The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-10-01

the destination you may select for him,
he Will have ample time to recover
from his imagined infatuation. If
had thought it was presumption on my
part to make such request, / would
not have come here l am merely as
serting my rights in way that / con-
slider reasonable and honorable. Your
son refuses to listen to sensible advice
from you or from me. Despite your
excellent counsel and my refusal to
wed him, he persists in imploring me
to elope and become his wife. do not
feel that it is I who should be eXiled,
because / never did anything to en-
snare your son, but. on the contrary,
have repeatedly pointer out to him the
impossibility Of our marriage on ac-
count of you. l have told him that by
marrying me he might bring misery
on himself and you-and me. l have
tried to convince him that If he risk
losing the respect due a parent. he
cannot expect the woman he marries
under such circumstances to repose
the confidence in his respect for her
that every woman, other than an ed
venturess or fortune hunter should
have. But all Of my efforts are in
vain. Therefore, l deem it the part of
wisdom to apprise you Of the actual
state Of affairs as they exist, before
any further acts Of violence are com.
mitted or foundation is laid for a
scandal" and, rising, Helen started
toward the door, explaining as she
went that she hoped the old gentleman
clearly understood her and would
her request.
She had almost forsaken the room
before the astounded man could
stretch forth OBTAINING hand and beg
her to tarry moment. AS she halted
and turned partly around to face Mr.
Clearing, he advanced toward her, and
bowling courteously, invited her to sit
down.
Give me a minute to think, my
dear" said he. Your extraordinary
words have so taken me by surprise
that l am at loss to reply off-hand."
you have told me clearly and con-
cisely why you will not wed my son,
so l need not ask you to repeat that
father. Il respect you for your amaz-
ing candor. Let me ask you DO you
love my SOM"
Il love him too much to permit him
to put his future happiness in jeopardy
by contracting an alliance with me
that may bring misery. l respect him
too much to become his wife when
know that by so doing l might cut him
off from his family. Frank is worthy
of a leading part in social and bust
ness circles, but if handicapped by
your enmity, the enormous disadvan-
tage he would labor under would not
be compensated by the possession of
wife who might happen to please his
fancy"
Does Frank know Of your visit
here?"
Certainly not, sir"
You express fear of further acts of
violence. l infer from that, that VIC
lence has already been done"
Frank has whipped three young
men who aspired to pay their adj
dresses"
What! You mean to tell me that
lightweight boy of mine licked three
menu"
Yes. and one Of them was a big
football guard. twice as big as he
Frank is certainly violent in his man
ner of making love. He's whirlwind
in affairs of the heart. If he put as
much enthusiasm into business pur
suits, he undoubtedly would make
glttering success. l told him that,
but foolshly he declared he couldn't
keep his mind on commerce because
he was constantly thinking of me. He
said that if | were only his wife, he
would have an incentive to work like
good fellow
rs your determination not to go
away irrevocable? Could you be in
duced to change your mind?'
That is as far as you need proceed
on that line, Mr.. Clearing. Let me
tell you plainly that you haven't
enough money to induce me to leave
this city, and, unless you really wish
to insult me you will not again refer
to the subject of my absenting myself.
| came here not to blackmail you"
Have you any objection to telling
me your family history?'
Not the slightest, If you will ex-
plain to me your object in requesting
it, in the light Of the fact that this
Is to be our final interview"
Dear Miss Rockwell: l personally in
t-rviewed the families to whom you re-
ferred me in our little chat a few days
ago. and If that impetuous son of mine
don't marry you, l will, If you will have
me If you choose him, and he ever does
anything to cause you unhappiness, l will
wiring his neck. AS for myself, l give
you this as a bond to do everything in
my power to render your life peaceful
and luxurious ana nothing to the con-
trary in case you become my daughter
in-law Yours sincerely,
l. S. CLEARING.
My Dear Mr.. Clearing: If l hadn't met
and chosen Frank first, what an honor
it would be to become the wife of such
a perfectly lovely gentleman as you are,
Frank and l are going to be married, and
| will not show your note to anybody SO
long as you are serene, but If you are
real cross, l will let you read it. | know
you will be the sweetest father-in-law In
the world Yours lovingly,
HELEN ROCKWELL.
hn RI 10 ~