the labor of your
brain and hands bring you in?--not enough to keep yourself in comfort!
And you would bring my granddaughter down to divide that insufficient
income with you"

"My income would provide us both with modest comforts," replied Rule.

"I think your ideas and our ideas of comfort may differ importantly. Now
see here, Mr. Rothsay, I do believe you to be a true, honest,
straightforward man; I believe you are attracted to Cora by a sincere
preference for herself, irrespective of her prospects; and you are a
rising man. Wait a year or two, or three. Take a few steps higher on the
ladder of rank and fame, and then come and ask me for my granddaughter's
hand, and if you are both of the same mind, I will give it to you.
There!"

"Mr. Rockharrt--" began Rule.

"There, there, there! I will not even hear of an engagement until that
time shall arrive. How do I know how you will pass through the ordeal of
a political career, or into what bad company, evil habits, riotous
living, dissipation, drunkenness, bribery and corruption,
embezzlements, ruin and disgrace you may not be tempted?"

"Heaven forbid!" exclaimed Rule.

"Amen! I believe you will stand the test, but I have seen too many
brilliant and aspiring young politicians go up like a rocket and come
down a burnt stick, to be very sure of any man in the same
circumstances."

"But, Mr. Rockharrt, such men were most probably brought up in wealth
and luxury. They were not trained, perhaps, as I have been, in the hard
but wholesome school of labor and self-denial."

"There may be something in that; but if you advance it as an argument
for me to change my mind in this matter of a prudent delay, it is thrown
away upon me. You should know me well enough to know that I never change
my mind."

Rule did know it. But he answered earnestly:

"I accept your conditions, Mr. Rockharrt. I will wait and work as long
for Cora as Jacob did for Rachel, if necessary. Cora has been the
inspiration of all that I have wrought, endured and achieved--and she
was all that to me long before I dreamed of aspiring to her hand in
marriage, and she will be as long as we both shall live in this world or
the world to come."

Rule bowed and left. He at once recounted to Cora the interview and the
condition imposed on him.

When the short season ended, and the city was tilted upside down and
emptied like a bucket of half its contents, the Rockharrts went with the
rest.

Old Aaron wa