Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-04-29
Richard Pardon s Peril.
BY B. L. FARJEON.

This, perceived, did not mee. with Eu | nices approval, whose thoughts were in stantly directed towards her lover, Harr, Olaoronald. She was quito satisfied that ht should "settle down. before he travelled anG
 saw the world. She said as much to mo, ''Yes, my dear," said "you arc right ir your way, and perhaps Mdlle. R,salie is righ | in hers."
 She did not see this. however.
 My way Is the right way, papa" she said | with tender smile. "It is much potter
 to travel and see the world together.' "As you and Harry will" rem arked. She | nodded, with bright eyes. "Br- yon must
 not remain away from go long, uAica You are all we have to love"
 "You shall make little trips with us," she
 said-''you and mamma
 "Yes," said, fond!v my arm around her
 waist, "after the honeymor.,.'
 Which caused her to run from the room | blushing.
 MT. Mortlock had much to tell us of Mir. 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 admire in him." said MT. Mort lock, ''is. that once having taken certaia vw once having resolved upon. a certain | course, he is not to be turned from it by any arguments that can be advanced against It. In my mind considered this characteristic of which Mir. Mortlock approved as a sign of dogmatic nature; but did not discuss it with my guest. It was not for me to cast even shadow of disapproval upon anything my unc!e and berefactor did and certainly not to argue such subject with a compara- tive stranger. During the weok small mat ter somewhat rufled me. was taking the letters out of the post bag, preparatory u sending them to the post office by the hands Of Samuel Fleetwood, when Mr. Mortlocll said:
 "1 beg your'pardon. I have dropped a let ter by mistake into the bag.'
 There were not more than six or soven in all. and MT. sMortlock, selecting the ono to which he referred, took it from the little pilo, and put it into his pocket It was quite by ac- cdent that l saw it was addressed to my uncle. MT. Mortlock, I concluded, was &C., quainted with my uncle's address, of which was kept ignorant, and was in communica- tion with him, whereas was debarred from the privilege. It was, as have said, a small matter but it ruffled me. Our relative posi- tons should have given me the advantage in my uncles connd EcH, but this advantage Was held by another who surely could not be so,close to him as was. II was of course, in my power to ask MT. Mortlock to give me the address; but it seemed to me as if the asking of such u simple question would be violation of my uncles wishes, and I there- fore rrirained. I consoled myself with the reflection that time was waning fast, and that my uncle would soon be homo.
 Time, i.,d':cs!, was flying. Two months had elapsed since Mr. Mortlock set foot in our house; and ho evinced no inclination to put an end to his visit. Not in the remotest man. ner could Sivo him hint upon the sub- ject It would have been a breach of hospi- tality; and yet felt that his visit had been unduly prolonged. did not feel at my ease, nor did my wfe and daughter. There were reasons for this discomfort.
 First, it appeared to mo that Mr. Mortlook was too strongly attracted towards Eunice. His attentions to ier were marked by a ren- derness which was not agreeable to her or us. There had boen nothing concealed from him. He know th;lt Eunice and Harry Clan ronald were engaged, and he could not but sec that they were devotedly attached to each other. Was it, then, the conduct of an honorable man to introduce a discordant element into this engagement? True, MT. Mortlock might plead his growing love for Eunice as an excuse but it would have been nobler in him to have accepted tho situation, and to have bidden 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- tion was the cause of something moro than embarrassment. Should speak and remon- strate with Mir. Mortlock? Even in the event of my so deciding, I should have been at loss how to approach the subject; my duties as host added to the difficulty, and my un- cle's letter seemed to effectually stop the way. Tread this letter over and over again and each time it impressed itself more strongly upon me that if I offended MT. Leonard Mortlock, or wounded his feelings, my uncle would take it as personal to him. self. The interests at stake were 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 the difficulty.
 This was our attitude; but we could not control the attitude of Eunice and Harry. Eunice took every pains to avoid MT. 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 distasteful to her. Harry Canron- aids jealousy was openly demonstrated, and the two men, who, during the carly part of Mir. Mortlock's visit, were in frequent friendly as- sociation, now seldom exchanged word. I must say that Mir. Mortlock took this in good part, and that, solar us outward appearances went, his demeanor continued to be cheerful and well bred, while Harry was sullen and occasionally offensive and as nothing seemed to disturb Kr. Mortlock's equanimity Harry was placed at a conspicuous disadvantage in this antagonism. I cautioned Harry.