The Colorado statesman., 1915-01-16

A SERIOUS FAMILY
BY HENRY KIRK.
(Copyright.)

all here to discuss it."
Mr.. James Brownson made a sweep
ing gesture with his right arm. The
circle included small group of men
and women arranged about the room,
half dozen people of varied ages and
descriptions. ut is the greatest event
In a woman's life-her marriage-so
you must not wonder at our delibera-
tion. You are thirty years of age, l
believer"
Wayne shifted in his chair.
"Yes," he said quietly. He was
rather weary of the proceedings, al
though, for the sake of the girl, he
was willing to make certain conces-
sions to the claims and prejudices of
her family. yes, am thirty
Thirty! And what have you done
with yourself?" Mr.. Brownson looked
at the young man squarely and aggres-
sively.
"Done?" Wayne laughed a little.
"Why, I think the principal thing
yes, the greatest thing-I have done
is to love your daughter"
He looked at the girl as he said it.
She was sitting very quietly next to
her mother.
Mr.. Brownson went on without not
ing the reply he had made, quite as if
1t were of too trivial a nature.
"You are possessed of large in
come. Fortunately, my daughter does
not require it; nor, at the same time,
can we say you have Interior motives
in seeking her hand"
Wayne bowed.
Mr.. Brownson raised a protesting
hand.
You love my daughter-good! But
what have you done with your life?
Thirty years of age, and what have
you accomplished"
Wayne looked up frankly.
81 don't know of anything in par
ticular," he said. "but suppose 1 shall
do neutrality-suspicious."
you have occupied your time prin-
cipally with frivolities and idleness!"
Mr.. Brownson came out at last with
his long-suppressed sentiment. He
looked about him. Il have asked my
sisters and brothers, and also Mrs.
Brownson's only living relatives, to
hear this matter discussed. We are
a serious family, Mr.. Wayne-simple,
serious people-and the marriage of
my daughter"
Wayne looked squarely into the eyes
of his hoped-for father-in-law.
MAY l marry your daughter, Mr..
Brownson?"
Mr.. Brownson fidgeted -.-,-t
"One moment, please" he said mild
ly. This is serious question, and
we are, as l said before, serious peo-
pie. You, as take it, are not seri-
Gus man. You spend your time upon
your yacht. in travels of a useless
nature, and in this country you racs
about in a somewhat criminal and
reckless manner in your automobile
Do you think 1t would be wise for a
parent to trust his child to you?"
The relatives nodded their heads and
looked at their folded hands. Mrs.
Brownson raised her handkerchief to
her eyes.
Wayne looked them all over, from
Brownson himself at the head, to the
little fussing individual, nervous
aunt. at the end. He marveled that
Cicely could have come of such peo-
pie.
Certainly, she could not follow the
bent of her pompous old father nor
yet that of her hysterical mother,
who was just now, he was certain, rev.
cling in the thought of her child
crushed under the wheel of his big
VI q
the bottom of the sea. The others
were quite impossible.
Mrs. Brownson began to cry and
audibly.
"Jennie!" Mr.. Brownson raised his
hand. Mrs. Brownson did not see the
hand; but she knew 1t was there, for
she instantly ceased "Cicely, what
have you to say?"
The girl had been looking quietly
at the tips of her fingers. Now, she
changed her line of vision until it
reached the eyes of her father.
81 love him"
She said 1t SIMPLY and without the
slightest trace of emotion or hysteria.
1t was something quite settled in her
mind, and all the family councils
could not possibly change her. Wayne
looked at her gratefully.
"Cicely!" Mrs. Brownson sobbed
sharply. You wish to leave mel"
The relatives raised their eyebrows
and thought Cicely showed a certain
lack of niceness in her frank avowal
Mother, you married father!"
"What do you mean?"
Every one marries, and I don't see
why Jacks motor and his yacht
should be placed between u.s."
Mr.. Brownson looked with gasping
astonishment at his child. 1t was the
first time she had ever asserted her
self.
"Cicely," he got out, do you realize
what you are saying? Do you realize
that you are questioning me, your
parent? Are Won forgettinp vour 6I;,I