Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-08-22
ne went about a uILl,..

you. And, ii my child had lived. YOU
should have been my adviser and nv
right hand: | want such a man as YOU. !"
Hope threw up his hands. My usual
luckl' said he; always day too late"
BARLEY resumed:
But my child's death robS me of the
money to work with, and / can't help
you nor help myself; unless"
Unless what?" asked Hope, eagerly.
I am not likely to raise objections: nv
chlld's life is at stake"
ell, then, unless you are really the
superior man you seem to be; man of
ability and-courage."
COURAGE" thought Hope, and began
to be puzzled. However, he said. mod
eStly, that he thought he could find
courage In good cause.
Then you and are made men," said
BARLEY looking uneasily all round the
room, and coming close to Hope. 1.-The
very walls must not hear what / now
say to you" Then, in thrilling whis-
per, My daughter must not die"
Hope looked puzzled.
our daughter must take her place"
Now just before this. two quick ears
began to try and catch the conversation.
Monckton had heard all that Colonel
Clifford said, that warriors tones were
so inciSive; but, as the matter only con-
cerned Mr.. Barley, he merely grinned
at the disappointment likely to fall on
his employer, for he knew Mary Bart
ley was at deaths door, He said as
much to himself, and went out for a
sandwich, for it was his lunch-time.
But when he returned with stealthy foot,
for all his movements were cat-ike, he
caught sight of BARLEY and Hope in
EARNEST conversation, and felt very cur
ious.
Hopes answer came to Bartley's pro-
posal.
Then the indignant father burst out.
SO that it was easy enough to hear every
word. Il part with my girl! Not for
the worlds wealth. What! You call
yourself a father, and would tempt me
to sell my own flesh and blood? No!
Poverty. beggary, anything, sooner than
that. My darling, we will thrive to-
gether or starve together; we will live
together or die togetherl"
He snatched up his hat to leave. But
BARLEY found word to make him hest
tate. He never moved, but folded his
arms and said, so, then, your love for
your child is selfish. Who will suffer
most If you stand in her light? Your
daughter; why, she may die. Who win
profit most if you are wise, and really
love her, not like Jealous lover. but
like father? Why, your daughter; she
will be taken out of poverty and want.
and carried to sea-breeZes and scented
meadows; her health and her comfort
will be my care; she will fill the gap in
my house and in my heart, and viii be
my heiress when I die"
"But she will be lost to me,n sighed
poor Hope.
Not SO. You will be my right hand;
you will be always about us; you can
see her, talk to her, make her love you,
do anything but tell her you are her
father. Do this one thing for me, and
| will do great things for you and her.
To refuse me will be to cut your own
unroau and 1lers-as well as mine.n
Hope cllnched his hands in agony land
pressed them against his brow. at is
selfish to stand in her light; but part
with her-I can't; can't"
"Of course not; who asks you? She
will never be out of your sight; only, in
stead of seeing her sicken, linger, and
die, you will see her surrounded by
every comfort, nursed and tended like a
princess, and growing every day in
health, wealth, and happiness"
These words made a great impression
on the still hesitating father; he began
to make conditions. They were all
granted heartily.
IF ever you are unkind to her, the
compact is broken, and [ claim my own
So be it. But why suppose ANYTHING
SO monstrous; men do not ill-treat chill
dren. 1t is only women, who adore
them, that kill them and ill-use them
accordingly. She will be my little bene-
factress, God bless herl Imay love her
home is desolate without her; but that
is the only fault you shall ever find with
me. There is my hand on it."
Hope at the last was taken off his
guard, and took the proffered hand.
That to him was binding action, and
somehow he could no longer go back.
Then BARLEY told him he should live
in the house at first, to break the part
ing. "And from this hour" said he,
"yOu are no clerk nor manager, but my
associate in business, and Oh your own
as"
Thank you," said Hope, with sigh.
"Now lose no time; get her into the
house at once while the clerks are away,
and meantime | must deal with the
nurse, and overcome the many difficult
lIeS. DIdy, IloIo ID ufo-poCuld uoGO'
Buy yourself a new suit, and give the
child good meal. But pray bring her
here in half an hour if you can"
Then BARLEY took him to the lobby,
and let him out in the street, whilst he
went into the house to buy the nurse,
and make her his cOnfdante.
He had a good deal of difficulty with
her; she was shocked at the proposal,
and, being a woman, it was the details
that Mortified her. She cried a good
deal. She stipulated that her darling
should have Christian burial, and cried
again at the doubt. But as BARLEY con-
ceded everything, and offered to settle
hundred pounds year on her, so
long as she lived in his house and kept
his secret, he prevailed at last, and
found her an invaluable ally
To dispose of this character for the
present we must inform the reader that
she proved a woman can keep a secret,
and that in very short time she was
as fond Of Grace Hope as she had been
of Mary BARLEY.
We have said that Colonel Clifford's
talk penetrated MOncktOn's ear, but
produced no great impression at the
time. Not so, however, when he had
listened to Bartley's proposal, Hopes
answer, and all that followed. Then he
put this and Colonel Clifford's COM
munication together, and saw the ter
rible Importance of the two things COM
bined.
Leonard Monckton was by nature a
schemer and by habit villain, and he
was sure to put this discovery to profit.
He came out of the little office and sat
down at his desk, and fell into brown
study.
He was not little puzzled. and here
lay his difficulty. Two attractive villain
les presented themselves to his ingen-