The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-03-21

OF marriage with his daughter after
success had been won.
NO" replied the young man, Il can.
not enter your business to win doubt.
full success. I am already success
full in my WI country and in my own
way. There | must stay" He then
told the old man Of his dream of hap
piness, and he told it well, for his
heart was in It, and he was sure Of its
truth. Laurence's enthusiasm i'm
pressed Prescott so strongly that he
promised to think over the matter be-
fore absolutely refusing his consent.
but said he could give him no real
hope. Laurence asked If he might not
come again the next evening, and
Prescott consented.
The next morning a letter came
from Aurora telling her father in a
straightforward way the whole story
Of their love.
"And you know, papa, that I am
old enough and have seen enough Of
the world not to be easily influenced
have ley met any man before that
l could love, but do love this one
with my whole being. Love is all
that counts, papa; anyway 1t is with
me-" She urged that her happiness
depended upon his consent to her mar.
riage with Laurence, but assured him
she was ever his dutiful daughter, and
would do nothing without his con
sent.
Mr.. Prescott went home early that
afternoon. 1t was a cold, frosty even
ing. He drew his chair up before
the blazing CRATE and sat down to
think. After awhile he went to his
desk and took out an old-fashioned
locket, and sat for a long time bent
over the picture in it. 1t was Au-
rora's mother as she was when first
he met her in the little country town
Of his boyhood. He was a clerk then,
earning six dollars a week, and he
remembered how proud he was Of his
position. And those happy courtship
days! The rides and walks, the pic
MICS and parties; then the happy little
hhoIne, win its three poorly-furnished
rooms, which they thought so fine be-
cause 1t was their own. How proud
= they were of that home, and how
: happy! It had all been happy until
he came to Chicago to make his for
tune. The struggle had been bitter,
+ and a lump gathered in the old mans
throat as he remembered how often
/ he neglected her for business.
Now she was gone. Had he been
happy? He had accomplished his OBJ
iect, he was rich and powerful; but
for what? For his daughter, and
now she was begging to be free from
v it that she might marry a poor man
in the country. Perhaps she was like
- her mother, and would never be happy
q in the fash and glare Of the city.
When Laurence came he was sur
, prised at the soft light in the oil
= mans eyes and the mellow note in hi
j voice. There was a longing and
look of sadness In his face that touch
+ ed the young mans heart. Becaus
% of his own great love he was able t
- feel what it meant to this old ma
>. to give up his only child.
young man." said Presc bit whe
4 Laurence arose to go, after vRiting
suitable time, If my daughter D. sti
sure of her love for you, l will 6
you what God has already given, tn
best girl in the world; and may yoi
find the happiness in the life you haYl
- chosen that l have lost in mine"
The two, the young nan of dream
and the old man of wealth, claspe,
m hands a moment and discussed thei
plans for the future. The old mai
:. turned slowly and sadly to where thu
freight fell upon the picture of
~ sweet young girl. The young mai
hurried out into the night and wa
soon speeding away toward the hills
where at an east window, with he
face upturned to the stars, knelt hi
love praying that loves young dream
: might come true.