Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 1.djvu/242

 234

��WON AT LAST.

��daughter's name.

'• Yes, papa," she replied, raising her pretty face, the color coming and going in waves of crimson and white.

'* I believe I told you not to encourage the attentions of Ralph Carey. Do you intend to obey me? "

The bright lips quivered slightly as she answered sadly : " Papa, I have given Ralph no encouragement whatever since your words of a fortnight since. Then you would not or could not give me a reason for your dislike to him. Please tell me why you are so opposed to him."

" He is a poor, idle, worldly-minded young man, with brains enough, perhaps, but inclined to use them the wrong way. Is not that enough ? " queried the Dea- con sternly.

" Papa, you mistake him, indeed you do. That he is poor I grant, but that he is idle I cannot admit. He is studying law with Esquire Jones of R ," re- plied Fannie with some spirit.

" Studying law, is he? He has chosen his right vocation in life, then, I'm think- ing. I suppose you know what I mean without my saying more, as you have heard my opinion of lawyers many times before this. I do not wish to be severe with you, my child " — for the good Dea- con had caught sight of the tears trick- ling down her cheeks and dropping one by one upon the work lying in her lap — " but I cannot consent to your having anything more to do with Ralph Carey."

Hastily brushing away her tears, Fan- nie arose from her seat and left the room, meeting her mother, who was just coming in from the kitchen. Mrs. Gor- don gave her daughter a pitying look as she closed the door behind her retreating form, and in a low voice addressed her husband, saying :

" Jonas, do let Fannie alone; the poor girl feels down-hearted enough without a sermon from you every other day, I am sure."

Deacon Gordon raised his eyes to his wife's face in utter astonishment, for never during the two and twenty years of their married life had she Ventured to raise her voice in opposition to his before. Perhaps he allowed his feelings to be ruffled rather more than was becoming in a Deacon, as he replied:

"Mrs. Gordon, I intend to be obeyed in this matter. Fannie is young, and this is but a passing fancy at most. I do not expect you to take up for her, and what is more I will not put up with it," saying which the Deacon arose, put on his hat and left the house.

" Oh, dear me! " sighed Mrs. Gordon, " I wish Fannie had never gone to M

��Academy. I never did see such an ado over anything as the Deacon is making over this, /don't know any harm of the young man, though I suppose he is not a church member, but no more is Fannie, so what is the use of making so much trouble? Fannie is as sober as she can be all the time. Well ! well ! " and the good lady smiled softly to herself as she picked up her daughter's neglected work and busied herself in folding it up nicely and laying it safely away.

For two years past Fannie Gordon had

attended the academy at M, a large

village, distant some twenty miles from her home, and while there had become acquainted with Ralph Carey, a law stu- dent, and a noble young man. Of course it was the same old story over again, with its bright hopes and happy hours, until Fannie's school days ended and she was compelled to return to the old home- stead, so plain in itself and unpleasant in its surroundings. Her father was not a wealthy man, though at the same time he was far from being a poor one. He calculated upon having laid aside enough to support himself and family when old age overtook him and he should be unable to work. He had worked in the little blacksmith shop near by his home for many years, but he did not own it.

Fannie's innate love of the beautiful had matured during her school days, and consequently upon her return home everything seemed plainer and more dreary than ever before. The Deacon was very fond, and— if the truth must be told—very proud of his pretty daughter; but he would not listen to a word about making home brighter for her comfort. " Her presence brightened everything about the house," he told her, when she broached the subject. Not that he was penurious, but he thought any unneces-