l 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.
1T is a matter of perfect indiffer
ence to me, sir, he said, with
shrug of the shoulders. cit is
Olivia l want, not money; thank
Heaven I have enough-too much
perhaps-of that already. If you
give me your consent"
Zone moment more" said the
squire, interrupting him in low
voice. 1T is my duty to tell you
something more, Bradstone. If you
are utterly Indifferent to the fact
that she will have no dowry, you
may consider that, as my only child,
she will and should inherit this" and
he waved his hand. What if l
tell you that she will not even do
that?"
Again BARLEY Bradstone express
ed neither surprise nor disappoint-
ment.
MOI" he said. 'Well, that is of
no consequence to me, sir. AS
said, it is olivia l want, not money
nor The Grange; though, mind you,
think it a pity that a fine old
property that has been in the fam
lily so long"
Should depart from it 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, l may-indeed it
is my duty to--tell you ALL You see
before you a man who is a living
lie"-his voice broke-"a sham and a
counterfeit, The Squire of Hardwood
who cannot give his daughter a poor
thousand pounds as a wedding-pres-
ent, the lord of the manor every acre
of which he is in hourly danger of
losing. Bradstone, l am weighed
down, sunk't TO my neck in debt. and
the Grange may at any moment be
in the bailiff'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, unfinching eyes-the ar
istocrat even in this moment of his
deepest humiliation, the humiliation
of having TO cOnfessh is ruin to this
paravenu, wOuld-be son-in-laW.
BARLEY Bradstone looked at him
with the grudging admiration of a
vulgar mind for that higher type
which it can never hope even to
initiate; how he would have sighed
and groaned and groveled if he had
had to make such a confession!
There is my case," said the
squire, after a moments pause. "And
shall not deem you selfish or unrea-
sonable if, after having heard it, you
withdraw your proposal, Bradstone"
But | do not do anything of the
sort" said BARLEY Bradstone. Il
repeat it. 1t makes no difference
to me, sir-not a bit. AS to The
estate going, I'm not so sure that that
can't be prevented"
The squire shook his head sadly.
'Oh, l 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.
believe-it's difficult to calculate
exactly-that I'm worth three-quar-
ters of million, more or less, and l
should think
The squire raised his brows.
Yes, that's about the figure. Now,
if Olivia says Yes, if she accepts me,
I'm prepared to settle fifty thous-
pounds upon her for life, for her own,
you know, and III 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.
mo, no. 1t 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