Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-06-27
CHAPTER VIII.

NOW, SAID my uncle on the following
day, when we were together in his room,
"we will have our chat I shall be glad
to get it off my mind and you will, too.
First let me express my approval of my
new scoundrel, Fleetwood When leave
you, shall be almost inclined to tempt
him to accompany me-"
He has heart-disease," said, land, /
am afraid, has not long to live"
'it ia a pitv for he seems r. \" II -nn
represented him. He has been assisting
me In my money matters this morning. I
have also had visit from Mdlle. Rosalie.
a charming persona very charming per-
son. Most persons are who take the trou-
Die to make themselves agreeable, and
who do not cross you" He held up his
hand, and looked at the diamond ring on
his finger which he had placed there the
previous night He had a remarkably
white and shapely hand, of which he was
evidently proud; and, indeed, wizened and
pinched up as he was he must in his young
er years have been a handsome, bright
eyed man. "By the way, nephew Richard,
the young gentleman who was here last
night and revoked at WHIST Have you
known him long?"
For somewhat over two years." I re-
piled. 'tBut my letter has explained"
What letter do you refer to-" asked
Mr.. Wilmot
''The letter L sent you a little while
since, to the care of your lawyers in Lon
DON"
"Ah, those lettersr' said Mr.. Wilmot
interrupting me again with a smile,
"Would you believe, nephew Richard,
that there are two boxes full of them
actually two boxes full? l burst out
1annhinn yUhan I cow +ba,,, or1
locked the boxes again. Life is too short
for correspOndence-and such correspon-
dencel Circulars, begging letters, requests
for loans-no, no! | declined to wade
through them. When / return to London
j shall instruct someone to separate the
wheat from the chaff and then probably
burn the lot-positively burn the lot with
out looking at them"
/ was seized with CONSERVATION Nv
uncle had not read my letter announcing
Eunice's engagement with Harry Clan
ronald; he was in ignorance that Eunice's
heart was pledged to the young fellow;
and he was now in my house with the in
tention of promoting Mr.. Mortlock's suit.
/ was convinced of it, and presently the
proof came, and left no shadow of doubt
behind
"A great many years ago." said my I'M
Gle, Il was acquainted with Mr.. Clan
ronald, whom | have no reason to think
well of. If it is the same, he is this young
mans father. Perhaps you have a photo
gragh of him?'
Il have. Would you like to see itP"
'sYesn
/ went to the drawing room, and, Sc
lecting the album in which Mr.. Clanron-
AIDS portrait was placed, took it up to
Mr. Wilmot My mind was filled with
misgivings for my uncle's voice, when he
spoke of Mr.. Clanronald, BODIED i'll.
LET me find the portrait for myself"
he said; and handed him the album. AS
he turned over the pages | felt that con-
sequences almost vital were trembling in
the balance. Yes said Mr.. Wilmot,
pausing at page, this is the man-it is
hep' He nodded and snarled at the bit of
pasteboard. LET us be sure This is the
father of the young man who played what
he called chess with me last night?"
"Yes.''
He closed the book Nephew Richard,
you and l do not know much of each 9th
err"
mot as much as should have desired,
sir"
'Well, well. Perhaps closer acquaint-
have been better friends apart. 1t is often
the case-often the case. like you; like
your wife; | like your daughter. There
are one or two others / like-only one or
two. / like Mortlock; you like him, too;
you said he was charming gentleman.
So he is-charming. There are men 1 dis
hke-some more, some less. They do not
trouble me, because | do not allow them
TO trouble me. wipe them out. | do not
express my dislike; do not as much as
think of them, unless they happen to be
forced upon me. AS in this case, / dis
like your Mr. Clanronald, much more
than less. | will not enter into the reasons
for my dislike; they are private and deli
cate, and are, to me, sufficient. That
much being said, we dismiss the Clan
ronalds. Let me never hear their name
again."
''But sir" said, I'm a helpless tone of
remonstrance, for hope seemed surely slip
ping from me, lit is of this very Harry
Clanronald I must speak"
pardon me-" he said, in tone OF ex-
treme politeness, and had l been better
acquainted with his character 1 should
have known that this was in him dam
gerous sign. II do not see the necessity.
Let US, at all events, first speak of what
will be mutually agreeable-mutually
agreeable. present myself to you as an
ambassador"
"As an ambassadors" stammered.
LAS an ambassador" he repeated bland
ly. 81 have the honor to ask the hand of
your lovely daughter Eunice for my dear
friend Mortlock." I gazed at him in q
kind of despair; he continued: HE is q
gentleman: man of good family; trav-
elled man; cultured man; a man of parts;
and like him. When l introduced him
TO you and your delightful family had a
latent hope that he would fall in love with
your daughter. 1t has happened. / did
not say to him, Go to England; go to
Boscombe Lodge, Sevenoaks, and make a
friend of my nephew Richard, and there
behold fresh and budding type Of Eng
lish beauty in the person of my nephew
Richards charming daughter Eunice.'
might have said as much, having, before
left England, received a picture of your
daughter, for which, l think, l have not
thanked you, and in which / discerned q
bud that would blossom into a rare lowell
ness: but did say to friend Mortlock,
Nephew Richard has daughter; tits time
you should settle down. What 1 hoped
has come to pass, and approve"
What you ask" said, lis impossible. ~
"How impossible?"
"Eunice does not love Mr.. Mortlock.
Her heart is given to another"
ITO whom"
'aTo Harry Clanronald."
"a childish fancy" said my uncle
(which will soon pass away. She cannot