Page:Peterson's Magazine 1850.pdf/89

PETERSON’S MAGAZINE.

Vol. XVII. THE RUNAWAY MATCH.

BY JANE WEAVER.

“Caroline, I wish you would remain a moment,” said Mr. Warren, as his daughter was about to leave the parlor.

“Well, papa,” she said, “what is itt”

She strove to look unconscious, but her varying color, and the nervous movement of her lips, he-. trayed secret agitation; in fact she suspected the parpose of her parent.

“I thought,” eaid Mr. Warren, “thet, when I forbade young Collins my house, you were pre- pered to submit to the prudence of my decision. We talked the matter over, Caroline, if you remember, and I was at considerable pains to convince you that he was idle, wasteful, and, I feared, dissipated, in short » very unfit person for any woman to trust her happiness with. Yom silently agreed with what I said, at least you ssid nothing in reply. I fancied I had per guaded you, for I thought your own good sense, to which I appealed, would see the matter ine ight similar to that in which I ond your mother beheld it, Judge then of my inoxproseibie pain when I caw you walking, arm-in-arm, with him, in tho outskirts of the city, to-dey.”

He paused, and Caroline held down her head abashed. «I was not mistaken,” she said, to herself, “it was pa whom I saw.”

Mr. Warren waited, for more than 6 minute, for her to reply, but, as she continned silent, ho went on—-

Now, Caroline,” he said, “I wish you to look on me, as what I am, the best friend you have in the world, aud one who has no motive, much lest any wish, to advise you wrong. It isa common mistake of young people, especially of those of to suppose that their parents wish to See arom, Gris cess Tithe iret sartiages Believe me, nothing is generally further from 6 parent's thonghts! It is not unfrequent indeed that a father differs from a daughter as to the wisdom of her uniting herself with a certain suitor; but, in such cases, the father is, nine times out of ten, right, and the child wrong. ‘The patent, from his knowledge of men, from what he hears on the street, and, from other sources, usually arrives at a juster conclusion respecting 8 young man’s character, than s daughter, who lias litéle, or no means of ascertaining the trath, In the case of this young Collins, ¥ Anow him to ‘be extravagant, idle, occasionslly intemperate in his habits, and head over ears in debt: besides this he haa a violent temper. I beseech you, Caroline, my dear, do not give way farther to this infatuation of yours.”

As Mr. Warren spoke, he approached his daughter end tenderly took her hands. She Durst into tears, looked up into his froe, and said—oh! but, papa, I love him, and he loves me: he says he will throw himself away if I do not marry him: surely, surely, if I can, I ought to reform him.”

‘Mr. Warren shook his head. «Carolino,” he said, severely, “this is sheer folly, miserable infatuation! No woman ever reformed man, ‘whose principles were so loose as those of Col- Tins; a wretch, who, in his own words, will throw himeelf away if you do not marry him. Listen to my words, child, for you are weaker then I thought, and I must rule where I would prefer to persuade-—if ever you marry Collins, from that hour this house is shut sgainst you.”

‘The tears of Caroline flowed faster. Mr. War- ren, after a turn or two across the room, softened again, and addressed her in kinder tones—

“My child,” he said, “I speak thus for your own good. I know, if you marry Collins, that you will regret it, and I would, by interdicting it, spare you much future sorrow. I will never urge you to unite yourself with any man you do not fancy, however excellent I may think him to be; this, I promise you; and, on your part, T shall expect you to give up this acquaintance.

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