Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1883-11-23

mdus dun - lOSV IlIUl. - u6t6EI0lll6Q 10 maze
every allowance, for you. i don't ask you il
| you deserve it but Ishouid like to know wha,
| your plans are. Do You intend to marry?
This sudden question took Dexter of his
| guard. Making UP his mind on the spur OF
the moment. he answered:
eyes, sir'' NJ. : III. @ &ss$g.%% &s
tWhom?" " ]sa' 5s 81 45< I'd
swell, it isn't quite settled yet between us.
have not declared myself vet: but, if obtain
your consent, Twill do 90 st the earliest oppor-
| "Who is shey" ~. ~.e. r..:ss: i. So.
s.She is the governess at the Kestertons, u
replied his nephew boldly. ''You've never
| seen her, suppose, but she is very charm
"No fortune, 7 presumes" r..
II believe not" .~...s 49,
Then you can't marry unless with my
Dexter rather uneasily answered: :. >ss, H..
| "No, sir.
Every we'll" said his uncle IT have no OBJ.
| lection to your making love-match. I tell
you what will do. It would be unsatisfac-
| tory for both of you if you, rich man. were
! sent will give mine. and make her heiress OF
half of what have. You will then be on equal
| terms, as man and wife should be-"
| Dexter was growing more and more uncom-
| Portable This Was far from the state Of things
| he wished for.
'You are very thoughtful, uncle" he muir
! mHred. :, --~..~.
Il should like to see this young lady" con-
| tinued Mr.. Fletcher. II presume that bv birth
| and education she is fitted to be Your wife?
You have made inquiries. presume?"
"Weil, uncle, I thought that would be rather
wanting IN delicacy She is evidently a lady "
f'Your sentiments do you honor Fred. It
was quite right of you not to make impertin
ent inquiries, especially considering her posi-
| ton"
Dexter felt he had done it now. It WAS i'm
possible for him 10 confess that he knew Amy's
Identity After little further conversation
they started for the terrace, where Matllda
WAS shortly to meet them.
Meanwhile, the young doctor has been
spending an unhappy hour. H. vas sure that
Dexter would take the opportunity Of telling
his uncle his intention to marry Amy; the
mans approval Of his nephew's suit rather
than of his-MaitlanGs. One thing he was
sure of, THAI he must keep silent till Dexter
had either won or lost, and that, if he wen, he
must keep silent forever. His only. hope was
that Amy loved him. Yet why should she?
youns sister; and If, occasionally, he had been
conscious of saying something which was not
quite appropriate for brother, she had never
given him reason for believing that she had
ever contemplated the possibility OF closer
relationship between them than had always
heartless scoundrel! No! he would never let
her marry that other. Yet what could he do
if she accepted him?
HIS mind was still full Of the matter when
he found himself on the terrace near the usual
seat of the invalid. Mr. Fletcher and his
nephew were already there, and close by them
stood ANY. She had evidently only that mo-
mont arrived. Dexter rose, and, with consid-
cradle eagernese, offered her his seat and began
to introduce her to his uncle
"There is no necessity" interrupted Mr..
Fletcher, 'sthis young lady and have met be-
fore.''
Dexter looked SURPRISED aud annoyed He
had made good use Of his time during the
morning, which he had spent in the company
OF Amy. doing all he could to compress court
ship into couple Of hours. He had told her
he wanted to introduce her to his uncle, but
had not mentioned his name, aud Amy never
imagined that she uncle was the same old gen.
tleman whose acquaintance she had already
made.
At this moment Maitland came up. He took
off lis hat to Amy, and remained standing near:
For some time the conversation was to the
last degree commonplace; not one of the men
seemed inclined to be the first to breach the
subject that each was thinking Of At last Mr..
Fletcher, after painful cough, saii
My dear, want to speak to you seriously
man, who has not many months to live, if he
says things little bluntly Try and suppose
that he is afraid he has not time to do other
WISE"
Amy looked surprised, but said nothing:
''My nephew" continued Mr.. Fletcher, ''has
told me that he wishes you to be his WIFE, He
has not, believe, confessed as much to you,
knowing that the possibility Of his marrying
depends on me. have told him that, if he
gains your consent, he will not marry penni-
less girl, for shall give you the same: as I
shall give him. So you see, you may rely en-
tira1v foolinoc cix-iNo
it will not be a case Of marrying for money,
but only for love- What do you say?"
Amy said nothing. She turned her eyes on
Maitland, who peraistantly kept his averted.
This is too sudden, uncle" pleaded Dexter
"Perhaps it is" assented the old man. II
do not ask for decisive answer now. Plead
your own cause, my lad, during the next week,
and then Amy shall give her reply"
Amy turned her head
''There is no necessity to wait for week, ="
she said; my mind is quite made up. I can
ssMy dear girl" persisted Mr.. Fletcher;
edo not make up your mind SO swiftly. No
doubt my blunt way Of putting the matter
has panied you I can see you are agitated
Let me plead for my nephew. His love for
you is disnterested; he knows you but as a
charming young lady who is at present
occupying a position unworthy of her.
He knows nothing Of you whatever beyond
that; judge then whether you are treating him
quite fairly in refusing to listen to him. It is
not 80 easy to find young mon nowadays who
are capable of displaying such disinterested
earnestness and devotion in seeking for wife.
He tells me he is even ignorant of the name of
your parents. Does not that show he values
you for youreelf?"
De xter bad tried once or twice to interrupt
his uncle, but in vain. However, he now man.
aged to interpose with
"Really, uncle, you appear to imagine
that"
Rut he was Interrupted in his turn by Amy.
'Did Mr.. Dexter tell you he did not know
who my father WASP" she asked.
eyes," replied Mr.. Fletcher, stand I sp-
plauded the dellcacy of feeling he showed"
Il must tell you, then, that he did ask me,
| and seemed very surprised to hear his name.
| Thore seems to be some mystery about it, for
| it's mention seems to have suffced to turn Mr..
Dexter from casual acquaintance into an ar
Dexter stood abashed: he did not attempt to
| defend himself.
80, sir,'' said his uncle severely, 'sit seems
| shat you do know who this young lady is. ]
| bad my suspicious, aud that is why have said
| what have, thinking should catch you in
| your own trap"
! Il thought you would be pleased if mar
| ried her." pleaded Dexter.
| ssDon't say another word. sir. Leave us now;
come to my rooms this evening; shall have
something to say to you then"
| IUexter Waheu away as cafelessly as no eou.u,
| @Come little closer to me; nv dear child, y
said Mr.. Fletcher in tender tone, as soon as
his nephew was out of sight, Il have some
news for you. You must think me very
J strange old man--so am, perhaps. You
! think have been very rude and unkind, but il
was for your sake. No one is near Us ROW
put your arms around my neck and kiss me
and call me grandpapa." ,..,-. '.s-...,
Amy looked at him in astonishment for a
moment and then glanced at Maitland His
look reassured her; she flung her arms around
| the old mans neck and kissed him. 49,
z'sGrandpapa!" she exclaimed, IT'S it true?'
| r'sYes, my darling. All, if had only known
| it before! It's your fault, Maitland"
| care you quite snre?" he asked
/ ssWo1I ennposa liza chiaHr nina In