The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-06-12
TRAPPED BY AN HEIRESS.

worthy people were about taking definite
form-two people who had never seen
each other, and who had heard Of each
! other so often that both were curiously
eager to meet-on this Important even
ing the sitting room at HilIcrest had
never looked pleasanter or cosier.
i huge fire Of logs glowed like molten
carbuncIes in the open fireplace; on the
table IN the center of the floor, whose
cover matched the glowing crimson of
the carpet, was 8 silver stand that held a
dozen snowy wax tapers, whose beaming
light contrasted exquisitely with the
rnddy glow of the fire.
Beside the table, in big, cushioned
chair, with his feet thrust toward the
genial warmth on the hearth, his gray
dressing gown sitting comfortably OH his
portly form, his gold-rimmed glasses on
his nose, sat the owner and master OF
Hillcrest, Mr.. Abiah Cressington, rich,
good natured, and fond Of his own way.
| Opposite him was the mistress of the
little place-little, shrew-faced, sharp
nosed, merry Aunt Cornelia, his sister,
who, since her widowhood, had come to
| Hillcrest To make her bachelor brothers.
home as pleasant as she could.
That she had succeeded was very evi-
dent by the way now in which he looked
up from letter be had been reading
the confidential, kindly way in which he
did it.
"Walter writes curious letter in re-
| spOnse to my Invitation to come and
! spend few weeks at HilIcrest, as soon
as he gets over his fatigue from his ocean
voyage home, after his five years abroad
I'll read it to you
He leaned near the softly glowing
lights, and began the short, concise re-
ply that Walter Austin had written from
his chamber in the Temple:
You are very kind, indeed, Uncle
Abiah, to ask me down to Hillcrest for
as long as [ wish to stay, and can as
sure you that have been so long a wan
derer that the idea OF home is very pleas
| ant to me. But when | take into CON
/ sideration the peculiar Importance you
propose attaching to my visit, l am un-
willing to accept the invitation. To me.
the idea of having my fancies and incli-
nations put into harness, and to feel that
[ am on continual duty to win MY way
| into the good graces of my second cous-
| in, Mabel, whom you are good enough
to wish me to marry"
Mrs Cornelia interrupted sharply
"Abiah, You never surely went and
told our grandnephew that you had in
view his marriage with Mabel"
Her tone was energetic, almost repre-
hensive.
"Why not? I certainly did. I told
him in my letter that it was chance for
him he'd never get again, and that he
needn't feel under such terrible obIiga-
tons to take fancy to Phil's little
. Mabel, but to come down and be cousin
ly, and if anything should happen, I'D
be right all round
Mrs. Cornelia knitted vigorously, her
lavender cap-ribbons quivering in the
mellow taper glow.
s'All I have to say is, you're-a fool,
Abiah! Walter is right. 4 young man
doesn't like to have his fancies under
rein and whip, and the very fact that We
want BIN to marry, will make him indis-
posed to DO it. You've made a very
great mistake in the beginning"
Mr.. Cressington looked aghast at his
sisters determined face.
why, really didn't suppose
'Of course you didn't. It's only your
natural stupidity, you dear old fellow.
Men are all alike. Don't know them
like book? And you've ruined your
hopes for Mable and Walter at the very
outset"
Mr. Cressington started disoomftedly.
''I am sure / meant it all right enough,
Cornelia. Icertainly wanted Walter to
know what little darling our Mable is,
and what nice little wife she would
make for any man"
Very commendable, indeed: only, if
you had consulted me upon the letter
you sent, I should have advised you to
say nothing about Mabel, or her charms,
or her expectations, l should have
simply asked him to come and see US,
and have left the rest to Mabel's blue
eyes. You see, Abiah?"
His lips compressed slowly.
Il think l see. And my hopes in that
direction are all ruined,'
The silver needles clicked rapidly, and
the snow-white yarn came reeling merrily
off the ball under her arm.
Not at ALL Leave that to me, anC
Ill see what can be done. Trust s
woman's wit TO get even ablundering ole
fellow like you out of scrape."
She smiled and nodded, and looked
altogether so mischevous, that AIr. Cress
ington became quite excited over hel
little mystery.
DO explain, Cornelia."
And when she explained he Leaned
back IN his chair, with an expression o
positive awe and admiration on his face
''What a woman you are, Cornelia2
declare, it beats everything 1 ever heart
in the whole course Of my hfe!'
After dusk a glorious winter day, Will
here and there a star twinkling in tia
pale gray SKY, and the lights and fires il
the Hiilcrest sitting room making an elo
queEt welcome to Walter Austin, rs b.
stool n the midst of the home circle