The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-12-22

AT least now, in my tisht-strapped
trousers and my long blue coat and
my deep embroidered waistcoat and
my high stock, my shining boots and
my tall beaver, l made my way on my
well-groomed horse up to the gates
of old Elmhurst; and as 1 rode / pom
dered and / dreamed.
But Miss Elizabeth vas not at home
it seemed. Her father, Mr.. DAME;
Churchill. rather portly, and now just
a trihe red of face, net me instead. II
was not an encounter for which l de
voutly wished, but one which / knew
1t was the right OF both Of us to ex
pect ere long. Seeing the occasion
propitious 1 plunged at one in medals
res. Part of the time explanatory
again apologize. and yet again, ]
trust, assertive, although always blum.
dering and red and awkward. / told
the father of NY intended, of my own
wishes, my prospects and my plans.
He listened to me gravely and, IL
seemed to ne, with non of hat en-
thusiasm which / would have vel
coined. Az 10 my family, he knew
enough. AS to my prospects. ne ues
toned me. My record was not I'm
familiar to him. So. gaining conf.
dence at last under the insistence OF
what / knew were worthy motives,
and which certainly were irresistible
of themselves, so far as / was CON
cerned, l asked him IL we might not
soon make an end of this. and, taking
chances as they were, allow my wed.
ding with Elizabeth to take place at
no very distant date.
why as to that, of course l do not
know what my girl will say" went on
Mr.. Daniel Churchill. pursuing up hia
lips.
"Oh, OF course-that," 1 answered;
Miss Elizabeth and +"
"The skeesicksl" he exclaimed. y
thought she told me everything"
Il think Miss Elizabeth tells no one
quite everything" l ventured. II con.
fess she has kept me almost as much
in the dark a yourself, sir. But ]
only wanted to ask if. after l have
seen her to-day, and IL / should gain
her consent to an early day. you would
not waive any objections on your OWL
part and allow the matter to go for
ward as soon as possible?"
In answer 20 this he arose from his
chair and stood looking out of the
window. his back turned to me. / could
not call his reception of my sugges
ton enthusiastic; but at last he
turned.
Il presume that our two families
right send you young people a sack
of meal or a side of bacon now and
then, as far as that is concerned" he
I said.
/ could not call this speech joyous.
There are said to be risks in any
union, sir" / ventured to say. 81 ad
NIT l do not follow you in contemplate
ing any risk whatever. If either you
or your daughter doubts my loyalty
or affection, then / should say certain.
ly it were wise to end all this; but
and l fancied 1 Strengthened percepti
bly, think that might perhaps be
left to Miss Elizabeth herself"
After all, Mr.. Dan Churchill was
obliged to yield, as fathers have been
obliged from the beginning of the
world. At last he told me l might
( take my fate in my own hands and
I go my way.
Trust The instinct Of lovers to brins
| them together! / was quite confident
that at that hour / should find Eliza
beth and her aunt in the big east
room at The presidents reception. the
former looking on with her uncompro
missing eyes at the little pageant which
on reception days regularly went for
ward there.
) My conclusion was correct. found
q boy to hold my horse in front OF
Gautier's cafe. Then l fastened OF
across the intervening blocks and
through the grounds of the White
House, in which presently, having
edged through the throng in the ante
chambers, / found myself in hat inane
procession of individuals who passed
by in order, each to receive the limp
handshake, the mechanical bow and
the ~perfunctory smile of President
Tyler-rather a tall. slender limbed
active man and of very decent pres
ence, although his thin, shrunkep
cheeks and his cold. blue-gray eye
left little quality of magnetism in his
personality.
CTO BE CONTINUED.)