The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-07-07
THE PUZZLED LA DLORD.

It was the worst snow-storm of the sea-
son. and as it still continued, and blew
furiously, promised to be the greatest
within the memory of the oft-quoted old
est inhabitant.
OF course the railroads were all blocked
mp, but none quite so badly as the one
upon which our hero, Mr.. Richard Too
dleman, had started for his home in Mil.
likinville.
He had taken the express train for
W at four clock that afternoon, and
at ten o'clock that evening the train had
come to dead stop opposite the village
of Umbagog, just at the entrance to a
long, deep cut that was packed full of
snow, and had got to be shovelei out, as
no engine could force its way through it.
As this would necessitate a delay of
several hours, the majority of the pas
sengers left the train and went to the
hotel in the village, where they took
supper, and those who were not in too
great hurry to reach their various DIES.
tinations engaged rooms for the night.
Among the latter was our hero, who,
shortly after supper, babe the agreeable
young widow, whose acquaintance he
had made on the cars-haying occupied
the same seat with her-good- night, and
retired to the apartment that had been
assigned him.
Now, If the reader supposes that our
mutual friend, Dick Toodleman, was in
love with the charming widow. why, all
1 can say is. that the reader don't know
anything about Mr.. Toodleman or his
affairs; for the fact is, our here was ter
ribly in love with another woman.
Her name was Adelaide Tirrell, and
she lived in Millikinville. She was the
only daughter of her father, who, by the
way, was a widower and rich-oh. so
rich.
Miss Tirrell was extravagantly fond of
our Dick. She lavished her young affec-
tons upon him as freely as those old
Greeks and Trojans used to pour their
wine around in their libraries to the
gods.
This was as it should be. like to see
q young woman affectionate; but Mr..
Tirrell wasn't of my way of thinking.
He didn't love Dick Toodleman any to
speak Of, and he objected very strongly
to his daughter entwining her affections
around the image of any young man who
didn't suit him. That was the way with
old Mr.. Tirrell; and very bad way it
was, think, don't you?
Perhaps you didn't know that Dick
was lawyer? Well, he was, and first.
rate lawyer. too. although he hadn't a
great many clients. He was too young
to have made very great fortune; and
it was principally on account of his lack
of fortune that Mr.. Tirrell so strongly
objected to him for a -in-law.
Dick had been living in Miliikinville
about five years at this time. and for the
last three years he had been entirely de-
voted to the pretty Adelaide.
Her father didn't pay much attention
to Dicks frequent visits to his house at
first, and when he did begin to suspect
what the young fellow was up to it was too
late. She loved him; and you know that
when a young woman does get to loving
fellow one might as well try to quench
fire with kerosene as to smother love by
any cuntrivances vet invented.
But Mr.. Tirrell had very different
opinion in regard to these matters. He
tried the old way. He went to Mr.. Too
dleman and told him that his daughter
was not for him.
mo, Richard Toodleman," said he,
''you can't take any stock in this family,
not if know myself; and consequently
you will oblige me by disseminating
your visits to my house. When 1 do
want you I'll send for you" And with
that, the old gentleman hustled out of
the Office, and went home to give his
daughter lecture on the same subject.
The lovers met clandestinely after that,
as lovers generally do under such cir
cumstances, and, although they saw no
possibility of the paternal Tirrell relent-
ing, they continued to love each otherps
fondly as ever, and lived on in the hope
of something turing up to their advan-
tage.
As to the charming young widow (she
had introduced herself as Mrs. Gildad,
from New York City, whom Dick had
encountered in his return from W,
where he had been attending court, the
only part she plays in this story she
played that night at the Umbagog House,
while our hero was reposing in the arms
of Morpheus, and dreaming of the fair
Adelaide.
Mrs. Gildad had told Dick that she
was very anxious to reach her journeys
end, and so, instead of taking a room at
the hotel, she remained in the public
parlor with a number of other passen-
gers, until the train was once more ready
to go on, when she departed, and our
hero never saw her again.
/ said that Mrs. Gildad remained in