Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-08-31

YOU he answered, promptly. 81
want my little girl to marry to please
herself, not me"
"And yet can't help taking what
pleases you into consideration--into
deep consideration. And I've wonder
ed little papa she continued,
looking up at him, why you've been
so anxious about this one. when
you've been SO Indifferent, If not op
posed to the Others"
"I'll tell you, darling. I'll give you
my point OF view. But, mark you, 1t
can't be yours; it mustn't be yours.
From the very nature of things, you
and I approach this subject from diff
ferent angles. First of all, l have to
remember that I'm no longer a young
man, and that have great treas
urer to leave behind"
But, papa, darling, I'd rather not
think of 1t in that light"
mo. but must. There's the DIFF.
ference Of angle at once. If one of
your brothers had lived, or even one
of your sisters, perhaps, shouldn't
feel so keenly about it as do. But
you're all that's left to us"
Then why not keep me with you
as long as possible?"
We're not going to lose you. We
shall never be far away from you, at
any time. Your mother and I have
quite made UP our minds to that Life
wouldn't be worth anything to me IL
couldn't see my little girl when
wanted to-; that is. within reason"
She leaned across the table and
laid her hand on his, smiling into his
face with shining eyes.
And 30, dearest, since my treas
ure is SO great, It would be a comfort
to me, as go downhill, to know that
1t was safe, In very safe hands"
"And you think his are the best?'
"They are the best I know. cant
think of any man I've ever met Of
whom l should feel sure, with so
few reserves-without any reserve at
all. Listen to me- he pursued, In
another tone, patting her hand. which
still lay out-stretched towards him
on the table. "Ldsten to me, and I'll
expose my whole reason to you in 4
way you will understand repeat.
that 1t Is the reason which guides ms
but It's not to guide you. Yours
must be different motive and a
surer one Still, it may help you in
making your decision. If you know
what has enabled me to come to
mine. In the first place. he loves
you. OF course, you know that"
| "She nodded and let her eyes fall
again.
| Then think my little girl has, to
| say the least, very sincere regard
for him.
She nodded again, still with eyes
downcast
And then, he's not man who
would love today and forget to-mor.
row. He Is essentially good, kind
loyal and devoted Your mother and
| / would have none OF that wretched
uncertainty Of parents who say to
each other, oh, hope he will be
good to her' We would be sure Of
that beforehand. You see, dear, we've
protected you 80, we're got SO strong
ly the habit of protecting you that
It's like pain to us to think that any
wind of unkindness could ever blow
on you
Papa, darling" she broke in, with
a choking Of the voice, couldn't
stay with you always. and not marry
any one?"
"Cerainly, dear. There's not the
slightest reason why you shouldn't be
an old maid, IL you want to But, In
the mean time, let me go on. Wilt
shire is not only good man who
loves you, but he's very rich man.
II shouldn't think that matsered,
she said, lifting her head suddenly.
"only in this way, that in our posi-
ton it's a guarantee. He's one oil
the rich men of rich country
should marry any woman for any
other object than herself Mind you
I'm far from saying that II you mar
ried poor man 1T might not be fol
love, love on both sides. But I'll &C
as far as this: there's no poor mar
you could marry for whom, however
much he loved you, your wealth
would not be an overpowering con
sideration. The very change 1t would
bring into the daily circumstances o,
his life would oblige him to give his
mind to 1t, perhaps more than to you
l must keep repeating dear, thai
that's point which weights with me
though shouldn't expect you to give
1t undue Importance"
81 don't think l could" she said
with a wistful smile.
All right. So much the better
Now for one thing more. Wiltshire
is not only good man, and ricf
man, but he is man of very high
j rank He can give his wife one {