The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-08-04

In silence Delmar had Just taken Winnie
other han preparatory to saying something
when Mr.. Baxter turned the corner of tb
red umbrella which sheltered the lovers.
"Sirl" laid Delnar, rising in some per
turbaton
J Winnie clasped her hands and looke
heroic.
| At the same time, unnoticed by the inter
estIng trio, n fourth person was movinl
toward the umbrella. He was a large maj
Of feshy habit, with singularly benevolen
countenaLce and a severe head Of iron era,
hair. His garments were Of plain black, bu
not eccentric in their simplicity, and h
might have been taken for pastor on
holiday, had not the jaunty roll OF his ha
brim and the slim cane he carried forbad
the assumption.
''Sir" said Mr.. Baxter, In return. 81
| confound your impudence"
That was not what he started out TO say
but heroic sentiments and rounded invectiv,
do not come with ready grace, unless tn
speaker is on the stage. And as for Winnie
who, at this stage should have said, "Father
implore you'll" she said "Oh, yal" in silly
way.
Meanwhile the man with the singularly
! benevolent countenance was approaching ths
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 Languages
was becoming stilted, he dropped into the
vernacular: Its just this way, Mr.. Baxter.
Whap 4 frat tpat Vinp;ar-
"Vinnie, indeed" roared Mr.. Baxter.
"Why, man, you haven't known her three
weeksl She doesn't know you, don't know
you. Who are you, anyhow
my name you know, sir, turning slightly
pale, "and as for my antecedents, they will
compare favorably with any young man In
New York. My prospects, l 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, "Oh! Edwardw
At this juncture the man with the benevo-
lent countenance looked around the ribs OF
the umbrella and said:
"Hal / see it all
Mr.. Baxter turned upon the intruder with
ferocous stare.
"Who are you, sirr he demanded.
The intruder lifted his glossy hat and
made a sweeping bow which took in the
assembled company, the ocean and the sky
itself. Then he replaced it, and said, In
round and ringing but not unpleasant voice:
~ am perfect stranger. l beg, sir, that
you will not mistake me-"
Mr. Baxter looked ct Delmar, and Winnie
looked at both, and it was evident that they
knew him not.
Ths stranger noticed the interchange Of
looks and smiled moro blandly than before
I'm order TO prevent any misconception,'
said he 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's
major general or the vestments Of q csrdi-
nal. Neither will reveal myself at fifteen
was supposed to have gone down on the i'll
fsted Muriatic in the Bay of Biscsy, OIL in
eighteen hundred and something two. You
nsed not prepare yourself for any surprises;
have none to offer l am your friend,
your benefactor that is to be, but at the same
time Q perfect stranger"
"You amaze msr' cried Mr.. Baxter. and
his countenance corroborated his statement.
~ sec do" said the stranger; at gives
mo pleasure" Then he wiped his brow with
Q snowy handkerchief and laid his hand ten
derby on Vinnies shrinking shoulder. ut
never was my good fortune 10 have a daugh-
ter, nor, strange to say, son, but can ap-
preciats your feelings ct this critical moment.
Your feelings arc naturally wrenched, a.
mine would be, but 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.
"As howT be asked.
"Lst me OK plain, said the perfect stranger.
~ hold it a self evident fact that these deli
cate affairs of the heart the French term
does not at present occur to mel should not
be settled by the interested parties. Let me
ask II any ono OF you three can, by any
chance, strike that nice balance which IL
possible to perfect strangeri You, young
sir, arc blindly In love, and, by haavenl
envy you your blindness. You, young lady,
do not know the price Of beef or what IL
means to be restricted tn your laundress bill.
You, sir, are . man Of affairs, who have
loved sd4ong ago that you have forgotten
the sensation. II am asked il you three are
qualified to pass Al opinion worth hearing.
answer, mo-" Il
Delmar coulduot restrain smile. 4
ITO be told, !" said he, that one Is not COM
psssot to manage his own Affairs IL not com.
.fT- 900 ...s.t
'Truth rarely is," retorted the stranger.
with politeness, but . touch Of sternness.
Look ye, sir; II you have pain in your
chest do you consult Tom, Dick and Harry,
or do you go to q doctor, who knows you
only a. case, and prescribes accordingly
And you, sir, a. a man OF business, il you
fall into the msshes Of defalcation or pro-
tested notes. do you cali . caucus Of your
rslativss or do you HE to an unsentimental
lawyer who would have taken fec from the
other side If they had gone up the steps ahead
Of your t
81 begin to see your drift" observed Mr..
Baxter.
"Of course you do. But wander. 1t IL
then admitted that the question is left for
me to settle"
No one had admitted anything OF the kind,
but no one protested. There was a calm
audacity about the stranger which silenced,
II IL did not convince. 1--WE will walk along