OBTAINING HER FATHER’S CONSENT.

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 39, 14 May 1907, Page 5

OBTAINING HER FATHER’S CONSENT.

"Diplomacy, my boy, doplomacy,” laughed the young man in response to a question from a friend who had received one of the cards. “Her father isn’t such a bad old chap if you know how to handle him. I will admit that getting his consent to our marriage caused the girl and I no end of concern, but I went at in the right way and won out.

"Her father is a man w'ho likes to have, his own way, which as a matter of fact is bound to be different from that of everyone else. Knowing this, I called upon him at his office to get his consent, but I was wise ; enough not to ask it in a direct way. ‘I suppose you know,' I began, as the old man sat on his chair and glared at me, ‘that I have paid a good deal of attention to your daughter. Much to my regret it has gone much further than I wish it had. Your daughter has assured me that I alone can make her happy, and T am afraid she speaks the truth. I will be candid with you sir, and say that at one time I thought I loved her, but I have found one whom I love more, and I have called upon you sir, for assistance in breaking off an attachment that 1 have found unbearable.' ‘What’s that ?’ shouted the old man, sitting bolt upright on his chair.

“ ‘Your assistance, sir,’ I continued. ‘I know that you have been opposed to my marrying your daughter, and I thought you would be willing to assist me in breaking the unfortunate attachment that your daughter bears for me.’ ‘Never !' roared the old man. ‘You miserable scoundrel ! What do you mean by playing with my daughter’s heart and then casting it lightly aside ? By heavens, you will marry her, or I’ll know the reason why ! At once, sir, at once !'

"Well there is no use repeating all the old man said, for he kept it up until he ran out of breath and had succeeded in frightening me into agreeing to marry the girl. "The old man is all right if you know how to handle him. I have served notice on him that I don’t want him to make a vulgar display by placing a cheque among the wedding presents, and if there isn’t a good fat cheque there I'll lose my guess."