Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-01-13

able, or wholly warm and impulsive,
l, long as / had known and loved her,
never was quite sure. Something
held me away, something called me
forward; SO that l was always baf-
fed, and yet always eager, God wOt.
l uppOs this is the way Of women.
At times / have been impatient with
it, knowing my own mind we'll enough.
At least now, in my ti~ght-strapped
rOusers and my long blue coat n
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 l rod 1 pom
dered and l dreamed.
But Miss Elizabeth was not at home,
it seemed. Her father, Mr.. Daniel
Churchill. rather portly, and now just
a trife red of face, met me instead. 1t
was not an encounter for which l de-
voutly wished, but one which 1 knew
it was the right of both Of US to ex-
pect ere long. Seeing the occasion
propitious 1 plunged at once IN medals
res. Part of the time explanatory.
again apologize, and yet again, I
| I l OON oOOSA l UA"oJ OAOA
dering and red and awkward, l told
the father of my intended, of my own
wishes, my prospects and my plans.
lie listened to me graVely and, it
seemed to me, with none Of hat en-
thusiasm which 1 would have vel
coined. AS to my family, he knew
enough. Ks t6 my pros fctss re cues
toned me. My record was not un.
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 l was con,
cerned, | asked him if 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
nc very distant date.
why as to that, of course I do not
know VIA my girl will say" went on
Mr.. Daniel Churchill, pursuing up MS
lips.
ooh, of course-that," l answered
Miss Elizabeth and /"
The skeesicks!" he exclaimed. 81
thought she toll me everything"
q think Miss Elizabeth tells no one
quite everything" l ventured. Il COZ
! fess she has kept me almost as much
IN the lark as yourself, sir. But
only wanted to ask if, after l lave
seen her to-day, and if l should gain
her consent to an early day, you would
not waive any objections on your own
part and allow the matter to go for
ward as 500 as possible?"
In answer to 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
might send you young people a sack
of meal or a side of bacon now and
then, as far as that is concerned" he
said.
l could not all this speech joyous.
There are said to be risks in any
union, sir l 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 I should say certain
ly it were wise to end all this; but
and 1 fancied 1 Strengthened percepti-
bly-'I think that might perhaps be
left to Miss Elizabeth herself"
After all, Mr.. Dan Churchill was
obliged to yield, as fathers have been
y obliged from the beginning of the
world. At last he told me l might
take my fate in my own hands and
+ go my way.
| Trust the instinct of lovers to bring
2 them together! l was quite confident
I that at that hour I should find Eliza,
beth and her aunt in the big east
room at the presidents reception, the
former looking on with her uncompro'
missing yes at the little pageant which
on reception days regularly went for
, ward there.
:. My conclusion was correct. I found
! a boy to hold my horse in front Of
Gautier's cafe. Then 1 fastened off
across the intervening blocks and
! through the grounds of the White
! House, in which presently, having
= edged through the thrOng in the ante.
y chambers, l found myself in that 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, shrunken
cheeks and his cold blue-gray eye
!, left little quality Of magnetism in his
personality.