The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-08-30

Oh, nothing; am very sorry. I
must have been mistaken" said Luke,
with an appearance Of confusion.
Mr.. Medlicott did rot reply. His
thoughts reverted to his own observa-
tton on a certain evening, and his cog
itation, which we Rave already mem
toned, thercupon, which he had hnlf-
forgotten in the press of business.
Il hope, sir, you will not mention
my remark" said the secretary, after
n pause. "NIr. Godfrey does not like
me. and would think l hud been try
Ing to make mischief"
II shall not mention your name, Mr..
Abcrshaw. AS to Mr.. Godfrcy's Mixes
and dislikes. he is a mere boy, and
not worth noticing" q
Mr.. Medlicott spoke With an extreme
irritnbility quite unusual to him.
1t need scarcely be said that Mr.. Alb
ershaw knew nothing of Rosamond's
history, that he regarded her as Mr..
Medlicott's vcrltablc daughter, and
supposed that the objection was
against Godfrey.
His remark had been thrown out as
feeler, he had learned what he
wished to know. and a train Of ideas
was suggested thereby that was dies.
tined to lnomentorsly affect the fate
OF all the characters OF this history.
Mr.. Mcdlicott determined to see into
the matter at once.
To attack Godfrey he knew was use.
less; whatever was done must be done
through Rosamond.
1t 30 happened that n that evening
his nephew was dining out. and he
knew that he should find the Young
Girl alone in the drawing room.
NO better opportunity could possibly
have presented itself.
Before relating what followed. II
may be us well to enlightcn the reail.
er upon Mr.. Mcdlicott's sentiments
toward Rosamond.
AS We have said before. he WINS n
protested philanthropist; he was al.
ways ready to render himself conspic-
uous In all charitable undertakings.
and there was never a subscription
that was certain to attract public at.
tentton to which his name was NOT A..
tached as donor.
But he liked to get something for
his money, and the something was NO.
tOricty; he loved to be thought a rich
man. but above all, q benevolent mnn.
Private charity was not much in his
way. not to his liking.
Mrs. Medltcott had been the opposite
of all this; kind, gentle creature. tn
| whom tale Of woe was never toll In
vain. She had but ore trouble. she
was childless.
How she had found Rosamond IN
the Marlborough Union, taken n fancy
to her and adopted her, has been nj.
ready related by the young girl her.
self.
1t was not the kind of thing her hus.
band would have done; but he was
very fond OF his wife, and never on
posed her in anything.
When she proposed to adopt the
child and give it her own name he Of
Iefed some congratulations, but seeing
how much che had set her heart unon
1t, he withdrew his opposition.
The child and her protectress wero
devotedly attached to one another, and
during the long and painful illness
which preceded Mrs. Medlicott's death.
tosamond proved her gratitude by
her unwcary devotion to the poor SUI
fering lady, who, almost with her last
breath, commended her to her hus-
bands care.
Mr.Medlicott had never altoxe, her
sympathized with his wife's fondness
for hr protcge. Perhaps he was a
little jealous, and certainly. II a child
was to be adopted, he would have pre-
ferred a boy.
or course he intended that Rosa
mond should always have q comfort
able home and should be provided for
after his death, and, not being a man
of fine feelings, he considered that this
was carrying out his wife's recon-
mendation to the letter. As to any
sentimental feeling, that was quite
another thing.
Godfrey Medlicott, whose father and
mother had both been dead some years,
was the heir to large property; he
was his nephew, and that he should
marry a girl that had not even q name
and who lived upon charity was not
to bc thought Of. He had little fear,
however, knowing Rosamond's gentle
and amendable disposition, and that
he should get her over to his side; and
us to Godfrey, he would soon be re-
turning to Oxford, and before the next
term was finished lie would try to
get the girl married to some one.
Why not to Luke Abershaw? The
idea struck him all Of a moment, and
he thought 1t splendid one. But
there was plenty of time to breach
that.
Mr.. MedlicOtt's face assumed the
blandest expression us he entered the
drawing room, where Rosamond was
seated at the piano.
my dear child" he said, taking one
Of her hands, Il have something par
ticllllr to H0v to Won !"
Such q show of affection was very
unusual on his part, and Rosamond
was at loss to understand Its mean
ing.
II am afraid" he went on. plunging
ut once into the subject. that my
nephew is beginning to forget the old,
innocent. boy-and-girl relations which
have subslsted between you SO long
TO come to the point, that he has been
making love to you. Now, don't speak
till you hear me out. For your own
sake, as well as for his, l must beg
you to give no encouragement. A
boys love Mt twenty Is pretty sure to
be mans aversion at thirty. God
frey has seen nothing Of the world
nothing Of female society. He is a
young man Of fortune and good parts,
and has every chance Of making an
excellent alliance, and am sure, quite
sure, my dear ROsamond, that you
would not bc SO ungrateful to that
dear aunt, whom we both SO sorely
miss, as to ruin not only his prospects
but his future happiness, for the sake
Of INDUCING him or yourself In pass
ing infatuation."
During this speech, spoken with q
llandness that was far more mortify-
Ing than would have been the sternest
rebuke, Rosamond grew alternately
red and pale witt, humiliation.
mfr. Medlicott,' she said, II shall
rever forget my position. shall new
er forget that Mr.. Godfrey is your
nephew, and man Of fortune, and
that am only q poor, nameless or
uhan. dependent upon your bounty"
The lawyer was taken by surprise
by this apsWGr; he had expected tears,
ut least.
Somehow 1t did not please him; It
vas too sc:f-asscrting; there was too
much in it and too little you.
'Do YOU not think It would be better
IL ! went away until Mir. Godfrey has
/ returned to Oxford? l have been ill.,
Nited II stay with Mr.. and Mrs. Gard.
liner; had l not better 60 tomorrow
Morl ing: Mr.. Godfrey need not be
tOlc where l have gone. Or would It
not be a good opportunity to go to-