Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-10-06
LIKE MAN, LIKE HUSBAND.


Office, with dainty little perfumed note
between his fingers, and puzzled froWn
upon his brow. The note, directed in a
graceful feminine hsnd, was brief
Dear GUARDIAN will be at the office at 10 in the
morning to consult you upon matter OF import
ance. hILLis-
"a matter of Importance" muttered
Mr.. Wilkinson, twisting the note nerv-
ously. "Can my fears be true? Has
Cyril Ormsby proposed to my pearl? L
am afraid he has And what can | say !?
What can urge against the man if Mil
lies own instincts have played her false
Ten o'clock.
The last siIvery stroke of the mantel
clock had not fled away when the door OF
the office was opened by clerk, and Mil
lie Bentley entered the room.
Just few words to describe the ward
of whom Marcus Wilkinson always thought
as pearl, lily, everything pure and fair.
She was of medium hight, slender and
graceful, with thoughtful face of exqui-
site beauty.
Very young, only Is, Mile Bentley
had borne early the sorrows of life. Her
father, having been wealthy, had failed in
business and committed suicide. Her
mother, delicate and helpless, had fought
poverty feebly for two years. and sinking
under privation and toll, had contracted a
fatal disease. When all hope of life was
over, news came that Miles uncle, dying
abroad, had left large fortune to his only
sister. A will was made by the dying
woman, leaving her own too lately won in
dependence to Mile, and appointing their
old friend, Marcus Wilkinson, guardian to
the heiress.'
sorrowing, and womanly beyond her
years, Mile had turned from her own
grief to noble endeavor to solsce some of
the trials of those with whom her own pow
erty had made her familiar. A cousin had
come at Mr.. Wilkinson's request to make
3 home for his ward, and she resumed many
long interrupted studies. But large por-
tion of her time was spent in the humble
homes of those who had been her mother
riends in the dark days of widowhood /;
and her gentle charities soon extended far
beyond this small circle.
She had been an orphan for two years
on the day when she came to seek Mr.
Wilkinson, as already described, and the
sorrows of her life had lost some of their
bitter sting, leaving only gentle sadness
behind.
"Well, Mile, the old gentleman said,
"what brings to me the pleasure of seeing
you today"
cit is about myself" Mile said, the
softest rose tints flushing her cheeks.
"Desr me didn't know you ever took
such an insignificant person into considera-
ton at all. "
"Now, Uncle Marc, please don't tease. "
"She wants something enormous" said
the old gentleman, mentally addressing the
walls. Whenever l am Uncle Marc,
know what to expect next.
But just then the kindly man detected
signs of trouble in Miles face and the
testing voice was turned at once to one of
tender gravity.
"What is it, my child?"
cyril 0rmsby came to see me last even
ing, and he will come here to-day but
wanted to see You first. He wants me to
be his wife, Uncle Marc, and"- she hest
tated here" you do not like him."
"Who told you that?"
"No one bat see for myself"
We'll, you are right. do not like
him. But my like or dislike has no control
over YOU"
"No controlP' Miles voice was pit
eous. "Please don't talk SO. l come to
you as l would hive come to my father"
"There, dear, was wrong. Tell me,
then, as you would your father, do you
love Mr.. Ormsby?'
81 think he's the noblest man | ever
knew. If you could see him with some of
my poor people, how gentle and courteous
he Is, you would like him, too. He has
given me so much sympathy in my work,
Uncle Marc, feeling as do, that the pos
session of great wealth is but steward
ship"
And so won your love?"
"My respect and admiration, uncle. /
cannot yet realize that man so noble and
80 good can really desire nv companion.
ship and help in his life. But, since he
does, l am glad and proud to havs won his
confidence"
"Hem--yes Enthusiastic and heart
whole" was Mr.. WIlkinkson's mental COM
meHt. "Suppose you and go for walk ~
he added, aloud.
"A walk y Mile said, in tone of sur
prise.
eyes, have friend or two should
like to have you see. When We come back
1 will tell you why dislike Cyril Ormsby,
if" he added mentally, "you have not
already found out"
1t was not exactly such walk as one
would have mapped out for gentlemsn's
invitation to young, beautiful girl /; but
Mile followed its course, leaning upon
her guardians arm, wondering little but
never hesitating, past the respectable por-
zion of the city TO quarter known as the
Factory Row" place where Mr.. Wiki
inson had never before allowed his ward to
60. For there were apt to be fevers and
contagious diseases lurking there. It lay
low, and was unhealthy, and the houses
were OF the meanest description.
''For noble philanthropist, partly own.
ing these factories and this quarter, Mr..
0rmsby seems neglecttul, said Mr.. Wilk.
inson, dryly. 81 have an interest in these