Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-09-12

smile: but have always imagined that
she liked Mr.. Travers.
Eli Oh, no. Nothing Of the kind, "
Mr.. Thompson said quickly.
Nothing Of the kind. Well, ! cannot
help feeling relieved, although, perhaps
for your daughter sake however, ! have
nothing more to say. Good-by. Mr.
Thompson, and thank You for your kind
ness, said Young Blythe, incoherent-
~. Old Mr.. Thompson watched the
brougham drive down the avenue with
mingled satisfaction and annoyance. The
former sentiment predominated as he
thought over the recent interview, and
realized how narrowly his daughter had
escaped serious danger. He did not.
however, feel quite sure in his mind that
nothing would come Of the affair even now
He knew that his daughter was warm
hearted and impulsive, and he shrewdly
suspected that young Blythes self-abnega-
ton was calculated to increase her regard
1t might be, even, that the young man
departure was a lovers statagem; and
although he did not seriously doubt
Blythe's good faith he resolved not to say
anything about the cause Of his disappear
ance. The episode affected him unpleas-
antly, as showing the necessity for vigil
liant watchfuness over his daughter, while
his project Of taking her abroad was also
a source Of irritation to him, for he hap
pened at the time to have important busi
ness on hand which made it highly neon
yenient for him to leave England
True to his policy Of retlcence 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-c0nscious and uneasy;
in fact, her demeanor strengthened his sus
pici0n that she did not regard Blythe alb
senCe as indicating any cessation Of their
acquaintance. Old Mr.. Thompson was
silent and pensiye 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 a means.
When a man is a 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 a very liberal offer to 60 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
emit, a 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
J. gtF
for the bar or becoming a schoolmaster, IN
favor of commercial career
But this was not the only precautIOn
which the old gentleman thought 1t pru-
dent to take. He found, after all that it
was impossible for him to accompany his
daughter for a 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 unconsci0usly suggested
to him. Though he had not admitted 1t
when questioned, old Mr.. Thompson knew
that his young nelghbOr, Jack lrayers,
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 tune suddenly and some
what capriciously discouraged the intimacy;
but this was before Rose was in danger Of
wasting her affections upon a penniless
obscure young tutor. The magnitude Of
this evil evidently oyerwelghed 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
daughter 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 son-in-law Of which no parent
even a millionaire be ashamed.
Ii wouldn't be difficult TO say which OF
Mr.. Thompson S schemes proved the more
successful. Young Blythe started for
South America 10y the earliest possible
steamer and soon became SO absorbed IN
his new career that he apparently entirely
recovered from his disappointment. lie
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 Trayers 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 nm
not at all so long as she finally fixed them
ON the rigqt one This she edectually did,
for within six months after young Blythe
left England the wedding Of Mr.. and Mrs.
John Travers took place with the hearuest
APPRECIATION of the millionaire, who
secretly prided himself upon having
brought about the match at a critical mo
ment.
The old gentleman good-uaturedly wrote
to Young Blythe to break the news OF ms
daughter $ engagement and by way of soft.
ening the blow he took the opportunity at
intimating his intention of increasing the
voung man S salary, and of advancing his
interests. This elected a warm and CRATE
full letter of acknowledgment, and such