Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-09-06

hat do you mean inquired Old Mr..
| Thompson staring at him.
Mr.. Thompson, feel it my duty to tell
you, both for your guidance and also for
my safety" replied Mr.. Blythe, eagerly
and earnestly, but it must be under a
solemn promise of confidence. You must
| not repeat that ! am about to tell you to
any third person. $500
mo, | won't repeat it. What is it?''
inquired Mr.. Thompson, impatiently.
Il have learned that my love is return
ed-that my secret is discovered. Mr..
Thompson, if | had not been man of
| honor could have prevailed upon your
/ daughter to marry me, " cried Mr.. Blythe,
a little wildly.
How did yoa discover that-that-
| pooh sir-nonsensei 1t is your fancy!
| cried the old gentleman, firing up.
mo, it is not my fancy, said Mr..
Blythe, controlling his emotion by strong
effort But heaven forbid that | should
| suggest for a single instant that there has
been anything in your daughter demean-
or toward me but what has been modest
| and maidenly. 1t was but a word, few
words, a look, but-but spare me. Mr..
Thompson. / thought it best to tell you
all. Now YOU know everything every
1 LIlDp. YOU hIlO" blltit ttiAl iStt'A ms ~
night for her good broken-hearted man,
never to see her again.
The Young man fairly broke down at
this point and walked abruptly to the win
dow. where he remained silent for few
| moments with his back turned. Old Mr..
Thompson stood transixed upon the hearth
| rug, startled and bewildered by what he
| had heard and inclined to be highly In
dignant. But he was an impulsive, and
| at times, generous-hearted man, and the
spectacle of young Blythe emotion appeal
| ed to his good nature Atlength he broke
| the embarrassing silence by saying, rough
| ly but kindly:
Come, Mr.. Blythe, sit down, aid let us
talk the whole matter over quietly"
II am afraid that there is not much tC
be said, - replied the young fellow, defect
| edly as he appropriated the chair which
| his employer indicated.
''Of course it is quite out of the question
| mean any notion Of-of-of-pooh.
| mean" said Mr.. Thompson uneasily.
Yes. ] know what you mean. My cast
| is hopeless. | fully realize that, and fol
| that reason have decided to leave the
house at once Indeed, think ! had bet
| ter go by the next train, said the young
man.
Eyes, certainly. The less you and my
| daughter meet now the better-the better
for both of you" acquiesced old Mr.
Thompson, with eagerness; and then, a.
| though by way of making amends for his
sternness, he added: Il am sensible OF
| the discretion you have shown. Mr.. Blythe
| and although you are losing YOU
post you will not suffer for it. What AT
your plans?'
IL cannot expect you to enter INTO my
| feelings, Mr.. Thompson, or you would un
| derstand at this moment ! am utterly reck
less about the future, said young Blythe
| with an mmirthful laugh. Il shall q
up to London tonight, and then
| My dear young man, said Mr. Thomp
son. as his companion made gesture o.
supreme Indifference, you mustn b'
foolish. The best antidote to disappoint
mcnt of any kind is hard work. Shall you
| take another tutOrshlp?'
"Perhaps, answered Mr.. Blythe, care
| lessy as he rose from his chair. May
| order the brougham to take me to The
station, Mr.. Thompson?'
Certainly, certainly" said the ole
| gentleman. looking at his watch. By
Jove! you haven t any time to spare. Good
| by, -" he added taking the young man
hand Il appreciate your behavior, and
| and | shall be up in town on Thursday
| Could You call at my office? Between Thu
and then you might consider how caI
serve you.
You are very good, sir viii you MAKE
an excuse to Miss Thompson for my sud
den dcparture?' said young Blythe in ;
| low voice
Certainly. shall probably take m.
daughter abroad, he said significantly.
You need not fear me, Mr.. Thompson
| will honorahly keep away. If you wan
| TO make your daughter forget me sal,
the young man with sudden emotion.
1T is the best. Mr.. Blythe, it is thu
/ best. " murmured Mr. Thompson.
| Yes, see that it is the best for boil
of us Then breaking off abruptly, HI
said: Would you mind telling me, il
there any truth in the rumor | have
| heard HAT your daughter was formerly at
tached to Il young fellow in this neighbor
| hood?'
Not that | am aware of. " said Mr.
| Thompson, frowning. Whom do you
mean ?"
Perhaps it was instinct, lovers in
stinct, said young Blythe. with fam
smile: but ! have always imagined tina
she liked Mr.. lraVerS.
Eth! Oh, no. Nothing of the kind,
| Mr. Thompson said quickly.
| Nothing of the kind. Well, | canno
help feeling relieved, although, perhaps
| for your daughter 5 sake-hOwever. | have
nothing more to say. Good-by, Mr.
Thompson. and thank you for your kind
ness" said young Blythe, incoherent
| ly. Old Mr.. Thompson watched tn,
| brougham drive down the avenue will
mingled satisfaction and annoyance. TIL,
| former sentiment predomlnated as ht
| thought over the recent interview, anC
realized how narrowly his daughter haC
escaped serious danger. He did not
| however, feel quite sure in his mind tina
| nothing would come of the affair even now
| He knew that his daughter was warm
| hearted and impusive. and he shrewdly
! suspected that young Blythe's self-abnega
| ton was calculated to increase her regard
| II might he, even. that the young man
| departure was a lover Stratagem; anC
although he did not seriously doubt
| Blvthe's good faith he resolved not to say
ANYTHING about the cause of his disappear.
ance The episode affected him uupleaS
| antly, rs showing the necessity for vigi
| liant watchfulnesS over his daughter. while
| his project of taking her abroad was also
| a source of irritation to him. for he hap.
| pencd ut the time to have important bust
ness on hand, which made it highly incon,
| venient for him to leave England.
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 III
| 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 Il means.
| When a man is millionaire he can dc
most things that he gives his mind to, and
| the upshot of Mr.. Thompson 5 interview
with Blythe ON the following Thursday WIS
| that he prevailed upon the young man tC
! accept a very liberal offer to go to South
| America. Ii was such an opportunity, in
| deed. as few young men would have hHcr
| justified in refusing, and young Blythe was
| sufficiently alive to his own interests tC
agree to the proposal A handsome pres
emit, high rate of pay, and a position Of
| trust and responsibility in connection with
| Il railway which Mr. Thomson WAS CON-