Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-12-05
LIKE Man, LIKE HUSBAND,

his Office, with dainty little perfumed
note between his fingers and puzzled
frOwn upon his brow. The note, di-
rected in graceful feminine hand, was
brief:
DEAR GUARDIAN: 1 will be at the Office at
ten In the morning, to consult you upon mat
ter of importance. MLLIE.
"a matter of Importance, muttered
Mr.. Wilkinson, twisting the note nerv-
ously. " Can my fears be true? Has
Cyril Ormsby proposed TO my pearl 1
am afraid he has. And what can say /?
What can I urge against the man, if
Miles own instincts have played her
false? Ten O'clock ?" r-5- E... 80
The last silvery stroke of the mantel
clock had not died away when the door
of the Office was opened by clerk, and
Mile Bentley entered the room.
Just a few words to describe the ward
of whom Marcus Wilkinson always
thought as a pearl. a lily, everything
pure and fair. She was of medium
height, slender and graceful, with a
thoughtful face of exquisite beauty.
Very young, only eighteen, 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 help
less, 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 sis.
ter. A will was made by the dying wo-
man, leaving her own too lately won in
dependence to Mile, appointing their
cid friend, Marcus Wilkinson, guardian
to the heiress.
Sorowing and womanIy beyond her
years, MiIie had turned from her own
grief TO solace some of the trials of those
with whom her own poverty had made
her familiar.
A cousin had come at Mr.. Wilkinson's
request to make home for his ward,
and she resumed many long interrupted
studies. But large portion of her time
was spent IN the humble homes of those
who had been her mothers friends in
the dark days Of her widowhood; and
her gentle charities soon extended far
beyond the small circle.
She had been an orphan for two years
on the dav 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.
"Weu, Mollie," the old gentleman
said, g what brings TO me the pleasure
of seeing you to-day F"
cit is about myself" Mile said, the
softest rose tints flushing in her cheeks.
"Dear me! I don't know how you ever
took such an insignificant person into
consideration at all.
Snow, Uncle Marc, please don't tease
me.
''She wants something enormous, .
ssid the old gentleman, mentally ad.
dressing the walls. g Whenever I am
Uncle Mare, I know what to expect
next" ->J - = e-t - q
'sBut Just then the kindly man de-
tected signs of trouble In Miles face
and the testing voice was turned to one
of tender gravity. n# ~
"What is it, my child +"
"Cyril Ormsby came to me last even.
ing, and he will come here to-day; but
wanted to see you first. He wants me tC
be his wife, Uncle Marc, and >" she
nestled" you do not Like him ?" IS
"Who told you that ?"
No one; see it myself
"Well you are right. do not like
him. But my like or dislike has no con.
troll over you. 80 ETF1
Ono control!" M1nnie's voice was pit
eous. Please don't talk that way. ]
come to you just as I would have gone
to my father.
tThere, dear, l was wrong. Tell me-
then, as you would your own father, dc
you love Mr.. Ormsby 2" ssE 20
81 think he Is the noblest man Z ever
knew. If yous see him with 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 thepos-
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