Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-12

Meanwhile the man with the singularly
benevolent countenance was approaching tns
red umbrella with slow but sure strides.
Sir" said Delmar, in return, speaking
with an artificial calmness, natural under
the circumstances, 81 am not aware that
have done anything to incur your dis
pleasure" Then conscious that his language
was becoming stilted, he dropped into the
vernacular: otis just this way, Mr.. Baxter.
When first met Winnie
''Vinnie, indeed!n roared Mr.. Baxter.
"Why, man, you haven't known her three
weeks!/ She doesn't know you, don't know
you Who are you, anyhow"
"My name you know, sir" turning slightly
pale, land as for my antecedents, they Will
compare favorably with any young man In
New York. Ny prospects, / can honestly
say, are favorable"
Mr. Baxter shifted.
"As for why fell in love with your
daughter. let me say with equal honesty that
couldn't help it." At this forcible compli-
ment Winnie leaned heavily against her
father and murmured, "Ohl Edwardr'
At this juncture the man with the benevo-
lent countenance looked around the ribs Of
the umbrella and said:
'Ha! see j. all,
Mr.. Baxter turned upon the intruderwith
a ferocious stare.
"Who are you, sirg' he demanded
The intruder lifted his glossy hat and
made sweeping bow which took in the
assembled company, the ocean and the sky
itself. Then be replaced it, and said, In q
round and ringing but not unpleasant voice:
81 am a perfect stranger. l beg, sir, that
you will not mistake me"
Mr. Baxter looked at Delnar, and Winnie
looked at both, and it was evident that they
knew him not
The stranger noticed the interchange Of
looks and smiled more blAndly than before
SIN order to prevent any misconception, y
said be, permit me to assure you in the
strongest manner possible that will not
suddenly throw open my corkscrew cuta-
way and disclose beneath the uniform Of a
major general or the vestments Of a cardi-
nal Neither will reveal myself at fifteen
minutes past as your nephew Jack, who
was supposed to have gone down on the i'll
fated Muriatic in the Bay Of Biscay, oh! in
eighteen hundred and something two. You
need not prepare yourself for any surprises
/ have mono to offer. l am your friend,
your benefactor that is to be, but at the same
time a perfect stranger"
"You amaze mel" cried Mr.. Baxter, and
his countenance corroborated his statement.
81 see do" said the stranger; sit gives
me pleasure" Then he wiped his brow with
a snowy handkerchief and laid his hand ten
derby on Vinnies shrinking shoulder. "It
never was my good fortune 70 have daugh-
ter, nor, strange to say, a son, but l can APP
preciate your feelings at this critical moment.
Your feelings are naturally wrenched, as
mine would be, but I am sure you will rise
above your commercial self and treat your
daughter in the abstract as / would do"
Mr.. Baxter was still angry, but plainly
getting interested.
GAS howl" be asked
''Let me explain, said the perfect stranger.
81 hold it q self evident fact that these deli
cate affairs Of the heart Ghe French term
does not at present occur to me, should not
be settled by the interested parties. Let me
ask If any one Of you three can, by any
chance, strike that nice balance which is
possible to perfect strangera You, young
sir, are biindly in love, and, by heaven!
envy you your blindness. You, young lady,
do not know the price of beef or what it
means to be restricted IN your laundress bill.
You, sir, are man Of affairs, who have
loved SO long ago that you have forgotten
the sensation. If am asked if you three are
qualified to pass an opinion worth hearing,
/ answer, No"
Delnar could not restrnfn smile.
$50 be told" said he, ''that one is not COM
petent to manage his own affairs is not com
p.inentary."
truth rarely IT," retorted the stranger,
with politeness, but touch Of sternness.
"Look ye, sir: il you have a pain in your
chest do you consult Tom, Dick and Harry,
or do you go to doctor, who knows you
only as a case, and prescribes accordingly
And you, sir, as . man of business, if you
foil into the meshes Of defaketion or pro-
tested notes, do you call a caucus OF your
relatives or do you HE to an unsentimental
lawyer who would have taken fee from the
other side if they had gone up the steps ahead
of your
II begin to sec your drift" observed Mr.
Baxter
''Of course you DO. Put ! wander. It il
then admitted thnt the question is Left for
mo to Settle
No one had admitted anything Of the kind,
but no ono protested. There was calm
audacity about the stranger which silenced,
II it did not convince. I'VE will walk along
the sands" continued the stranger, "and dis
cuss this matter further. To begin, VIII
ask if there if any tangible objection to this
young mani Does he drink, smoke or gamble
to excessa Has he hidden wife or is he, as
the six cent novehsts say, under the shadow
of great crimep
NJ or;o1 Dalp,,~
81 was sure not TO the lady then: Is she
engaged to anothera Has she dreadful past
or an incurable maladyl Is she Of unsound
mind or f1ckle disposition,"
II am sure l am MOI, sobbed Winnie, cling
ing to Delmar in nervous Indignation.
Again 1 am right" said the stranger. "On
you, sir. them" ticking the amazed but inter
ested Baxter by tho arm, "is my last re-
source. "HAve you destined your daughter
for a convent Have you another sutton in
your minds eyei Do you know aught against
this young mans character or your daugh.
ter's disPositonr
"No," stammered Mr. Baxter, vainly try.
ing to evade the large and full blue eyes OF
the stranger, II cannot say that have any
particular reason"
why, look you, sir:' cried tho stranger,
dropping Mr.. Baxters arm, 'it is as plain a.
q pikestaH. There Is no objection to the banns
being published BE does not object. she
aces NOT op,ecr, you DO not OBJECT; It Is a
perfect coujugation Of the verb to marry
"Mrs. Baxter" said that lady's husband,
uneasily, Il fear that sher-
''HoI' cried the stranger, switching the air
lightly with his cane. You are master in
your own house, if / mistake not"
The fattery was not misplaced.
II think am" returned Mr.. Baxter, with