The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-08-22

III Ills
Yes. Papa was like me. He liked
everything beautiful and gay. Per-
haps he was a little extravagant in
money matters. l have thatimpression.
But he sent me to the best school in
the country, and never stinted himself
in anything. Poor papa! He died
abroad. l did not see him after l was
a. Uncle Ambrose wanted me to
come and spend my vacations with
him, but l had so many friends among
the girls and always went home with
some of them. Oh, | think this is dull
old placer
at is very fine place. and a good
home for you, Lea. And your uncle is
as good as any father could be. Try
and appreciate it, and be content, Lea. "
"Oh, | am not unhappy, now that
you are here!'
But when Harold had gone the girl
had a new whim-to have spacious
flower garden made where was a sunny
lawn.
You object to my buying so many
greenhouse flowers. Uncle Ambrose.
Let Martin lay out beds. and l will
have flowers of my own"
1T would take a landscape gardener
to make such a garden as you describe,
! Lea. Martin could not do it, and il
would also be very expensive"
"You care so very much for money,
Uncle Ambrose. What is it good for
if not to use? l do not want you to
use your monev-use mine! My father
left me some did he not?And the house
is as much mine as yours"
Uncle Ambrose spoke very gently,
though he was pale.
The house will be all yours some
day, Lea"
Then let me have little comfort Of
it. / do not care for the library and
the relics and the cOat-of-arms of the
Rexfords as you do. Let me have
flowers and sunshine and gay time.
That is what | want"
'Innocent tastes enough surely my
child"
But Uncle Ambrose spoke sadly.
He had grown old and weak in few
DAYS. Even Lea noticed that.
81 do not mean to be exacting and
troublesome, Uncle Ambrose" she
said, penitently, as she met his grave
blue eyes. ''But am young, and l
want to enjoy my life"
"Yes, my dear"
Then he spoke more resolutely:
Il cannot provide the garden for
you, Lea. nor the new saddle horse you
spoke of yesterday. BY and bye l will
try and explain why; but am i'll now,
and it is difficult task to make you
understand this matter. 1t will cost
me great deal of pain to talk about it
it. For the present be content with
my denial, and try to be contented
with the blessings you have"
He rose slowly and walked away,
leaving the girl flushed and rebellious.
"Nor the horse, either" she mur-
INJURED. "That is too much. will not
bear ito be denied everything that
other girls have! l cannot invite the
girls here-not now, he says! l can
not ride; l cannot have so much as a
nosegay. l hate such parsimony and
duh living! 1t is intolerable; it eats
into me! l will not bear it! l will
run away! l will go to Canada and
spend a month with the McArthurs.
Uncle Ambrose will be shut up all day
with his lawyers, as he was yesterday.
He will not miss me until | write and
tell him that | have found an oppor-
tunity of enjoying myself. He will
not grudge me that if it costs him moth
ing"
The girl was undisciplned, unwise,
headstrong; but if she had dreamed of
what was in her uncle's heart she
would have begged his pardon with
tears.
He was harassed by his late misfor-
tunes. He was i'll. He felt old and
weak. And when Lea had been gone
three days. and Harold Feldon, not
knowing of her absence, came uneX-
pectediy he welcomed the strong, alert,
sweet-tempered young man with al
most childish delight.
Stay with me. Will you not be
contented for awhIle?" he said. ''Of
course you will miss Lea. She went
away so unexpectedly-only told my
housekeeper, Mrs. Coffee, that she was
going to the McArthurs at Montreal.
She is very independent, Lea is. More
so than | wish; but she is very beauti-
full and charming. | do not wonder
that she charms a young fellow like
you-so fond of beauty. She has a
wonderful face. and is very like her
father. my brother Raleigh
His knowledge of Lea and what he
gathered pressed the truth home to
Harold's mind. Without knowing it,
Lea was ungrateful, selfish, inconsider-
ate. She believed herself wronged,
and had gone away leaving her uncle
i'll and troubled on her account. He
blamed her. Yet he loved her, and
waited anXiously for a response to his
letter, which he mailed to Montreal
Immediately.
Martin came into the Hall one day
with the mail.
If You are going up to the master s
room would you kindly take up the
masters letters, sir?" he said.
For Mr.. ReXford was confined to his
room. A chronic weakness which had
troubled him for years was increasing.
1t struck Harold as he entered the
room that the old man was very ill.
Il will save him all the sorrow /
can," he said, mentally, as he watched
the thin hands, which trembled as
they took the letters.
Nothing from Lea" said Mr.. Rex
ford. Il should think she would write
| to me"
| He soon stretched himself on the
bed, and lay all dav with his face to
the wall. without speaking.
| The doc tor came the next day. piled
his questions, and went away gravely.
When he came and departed again he
nodded slightly to Harold, evho fol-
| lowed HIM downstairs.
HE viii not be any better. and his
situation is precarious. Has he settled
his affairs? You had best tell him and
talk with him.
1t was hard, unwelcome task. But
Harold Feldon did it tenderly, and
Ambrose Rexford was helped by the
strong composed young spirit.
''God bless you. my boy, and give
you friend in your last days! Is the
door closed? Come and sit by me-"
Two days later there was light steu
in the hall. the rustic of a girls dress
| on the oaken stair.
..Harold!" she cried. catching sight
of him. II have answered you letter