The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-04-30

of the establishment
Mr.. PebwOrth's offices were up an
old-fashoned court in one of the busiest
parts of the city, the said offices con-
sisting of one large room divided by
glass aad-mahogany partition into. two
small ones. There were several other
oifices in the same building, q mass We
edilice which dated hack to the period
OF illiam and Mary, and had evidently
at one tipe been the home Of some nota-
bic city magnate. Among other legeads
inscribed on the broad oaken door
iambs night be read this one: "MR.
ALGEENoS PEBwoRTH, General Agent,
etc"
Now, the phrase General Agent,
etc. is one capable of q somewhat I
wide application. as Mr.. Pebworth |
when he adopted it was probably quite
aware. What Mr.. Pebworth's particular
line Of business might be, and from
| what sources the hulk OF his income
was derived, we're things probably
known to h mself alone. 1t is quite
certain that neither his wife nor daugh-
ter had any fixed ideas on the subject
1t was generally understood that he was
more or less mixed up with the promo
tion and launching of sundry joint-stjck
companies and speculative associations
OF greater or lesser repute not unfre
quently the latter, while those who
were supposed to be best informed in
such matters ayerrel that he was mere
ly q catspaw and go-between for certain
big financiers, who did not always care
to let their names 60 forth to the world
until tine golden eggs with which they
strove to tempt the public should be
successfully Matched, there being some
times risk that the eggs in question
might turn out to be added. Be this
as it may, Mr. Pebworth had hitherto
contrived, by hook or by crook, to keep
his head above water, and the Bays
water establishment showed as good
face to the world as most Of its neigh
bors.
E.ma Deene had been an inmate of
her uncle's house about six months
when we first made her acquaintance.
Previously to that time, she had been
living with some of her fathers rela-
tives in Devonshre.
1t was essential to the due carrying
out of Frank Frobisher's scheme that
he and his new-found relatives should
be brought into frequent, if not daily
contact. There was only one mode by
which this could be elected, and that
was by having them as guests at Way
lands. Fortunately, the rich old Cen
eral and his sister were away in Scot
land at this time, so that the pressing
invitation, of which Drummond in his
assumed character was the mouthpiece,
had met with ready response. Mr..
= Pebworth found convenient service Of
trains for rum ing backward and for
= ward between Waylands and the city as
, often as he might feel so inclined; Miss
/ Pebworth cherished certain matrimonial
designs against her rich cousin; while
Mrs. Pebworth, though o ten troubled
inwardly when she called to mind that
her own house was left in sole charge
: of cook and parlor- maid, both OF whom
doubtless had followers = however
, strenuously they might deny the soft
9 impeachment-d d not fail to derive a
= genuine housewifely pleasure in arrang-
. ing and putting in order her bachelor
nephew's new establishment.
, Mr.. Dempsey and Captain Downes
{ Dyson, whose acquaintance we shall
make later on, were business friends of
, MIR. Peoworth; and after a dinner at
Simpsons, at which Dick had been
. present one day when in town, had been
invited down to Waylands, on hint
, thrown out by that astute individual.
, Having stated these necessary pre-
liminaries, we will return TO Miss Peb-
worth. who, by this time, had seated
herself on a rustic chair opposite her
(, father. "Do you want to speak to me,
! papaP" she asked
! al do want to speak to you," an
= swered Mr.. Pebworth, as he laid down
. his paper and removed his Eyeglasses.
= 81 want to know what progress you
+ are making with your cousin"
e ~ am making no progress at all. ]
d never shall make any progress with
: him. told you so q fortnight ago"
q "Then all your attractions are
v thrown away upon him--all your pret.
d ty, coaxing ways are of no avail?"
k "Of no avail whatever. Mr.. Frank
t Frobisher might be made OF mahogany,
# for any impression can make ON him.
q I've tried him with half-a-dozen thing:
/ with painting first Of all. I got Va
: sari's Lives and volume of Ruskin,
and was for ever talking to him about
) chiaro-oscuro, backgrounds. fore
J. grounds, middle distances, and mellow
J. tones. At last Frank burst out laugh.
q ing in my face, and called me little
d goose, and said 1 didn't know a BIT
t what was talking about"
a Every rude of him, to say the
4 least"
: "Tve tried him with other things
Z racing, hunting, shooting, poetry, land
IS scape-g gardening; but all to no purpose
n He listens to all say, agrees with me
If in everything; but all the time fee
l. that he is laughing at me in hi
|. sleeve"
/ Any signs of prior attachment!
d asked Mr.. Pebworth, after a pause.
y mot that / have been able to dis
,s cover. He seems utterly Indifferent tC
,r female society, and to have no enthusl
d asm about anything"
e Has probably been Tilted, and still
n feels the smart.
le II have given up the case as hope