The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-05-24
Dicks proposal.
BY JAMES GRAY wADDELL.
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! much disappointment, IN view Of the
fact that l utterly decline to sanction
anything Of the sort"
May l ask the nature of your OBJ
jections?" said Dick, quietly.
Il have other views for my daugh-
ter-that is sufficient; SO you may con
slider the matter at an end" And he
turned to his papers as an intimation
that the interview also was at an end.
Dick rose. This brusque treatment
was somewhat exasperating, and, as
consequence, his parting shot was
neither conciliatory nor diplomatic
Since you decline to justify your
attitude, [ decline to consider the mat
ter at an end" he retorted. IF | Judge
your daughter rightly, she will marry
me without your consent. if necessary.
Mr.. Keller shrugged his shoulders,
without deigning a glance at the auda-
cious young man.
THAT will be her affair."" he replied,
calmly "Of course, she may go her
own way if she pleases, and-take the
consequences.
There was nothing more to be gained
by prolonging the interview after this
delivery of their respective ultimate,
and Dick took his departure, boiling
inwardly.
When he had gone Mr.. Keller rang
bell, and a servant quickly answered
the summons.
Ask Madeline to come here" he
said, curtly.
Madeline duly appeared, ready for
the fray, for which her knowledge of
Dicks visit had already prepared her
Il have just had a visit from Mr.
Rudford," began Mr.. Keller, with a
calmness which was ominous. 4 am
given to understand that you were
aware Of his errand?'
eyes, papa" she demurely replied.
''He tells me you have promised to
marry him?"
Yes, papa" still more demure1y.
Which promise was made, Of
course, subject to my approval" he went
on, dryly. q disapprove entirely, and
have not the slightest intention OF al
lowing you TO keep it, as l have al
ready Informed Mr. Rudford."
Very unkind Of you, papa. And
why? He is a really good man.
He is not the sort of man l would
choose for you; that is enough. Should
you marry him in defiance of my
wishes, you shall never touch a dollar
of my money"
The threat was probably called forth
by q sudden doubt on Mr. Kelter's part
as to whether his veto would prove
suficient-his daughters demeanor
displaying a certain quiet obstinacy new
to him, her will having never before
entered into conflict with his own on
any vital point
Every wai, papa. dear" she replied,
cheerfully II shall have to marry Dick
some day. he has my promise, and
can't 80 back on that As for the
money, you will have to leave it to
found an orphanage or something of
that sort That would he so nice for
the orphans, poor dears.'
At this point Mr. Keller did thing
rare with him; he lost his temper His
ciinched fist came down on the table
with a crash that made everything
jump, the prelude to a terrific Grafton
to which there was 40 listener, for his
daughter had preciDitately fed from the
rising storm.
Madeline did not rush off to her room
and throw herself on the bed with the
tears and lamentations customary in
such cases
No, she went away and wrote a very
sweet letter to Dick, in which the mis-
chieyous element appeared only once,
when she congratulated him upon hav-
ing made a dignifed departure without
the aid of feet other than his own.
TAT least" she wrote, Il Judge that
your departure was dignitied, there be-
ing an utter absence of sounds which
would indicate otherwise"
She went on to tell her dear boy not
to worry-that things would all come
right in the end, and that if it came
TO the worst, she would just have to
marry him without the parental con
sent only, in that case, Dick, dear
you would probably have to take me in
the frock ! stand in, and without any
other worldly possessions" The letter
concluded with promise to lunch
with him on the morrow.
And a very delightful lunch they had
perhaps all the more SO that they knew
it was stolen fruit in the light Of MIR
Kelter's contumacy, which was DIS
oussed in all it's bearings 2Rd character
lied as wholly illogical
He has his kn.-s INTO me, Maddie
and no mistake, said Dick, resentfully
Never mind" replied Madeline
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