Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-12

True to his policy of reticence on the
subject of young Blythe's departure, Mr..
Thompson briefly announced, when his
family assembled at dinner, that the young
man had been suddenly summoned away
on urgent private affairs, and said nothing
more on the subject. But he noticed that
his daughter, though she did not join In
the expression of regret which the news
elected, looked self-conscious and uneasy;
In fact, her demeanor strengthened his sus-
picion that she did not regard Blythe's alb
sence as indicating any cessation of their
acquaintance. Old Mr.. Thompson was
silent and pensive all the evening. and the
result of his deliberation was that he re-
solved to get rid of young Blythe for good
and all, if he could only devise means.
When man is millionaire he can do
most things that he gives his mind to, and
the upshot of Mr. Thompson's interview
with Blythe on the following Thursday was
that he prevailed upon the young man to
accept very liberal offer to go to South
America. 1t was such an opportunity, in
deed, as few young men would have been
justified in refusing, and young Blythe was
sufficiently alive to his own interests to
agree to the proposal. A handsome pres
ent, high rate of pay, and position of
trust and responsibility In connection with
a railway which Mr. Thompson was con-
structing in that part of the world, induced
him to abandon his vague plans of reading
for the bar or becoming a schoolmaster, In
favor of commercial career.
But this was not the only precaution
which the old gentleman thought it pru-
dent to take He found, after ALL that it
was impossible for him to accompany his
daughter for trip abroad, as he had in
tended, and with view of trying to divert
her mind from young Blythe, he had
hazarded the experiment which the young
man had himself unconsciously suggested
to him. Though he had not admitted it
when questioned, old Mr.. Thompson knew
that his young neighbor, Jack Travers,
had paid marked attentions to his daugh-
ter; and he was suddenly struck with the
brilliant idea of endeavoring to revive the
old-boy-and- girl attachment. 1t was true
that he had at one time suddenly and some
what capriciously discouraged the intimacy;
but this was before Rose was In danger of
wasting her affections upon penniless,
obscure young tutor. The magnitude of
this evil evidently overweighed the old
gentleman s objections to Jack Travers-
which, indeed, had been neither personal
nor of serious moment, and moreover, when
he came to analyZe his views about his
daughters future, he found them disap-
pointingly vague. He therefore lost no
time In sending Jack a cordial invitation
to the house, and soon arrived at the con-
clusion that, though he was neither rich,
clever nor noble, the young fellow would
make a son-in-law of which no parent
even a millionaire-need be ashamed
1t wouldn't be difficult to say which of
Mr.. Thompson schemes proved the more
successful. Young Blythe started for
South America by the earliest possible
steamer and soon became SO absorbed in
his new career that he apparently entirely
recovered from his disappointment. He
displayed an aptitude for business and a
keenness in looking after his employer s
interest which caused Mr.. Thompson to
congratulate himself upon having secured
his services. Rose Thompson on the other
hand frightened up considerably when
ever Jack Travers made his appearance,
and her father was almost scandalized by
the promptness with which she appeared
to succumb to that young gentleman S
assiduous attentions, but old Mr.. Thompson
was the reverse of sentimental, and if his
daughter was capable of transferring her
affections very rapidly from one lover to
another, the circumstances troubled him
not at al so long as she finally fixed them
on the rigqt one. This she effectually did,
for within six months after young Blythe
left England the wedding of Mr.. and Mrs.
John Travers took place with the heartiest
appreciation of the millionaire, who
secretly prided himself upon having
brought about the match at a critical mo-
ment
The old gentleman good-naturedly wrote
to young Blythe to break the news of his
daughter engagement, and by way of soft
ening the blow he took the opportunity Of
intimating his intention of increasing the
young mans salary, and of advancing his
interests. This elected warm and CRATE
full letter of acknowledgment, and such
frank and kindly messages to the bride and
bridegroom, that Mr.. Thompson ventured,
upon their return from the honeymoon, to
read the letter to them Hitherto he had
carefully avoided mentioning young
Blythe name in the presence of his daugh-
ter, and he had observed similar reti-
cence ON her part, but he conceived that
the time had come to put an end to this
state of things, and he therefore took the
earliest opportunity of giving the messages
the young man had sent.
How nice of him. / am so pleased to
hear that he is doing well. Jack and will
always feel grateful to him, shan It we,
Jack?" exclaimed his daughter in a per-
fectly unembarrassed way.
"Yes. | don t know how he managed it,
but he certainly did US a great service,
said Jack Travers, exchanging glances
with his wife.
"Well, he undoubtedly took himself off,
if that is what you mean, exclaimed Mr..
Thompson, startled into plain speaking by
his astonishment
Yes, why did he go, papa? Now that
it is all over, tell US all about it, and how
he managed to bring you round. 1t can t
be any secret now, papa, said Mrs. Trav
ers, persuasively.
Amy secret? What secret?' exclaimed
the old gentleman, staring from one side to
the other
"Well, papa, l will tell you our part
first, > said Mrs. Travers, glancing laugh
ingly at her husband. Mr.. Blythe took
pity upon Jack and me, ard said he thought
that he could prevail upon you to ask Jack
to the house again. Only was to promise
not to ask any questions either of him or
you. Well, promised, and then all of
sudden Mr.. Blythe disappeared mysterious
ly, and the next thing that happens Jack
is invited here again-and we were mar
ried. How on earth did Mr.. Blythe con-
trive to bring this about-for | suppose it
was he?"
"a regular conjuring trick!'' exclaimed
Jack Travers.
IL had an idea that you had lost
your head in that quarter, Rose, said
Il
red
s.Tt NV dear mana what an extraordi