Year: 1861

mands." Thereupon | walked thu floor,


wife staring at me the while. "I'Il never
forgive her-never


Husband, stop and think. He"
81 rconf stop and think. say | II never
forgive her and won't. Call her in"


Wife left the room in search Of Minnie
At length they came both fearful. We
sat down together, constrained group :;
Minnie very fearful, but very sweet and
beautiful. The interview was short. and
these were the closing words -


Father, | have always been dutiful
child--you will do me that justice. But
love this man. You grant that his charac-
ter is unlmpeachable, but you forbid our
marriage because you have prejudice
against him. love and honor you, father.
You cannot doubt that; but in this case |
must follow the dictates OF my own heart


"Do SO, if you will but, remember,
your father will never forgive you"


Thus ended the interview, wife sobbipg
dlstressfully, Minnie weeping quietly, and /
sitting glum and angry.


Minnie kept her word and became the vile
of Jenny Brun.


did not forbid them the house, as most
angry fathers are said to do, but told Min
ME again that she had lost my love and care





and in a very silly speech inform him that
since he was taking my daughter from her
father without his consent, he need expect no
gifts or favors now or henceforth. She would
not be allowed to share in the family inner.
itance, nor should l render the least assist
ance If they should come to want | shall
never forget the queer look the young man
gave-a glance in which pride seemed almost
vainly struggling with cluster Of mirth-
sparkles


Every well, sir; we will try not to come
to want " That was all he said but the
cool self possession of his manner made me
feel as though had undertaken to drive a
nail and had pounded my fingers.
had always been demonstratIve toward
my children-the elder as well as the
younger. Minnie had never lost her right
to her fathers knee, nor did she ever meet
me IN the morning or part from me at night
without kiss. This was denied her now.
Poor child 1t was the sorest trial of all.
Once or twice she clung tearfully to me in
my sternness, and reaching up to clasp my
neck with her white arms, tried to bend my |
lips to hers. No. promised her never a |
kiss while lived.


Women are strange creatures. There was
my wife. who had entirely sympathised with |
me, as supposed, absolutely giving aid and |
comfort TO our recreant daughter. | verify |
believe that long before the wedding day |
came she was as thoroughly interested in the /
whole affair as though Minnie had been
about to marry the best business man in
town. Little use was 1t for me TO tighten
my purse strings. and direct that the child
should have no marriage outfit of ward-robes,
pillow cases, c)unterpanes and the thousand
and one ct ceteras in which mothers take
such pride and pleasure.


In spite OF me, but surTeptitiously, Minnie
was well provided for, am sure. remem-
Der that the shopman's bills for some ten
months thereafter seemed unusually full, !
both in number of items and footing of |
column and | shrewdly suspect that my
wife had arranged, with the tradesmen to |
have the articles scattered along through the !
months. She was always good fnancer


The ceremony was performed in church, | |
was present. lest my absence should give too |
great notoriety to the family jar. Useless
The whole town having long since been
made acquainted with the state of Affairs the
BRIDES beauty and the bridegroom's popu-
larity set many eyes on me with a sparkle Of
criticism in them.


:. He needn't look so savage like" NUT
tered gruff old yeoman behind me; 80 there
amt likelier young fellow anywheres here
about than Jenny Brun an though Min
ME be purity as pink, it's good match,
say-a real even bargain-so."


Long, long months went by after the mar
riage-tedious unhappy months for me.
knew was being soured by this self-imposed
restraint on the atfectional part of my nature.
Minnie came to her old home sometimes.
Once or twice she begged for the return of
the old love, the old home kiss. No. My
daughter was happy in her husband, happy
in her new home. But | saw very plainly
that the bliss of the old home was lost to her.


Nearly two years went back into the past
shadowed in this manner, when little hu-
man blossom was laid in its cradle. A little
struggling wee thing, another Minnie Poor
me, Here was another influence to be stem
med, as boats stem another wave and another
gust But braced myself and when had
been forced into Minnie's chamber, stood
over the poor child with the little one on her
arm, and heard the faint voice add to the
sweetly bewitching look, " Do kiss me, IA
thher - | shook my head and went out.


One day a change came over the young |
mother, alarming the experienced, and CIV
ing to the physician that ominous air OF /
grave mystery which strikes into the soul OF
the loving / moved about, full of fear and |
guilty distress. The symptoms became !
more and more alarming-she was sinking. | |
was oalled to her bedside, as that OF my first |
diving child. As bent over the white lace, |
almost translucent with meekness illumin- |
ated, my eyes all undimmed by illness, my |
Minnie gave me the old time glance Of love,
and throwing up her hands as if to clasp my |
neck, said family, but oh SO earnestly
kiss me- father ,


| bent down to nv daughter. my first
born, and we wept long together-the
strong father and the family breathing
child.


What do you think Minnie did? Why,
she got well again, and in two months was
as musical as lark, and as gay, looking
after the little Minnie like pretty mother
as she was.


However, the ice was fairly broken, and
was nv old fatherly self ever after. Minnie
even ventured, after time, to make merry
at nv expense, over the fact that not only
was Jimmy Brun the best OF husbands but
of the weli-known American writers,
think was a very great tool.