The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-07-12

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should "settlo down. before he Travelled and
saw tho world. She said as much to me.
''Ycs, my dear" said; "you are right In
your way, and perhaps Mdlle. Rosaie is right
in hers"
She did not see this. however.
my way is the right way, papa" she said,
With n tender smile. "It is SO much bottcr
to travel and see the world together"
"As you and Harry will, remirked. She
nodded with bright eyes. But you must
not remain away from us 100 long, Eunice.
You are all we have to love-"
"You shall make little trips with u.s." she
said-''you and mamma"
eyes," said ,.fondly, my arm around her
waist, latter the honeymoon"
Which caused her to run from the room
blushing
Mr.. Mortiock had much to tell us of Mr..
Wilmot, whom he evidently knew better than
we did. He dilated upon my uncle's uniform
kindness and consideration for others, upon
his sound opinion OF men and things. upon
his ripe judgment, and. incidentally, upon
his strength of character.
"What l admire in him." said Mr.. Mort
lock, 'is. that once having taken a certain
view once having resolved upon a certain
course, ho is not to be turned from it by any
arguments that can be advanced against It,"
In my mind considered this characteristic
of which Mr.. Mortlock approved as sign of
doSmatic nature; but did not discuss it
with my guest. 1t was not for me to cast
even shadow of disapproval upon anything
my uncle and belefactor did and certainly
not to argue such a subject with compara-
tive stranger. During the week q small mat
ter somewhat ruff1ed me. was taking the
letters out of the post bag, preparatory to
sending them to the post office by the hands
of Samuel Fleetwood, when Mr.. Mortlock
said:
Il beg your pardon. have dropped let
ter by mistake into the bag"
There were not more than six or seven in
all, and Mr.. Mortlock, selecting the ono to
which he referred, took it from the little pile,
and put it into his pocket. 1t was quite by ac-
cident that saw it was addressed to my
uncle. Mr.. Mortlock, concluded, was ac-
quainted with my uncles address, of which I
was kept ignorant, and was in communion
tion with him, whereas was debarred from
the privilege. 1t was, as have said, small
matter but it ruffied me. Our relative posi-
tions should have given me the advantage in
my uncle's confidence, but this advantage
was held by another, who surely could not
be so!close to him as was. 1t was of course,
in my power to ask Mr.. Mortlock to give me
the address; but it seemed to me as if the
asking of such simple question would be
violation of my uncle's wishes, and there
fore refrained. / consoled myself with tho
reflection that time was waning fast, nnd
that my uncle would soon be home.
Time, indeed, was flying. Two months had
elapsed since Mr.. Mortlock set foot in our
house, and he evinced no inclination to put
an end to his visit. Not in the remotest man
ner could give him a hint upon the SUBJ
ject. 1t would have been breach of hospi-
tality; and yet telt that his visit had been
unduly prolonged. did not feel at my ease,
nor did my wife and daughter. There were
reasons for this discomfort.
First, it appeared to me that Mr. Mortlock
was too strongly attracted towards Eunce.
His attentions to her were marked by ten
derness which was not agreeable to her or
US. There had been nothing concealed from
him. He knew that Eunice and Harry Clan
ronald were engaged, and he could not but
see that they were devotedly attached to
each other. Was it, then, the conduct of an
honorable man to introduce discordant
element into this engagement True, Mr..
Mortlock might plead his growing love for
Eunice as an excuse; but it would havo been
nober in him to have accepted the situation,
and to have hidden US farewell. Instead of
this, he allowed himself to be unconsciously
beguiled by his feelings into paying her at
tentions the meaning OF which could scarcely
be mistaken. Or was it premediated on his
part? Whichever was the right construction,
this unexpected and unforeseen demonstra-
lion was the cause OF something more than
embarrassment. Should Ispeak and remon-
strate with Mr.. Mortlock? Even in the event
of my SO deciding, l should have boen at a
loss how to approach the subject my duties
as host added to the difficulty, and my un-
cle's letter seemed to effectualy stop the
way. Tread this letter over and over again.
and each time 1t impressed itself more
strongly upon me that if 1 offended Mr..
Leonard Mortlock, or wounded his feelings,
my uncle would take it as personal to him
self. The interests at stake werc too import
ant to run this risk ; and in deliberation with
my wife. we could arrive at but one conclu-
sion-that we must wait for my uncle's
presence to resolve tho difficulty.
This was our attitude; but We could not
control the attitude of Eunice and Harry.
Eunice took every pains to avoid Mr.. Mort
lock and had he been either an observant or
fair-minded man it would have been impos-
sible for him to mistake her meaning. But
he exhibited no consciousness of it, and her
avoidance of him did not cause him to
abandon those marks Of attention which
were so distlsteful TO her.. Harry Clanron-
AIDS jealousy was openly demonstrated, and
the two men, who. during the early part ofMr.
Mortlock's visit; were in frequent friendly as
must say that Mr.: Mortlock took this in good
part, and that, SO far as outward appearances
went, his demeanor continued to be cheerful
and we'll bred, while Harry was sullen and
occasionally offensive and us nothing seemed
to disturb Hr. Mortlocks equanimity, Harry
was placed at a conspicuous disadvantage in
this antagonsm. l cautioned Harry.
81 cannot help it, SIR" said the young fell
low; "and cannot you see how 1t distresses
Eunicep Ii he were not your guest would
teach him lesson lie would not easily for
get"
violence is always to be deplored," said,
''and avoided if possible. If he were not my
guest this would not continue"
swell. sir. said Harry. ingenuously, "why