Connecticut western news., 1909-06-03
< %+++%++++++++++++%S { < SHE LET HIM Go : @ 4 Story of a Fathers and Daughters ' i. ObstinAey. '
+ ' + I. F 2. F F Y ' 2 z z z E z z
By sHIELA ESTHER DUNN.

"GOouby, Nan. I'm urea or loaunB around the daughter of man who has lots of money"
 Dads moneys mine too. I can manage him."
 Not much it isn't He'll cut you off with a shilling If you marry me. He's very determined man."
 And I'm very determined girl"
 What shall dor"
 "Go ask dad"
 "I haven't the cheek-not even funds enough for a marriage fee"
 "I'll go with you"
 We went to the old man together If hadn't felt her hand on my own-it was steady as rock-I should have collapsed. Strange, too, since l got a promotion in the Spanish war. 4 cur rent of force running through my arm into my body enabled me to say it all. No" Crowled the old man when had finished.
 'Pm going to marry him anyway. dad" said Nan.
 If you do you'll not get q cent of my money.'
 You'll think better of 1t some time" You think so? I tell you by all that's holy if you marry that galoot put my money into a hospital"
 He brought his fist down on the table with such force as to upset a pitcher standing on 1t, the pitcher breaking on the floor.
 And I tell you, dad you won't do any such thing"
 With that she turned and marched ne away. felt like q dummy, and was one. I'd simply talked like a phonograph wound by Nan. The strug gle was between the father and dauEh, ter. I had nothing to do with 1t. was simply engaged to girl who hnd a battle to fight.
 They lived together after that, as be- fore, and l could see no evidence of bitterness in either or any disposition of either to yield. I felt very despond ent about the matter, because Nan was determined to force her father to con sent to our marriage and wouldn't marry me without that consent. wanted her to give up the money or give up me. She would do neither. When I spoke of the former she said: What do you take me for? Dads got l couple of hundred thousand and no- body to use 1t but me. I've got too much common sense for that"
 well, then, I'm going to-
 "Oh, come, now, don't talk like a fool! Be sensible. Leave 1t to me"
 A fellow who had always looked upon girls to be petted and cuddled and managed wasn't likely to be pleased with this way of putting 1t, and I grumbled. But somehow 1 didn't have the sand to break with Nan, and away down in my heart 1 knew that if she was to marry me. who had nev- CT laid up cent, she was right In her position. Of husband and wife the one having the right way will always lead. Nan and I weren't married, but she was so strong willed and practical that there was no more romance between us than If we had been married ten years.
 But I was a man and had been a soldier. The time came when l was ripe for mutiny. One morning I told Nan that I wouldn't stand in such q contemptible position any longer. She wouldn't marry me and live on my small salary, and she wouldn't consent to q breaking of our engagement. l proposed to go to her father and tell him that was out of the squabble.
 Don't make q fool of yourself" said Nan. "He1l only laugh at you"
 Paying no attention to the warning, I hustled off to find the old man.
 'A1r. Sprigman," I said, 'T have ar rived at the conclusion that your daughter is wrong and you are right about this proposed marriage. l have come to tell you that don't want her with your fortune so long as she won't marry me without it'
 Making a virtue of necessity, eh?" he sneered.
 q don't mean it that way. mean q told Nan she was trying to marry a fool"
 'I may be a fool, but I'll not remain in this position any longer"
 "You won't have to-"
 Have to! Of course won't. Pm a free man"
 "Oh, don't talk bosh!'
 'I don't understand you"
 "Young man. since Nans crazy enough to want you, don't you go through life with her baking her. You won't be able to ball her any way, though you're tr!Spg to do 1t now. She's the only person I ever met who had a stronger will than mine, and that's saying a good deal, consld- ering the obstinate women in the world. You think you're going to shake her. do you? In that event I want you to understand I'm with her, She's worth twenty such as you, but if she wants you she's got to have you. I consent to the marriage. Now, get away from her if you can"
 Nank kmust have been listening. for she opened the door, came in, went to her father and put her arms around his neck.