Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-12-04
TWICE BAFFLED.

OF teDruarN, not many years ago, JAMES
Garter, attorney at law, experienced
that sensation He had been to we'd
ding in the morning, the wedding Of
Mrs. Roger Melrose, widow, to Albert
Melrose, her brother-in-law. The bride,
though nearly forty, was very beautiful,
stylish and wealthy; the bridegroom, Il
handsome man, was one who had
squandered a large patrimony IN the
"most gentlemanly manner" and who
lounged, gracefully and well-dressed,
through thoroughly indolent existence.
Mr.. Carter, alone in his office, unused
over the events of the day, something
IN this fashion: "H'm, [ suppose Roger
Melrose's dollars, so largely increased Of
late years by successful speculations,
will follow Albert's speedily, along the
same track. All left to his widow. And
Celia's fortune from her grandfather is
entirely under her mothers control I'M
til she is tWenty-one, nine years from
now. BY the way, if she should die
before she is of age, Albert Melrose will
inherit that pretty little sum. HIM! [
don't exactly admire Mr.. Melrose.
Lawyers have prejudices usually found
ed upon facts. Who upon the face of
the earth can be coming here at this
hour?"
For the office bell rang sharply, and
the hands of the clock pointed to one
half hour before midnight And the
sensation of amazement already referred
to fell upon Mr. Carter, as Mrs. Melrose,
the bride of the morning, walked into
the office.
|, l.. / L l.
ed?"
But she was SO white and shivering
that he would not let her answer his
question until he had brought her
glass OF wine, and seen her drink it.
You have known me from little
child" she said, presently. with white,
trembling lips; edo you think can he
trusted to act reasonably in great en-
ergency?'
YES he answered, promptly.
"Then will you do what I ask now,
tonight, without questioning me?'
4 will"
Celia is III the carriage at the door.
sound asleep, poor child! Will you take
her in here, and tomorrow put her III
some good school, not telling me where
she is p
kate Are you mad? The aepara-
ton will kill you!'
"Then it mustT was the quiet reply.
But [ have more to say. [ want pa
pers drawn up at once, giving you full
control of Celia's legacy from her grand
father, and one-half of her fathers es-
tate. You have managed it all for SO
long, that your guardianship has really
existed since Roger died. But [ want
it legally done, at once. [ want to put
every particle of authority that | now
hold into your hands. Can you have
the papers ready fer my signature to-
morrow? Will you take Celia now?"
The pleading in Mrs. Melrose's voice
could not be resisted by one who had
loved her all his life, as the old lawyer
had done
Kate" he said quietly and gravely,
let me be quite sure that understand
you perfectly. You want Celia re-
moved from your guardianship entirely
and placed IN school where you are
to be ignorant of her address?'
Yes. [ will write to her, and re-
ceive her letters in this Office, through
YOU. Do not refuse me!''
will not. Celia is in the car
riage?"
"1es, l will bring here here and
leave her"
2 It will be kindest not to wake her"
And bare-headed, i'll his slippered
feet, the old lawyer went to the car
riage, handed his client in, and saying:
L will bring the papers for your sig
nature tomorrow" turned away while
the mother pressed one long, lingering
kiss upon the lips of her only child,
and returned to the house with the
little girl still fast asleep in his arms.
Mrs. Hans" he said presently
tapping at his housekeeper's door,
will you step here one moment"
Some delay, and a sleepy elderly
woman stood in the doorway. her dress
showing hasty arrangement.
I" This is ward Of mine," Mr.. Carter
said, "please make her comfortable till
find her a good school"
The next morning Mr.. Albert Mel
rose, serene and smiling, seated at the
luxurious breakfast table in. the house
he could now call his own, said:
My dear, where is Celia? 1t is
bad habit for children to sleep late"
Cecilia is not here" was the steady re-
ply, although 1t came from lips white
as death. [ have sent her away"
Where? She was here yesterday,
your charming little brides maid"
But the smile accompanying these
words were not pleasant to see.
g she was here yesterday. But the
excitement of the day wearied you, and
you fell asleep upon the sofa. Are you
aware, Mr.. Melrose, that you some
times talk in your Sleep
The bold eyes of Albert Melrose
dropped for moment under the steady
gaze of his wife, but the next moment
they were raised defiantly.
1t was scarcely gallant Of me to sleep
IN yo1r presence, nay love, and [ apollo
gize. But where is Celia ?"
g do not know. We might as well
understand each other fully now. Celia
1S q ,yaV from nv aOp%-o1 optiro1v. n or