Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-11-01
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Mr. Harding spoke warmly ana I'M
selfishly In favor Of an immediate mar
rage, to no purpose, however. They
had indeed made up their minds,
though the reason was not that which
Daintree had given. Vanity forbade
him to disclose the real reason. 1t was
her solitary but firm stipulation, and
so much for his brave desire to get
first to Sydney on Claire's account.
He was to sail in seven days.
Meanwhile the engagement was an
nounced in the Morning Post OF Jan.
Is.
On the 10th Mr.. Harding found a
note from Sir Emilius at his office:
Sir-My Morning Post informs me that
a marriage has been arranged between
your daughter and my son. II you care
for the young lady's happiness you VIII
put a stop to this at once. Yours faith
fully, EMILIUS DAlNIREE.
N. B.-I send this word of warning IN
duplicate, both to your city and to your
private address. as l think 1t hardly
likely that you will receive both copies
II my son is still with you.
Mr.. Harding started to his feet. He
had not received the copy posted to his
house. Was the father liar or the
son something worse? The fathers
reputation-stay
1t was the son.
He had been down before Mr.. Hard
ing that morning. The latter had
found him in the dining room when he
entered. and on his own plate were
such letters as he had received. Hard
ing seized his hat then reflected.
changed color and took a pen himself.
The note which he subsequently dis
patched by hand was model of firm
ness, tempered by tact. He demanded,
however an immediate explanation OF
Sir Emillus Daintree's words, and the
messenger was to wait for an answer.
The messenger returned without one.
Then Mr.. Harding called In person.
Sir Emilius was not at home.
But next morning there was another
brief note at the office:
Dear Sir-I have been thinking the mat
ter over. You have my sympathy but L
cannot enter into details. l absolutely
decline to do so. You know the proverp,
and q word should be enough for the
wise, or you may go for your explanation
10 my son, who will tell you 1t Is all my
spite It Is for you as man OF inc
werld to believe or to disbelieve him on
that point. will say. however, that 80
far as know my son Is not insane.
would to heaven he were! Yours, etc.,
EMILIUS DAINTREE.
Mr.. Harding was now miserable
man. The very sight of the betrothed
pair became an hourly agony, yet he
lacked either the courage or the will
to interfere. Only four days remained.
He called again on Sir Emilius Dain-
tree, but again the baronet was in
visible.
This time Harding left an urgent
note, and yet another perfectly civil
one awaited him in the city next morn
Ing. 1t was to be the last. however.
and said so plainly in the following
terms:
NV Dear S.r-You must excuse my un-
Willingness to see you or to correspond
further upon the little matter OF my son
and your daughter. You will apprehend
that the subject Is probably more painful
to me than to you, who have your rem
edy. I have none. My son need never
become your son-in-law, but unhappily
he will always be my son.
Your last question is, however, a fair
one. and will answer 1t frankly on con-
dition Ii Is the last. So far as l am
aware, then, my son has not already or
Ito my knowledge has he ever had
WIFE / should say he Is quite capable OF
having half dozen. However, this Is
not at" at all. And I must beg you as
a gentleman not to question me any fur
Their upon what is in fact family mat
ter and one only named to you In con-
fidenee for your own guidance.
Upon this understanding I have the
honor to remain, sir your obedient serv-
ant EMILlUS DAlNTREE.
Mr.. Harding held bis tongue. anG
James Daintree sailed away the be-
trothed Of Claire Harding. who was to
follow him to Sydney in six months.
A year earlier Mr.. Harding might
have been tempted to keep silence for
worldly reasons, for the sake of the
connection--"m daughter, Lady DAM
tree"-and so forth. He was not him.
self man of noble blood, but he loved
the nobility and had of late very near
" cut himself off from their smile for
ever. The temptation, on worldly
grounds alone, would have been strong
enough the year before. Yet the IA
TIERS heart would have resisted 1t.
He would have spoken out then and
acted, too, like an honest man. Now
he did neither, because his mouth was
stopped, and his hands were tied by a
stronger thing than social considera-
tons. He was gagged and bound by
abject fear.
And this was why Daintree the
younger was allowed to sail away be-
srOthed to Claire toward the latter end
Of January, 1888.