Year: 1873

thought Of Marion Southly with any idea
Of making her my wife, and never can do
80. She is nothing to me, nor | to her.
Besides this, were | inclined, stand no
chance, for it must be apparent to you how
attached cousin Edward is to her, and that
his chance of success is most excellent"


"Nonsense 90 exclaimed the Colonel, i'm
patiently. "You are as good as Edward
any day, if you choose to try your hand -
You can like the girl fyou try to, and can
make the girl like you she can't do any
better. Surprising you don't fall dead in
love with each other, you can agree well
enough to live happily together. Don't
talk absurdly to me about your boyisb
idea Of falling in love BE man, and
look at it in business point of view"


81 do not believe in viewing matrmony
in business light" replied Ralph, quietly.
"Wheu ! marry woman it will be because
love her, aud believe she will have
good influence over me, making me better,
and helping me onward in the journey Of
life. Such a woman will not only be an
assistance TO me, but shall be the same
TO her, and true perfect, earthly happi-
ness will be the result. We cannot agree
on this subject, father why should we
discuss it further2 Let us drop it,"


81 will drop you, you uugrateful scamp
If you dare to marry against my will. l
have borne with some of your other whims,
but this one | will not tolerate. advise
you to be very careful whom you select for
wife, for if she does not please me | new
or will forget nor forgive. So remember !;
you know my present advice; if you are
wise you will take it - and the Colonel
walked away, scolding to himself about the
independence Of the rising generation.


Colonel loughton was one Of those men
who had in his younger day married just
whori he pleased, and suited himself This
privilege he was inclined to deny his son,
taking it as much to heart as though he
and all his family were married to the per-
SON he should choose instead of remembering
that it was none Of his business, and that
he had not the moral right to do i.


Such is human nature How much deep,
irreparable trouble has arisen from family
interference in the matter of marriage


The afternoon Of the day in which this





conversation took place, Colonel Houghton
was walking about his grounds alone, con.
trary to his usual custom, Tor he generally
devoted part OF the day to long, quiet
nap. But so worked up in mind had be
become, from what he called his sous per
verseness, that to sleep was impossible, SC
he resorted to walking.


He wandered for some distance without
observing particularly whittier he went, un
til IN passing by high hedge, he was
aroused by voices on the other side. lie
pulled aside the branches and looked
through when sight met his eyes thai
ior the moment deprived him OF the power
OF motion, OF thought, almost


seated upon rustic bench IN natura
aroor, were his ldollzed son, and one OF hli
servant girls Her head rested upon hi
shoulder ana as he clasped her IN his arms
ne said


"lt shall not De- VIII marry you o.
no one. love you only IN the world, an'
am true to you.


II believe you, haph' was the soft re
ply. 81 am not AFRAID to trust you, an'
nothing shall induce me to give you up.
Colonel lloughton recovered hlmsel
enough to walk on lie did not dream o
interruptng them, but his object was t
get away without dong 50: 1t was onl.
Where were all his net plans now? Wa
the bov crazy What sbonld he do viii
him 9Ewere some of the questions he ask
ed himself Then he few into n violen
, passion. and rushed back to confront them
but thew were gone. He seated himself O,
the same bench and tried to think calml,
what course he must now take.


Here was his only son. the one who bor
his name and was to inherit his wealth. ir low
with a servant Girl, TO be sure there wa
nothing AGAINST her except the fact Of he
being n servant pirl The Colonel ba,
many times admitted TO himself that sh
was very pretty. very graceful and win
ming in her ways. Young. and very lovabl
for any Young man in a like condition witt
, herself Bnt she had never nossessod tbes
virtues otherwise. Here then was ne,
aspect of affairs Ralph had seen all thi,
but instead of doing so in connection win