Daily Republican., 1883-08-25
LIKE MAN, LIKE HUSBAND.

LIKE MAN, LIKE HUSBAND,
Mr.. Marcus Wilkinson sat alone In
bis office with a dainty little perfumed
note between his fingers ard puzzled
frown upon his brow. The note, direct.
ed in graceful feminine hand, was
brief:
| DEAR GUARDIAN /: ! will be al
the office at ten in the morning to con
suit you upon a matter ofimportance.
| MILE.
| "A matter of importance, muttered
Mr.. Wilkinson, twisting the note ner.
vousIy. "Can my fears be true ? Has
Cyril Orlnsby proposed to my pearl
| am afraid he has And what
can say? What can urge against
the N an, IL Miles own instincts have
played her false ? Ten O'Clock 7"
The last silvery stroke of the mantel
clock had not died away when the door
Of the office was opened by u clerk,
and Millie Bentley entered the room.
Just a few words to describe the
ward of whom Marcus Wilkinson al.
ways thought as pearl, a lily, every
thing pure and fair. She WAS of me.
dium height, slender and graceful,
with a thoughtful face Of exquisite
beauty.
Very young, only ls, Millie Bentley
had borne early the sorrows OF life.
Her father, having been wealthy, had
failed in business and committed sui.
eide. Her mother, delicate and hel p
less, had fought poverty feebly for two
years, and sinking under privation and
toll, had contracted IA fatal disease.
When all hope Of life WAS over, news
came that Miles uncle, dying abroad,
had left u large fortune to his only sis
ter. A will was made by the dying
woman, leaving her own too lately won
independence to Millie, and appointing
their old friend, Marcus Wilkinson,
guardian to the heiress.
SOrrOwing, and womanly beyond her
years, Millie had turned from her own
grief TO II noble endeavor to selace some
of the trials of those with whom her
ow 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 inter.
rupted studies. But a large portion of
her time was spent in the humble
homes of those who had been her
mothers friends 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, Millie," the old gentleman
said, "what brin gs to me the pleasure
of seeing you to-day?'
at is about myself Millie said, the
softest rose tints flushing her cheeks.
"Dear me didn't know you ever
took such an insignificant person into
consideration at all
"Now, Uncle Marc, please don't
tease.
"Sbe wants something enormous y
said the old gentleman. mentally adj
dressing the walls. Whenever l am
Uncle Marc know what to expect
next"
But lust then the kindly man de-
tected signs of trouble in Miles face,
and tho testing voice was turned at
one to one of tender gravity.
What is it, my child?'
Cyril Ormsby came to see me last
evening, and he will come here to-day !;
but l wanted to See you first. He wants
me to be his wife, Uncle Marc, and
she hesitatod here yon do not like
him."
Who told you that"
No one, bu' see tor myself.
Well, you are right. do not like
him but my like or dislike has no con-
troll over You -
mo control !" Miles voice was
piteous. Please don't talk so. I
come to you as Iwould have come to my
father
"There, dear, was wrong. Tell me
then, as you would your father; do You
love Mr.. Ormsby?"
&c think he's the noblcst man | ever
knew. If you could see him with some
Of my poor people, how gentle and cour-
teoils he is, you would like him too. He
has given Inc SO much sympathy in my
work, Uncle Marc, feeling, as do, that
the possession OF great wealth is but a
stewardship.
!" And so won your iove'
my respect and admiration, uncle
cannot yet realize that Il man SO noble
and so good can really desire my COM
panionship and help in his life. But,
since he does, | am glad and proud to
have won his cOnfidpncp' ~
Hem-yes Enthusiastic but heart
WHOLE" was Mr.. Wilkinson's mental
comment. "Suppose you and 60 for
a walk 2" he added aloud.
"a walk ." Millie said in a tone of
eyes, have IA friend or two should
like to have you see. When we come
back | will tell you why dislike Cyril
Ormshy, if" he added mentally, "you
have not already found cut
1t was moi exac ~ such II walk rs
one would have mapped out for gen
tleman's invitation to Il young, beauti-
full girl, but Millie followed its course,
leaning upon her guardians arm, won
dering little, but never hesitating,
past the respectable portion of the city
to a quarter known as the Factory
Row" a place where Mr. Wilkinson had
never before allowed the ward TO 20,
for there were apt to be'tevers and CON
tagious diseases lurking there. 1t lay
low and was unhealthy, and the houses
were of the meinest description.
For u noble philantLropist, partly
owning these factories and this squarter,
Mr.. Ormsby seems neglectful,' said
Mr.. Wilkinson dryly. 81 have an
interest in the factories, rs you are
aware, but do not own zone Of those
wretched houses They are all Cyril
Ormsby's."
"But," Millie said eagerly, these
people will not let him benefit them.
They Use his charity for drink; they
abuse any privilege he gives them, till
he is discouraged in his efforts to do
them any good
Oh, step in here
1t was poor place, scantily furnish
ed, and cheerless. Upon ahot bed Il
woman lay in the last stages of con-