The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-02-23
Observation-Disclosures
SERIOUS FAMILY
Copyright
BY HENRY KIRK.

tCopyright.)
THE marriage Of my daughter. Mr.
Wayne, is a matter of the greatest
importance. AS you see, 1t concerns
my entire family. That is why we are
all here to discuss it."
Mr.. James Brownson made a sweep
ing gesture with his right arm. The
circle included a small group Of men
and women arranged about the room
half a dozen people Of varied ages and
descriptions. TT is the greatest event
In a woman's life-her marriage-sc
you must not wonder at our delibera,
ton. You are thirty years Of age, !
| 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
vas 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-
siyely.
"Done?" Wayne laughed q little,
"Why, / think the principal thing
yes, the greatest thing-I have done
Is to love your daughter!-
He looked at the girl as he said II.
She was sitting very quietly next to
her mother.
Mr.. Brownson went on without not
ing the reply he had made, quite as II
1t were Of too trivial a nature.
you are possessed Of a large In
come. Fortunately. my daughter does
not require Il; nor, at the same time.
can we say you have Interior motives
In seeking her hand"
Wayne bowed.
Mr.. Brownson raised q protesting
hand.
you love my daughter-gooci Bat
what have you done with your life?
Thirty years Of age. and what have
lyon Accomplishment"
Wayne looked up frankly.
Il don't know OF anything In par
I~ticular." he said. but I suppose ! shall
do something-perhaps."
you have occupied your time prin-
cipally with frivolities and idleness!"
Mr.. Brownson came out at last with
his long-suppressed sentiment. He
Hooked about him. II have asked my
sisters and brothers, and also Mrs.
Brownson's only living relatives, to
hear this matter discussed. We are
Q serious family, Mr.. Wayne-simple,
serious people-and the marriage Of
my daughter
Wayne looked ~squsrely into the ayes
Of his h~oped-for fa~therin-law,
May ! marry your daughter, Mr..
Brownson?"
Mr.. Brownson fidgeted.
"One moment. please" he said mild
~. This is a serious question. and
we are. as ] said before, serious peo-
pie. You, as I take It, are not q seri-
ous man. You spend your time upon
your yacht. in travels Of a useless
nature. and in this country you race
about in a somewhat criminal and
reckless manner in your automobile.
Do you think It would be wise for a
parent to trust his child to your
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. a 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
white car. or drowned somewhere in
the bottom of the sea. The others
were quite impossible.
Mrs. Brownson began to cry and
audibly.
"Jennie!" MI. Brownson raised his
band. Mrs. Brownson did not see the
nand; 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 1t
reached the eyes Of her father.
Il love HIM"
She said 1t simply and without the
slightest trace Of emotion or hysteria.
It 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 q certain
lack Of ~niceness in her frank avowal.
Mother, you married father"
What do you meant"
Every n marries. and I don't see
why Jacks motor and his yacht
should be placed between u.s."
Nj. Brownson looked with gaspfng
establishment at his child. It was the
first time she had ever asserted her
self.
"Cicely." he got out. do you realize
what you are saying? Do You realize
you are questioning me. your
Are you forgetting your filial
duty? My dear Mr.. Wayne, I must
apologize for my daughter. She can
not know her own mind, and upon
that score as well. I object to her
union with you. No, no. 1t is quite i'm
possible; but what. IS ] asked you
what have you done with your
thirty years? Golden years; wonder
years. and yet where are theyY"
Wayne said nothing. He was be.
to be u~nbearably bored.
He was almost nervous. Cicely's
father was her father, and, since he
was, he was worthy Of some consid.
Grafton; but. despite the fact, he found
the bestowal Of that consideration
rather difficult. He thought him an
insufferable old codger, quite 9 fos-
SLICED specimen of the race.
His thirty years ran before him in
swift review. He rather fancied he
had occupied them somewhat well.
-One thing I have not done" he
began.
And that?" Mr.. Brownson looked
at him politely. The relatives shared
his amiable doubt.
i have never bored any one. II
don't think / have" He paused quick
ly and looked at his boots. I'm tell
you, Mr. Brownson, l think have oc-
cupied my thirty years rather well. I
have made myself happy. and tried to
make others. I'm sure everyone who
has ever been on my yacht has pleas