The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1895-08-29
ready related by the young girl her.

cNhA
1t was not the kind Of thing her hus-
band would have done: but he was
very fond of his wife, and never OPP
posed her in anything.
When she proposed to adopt the
child and give it her own name he Of
fered some expostulations, but seeing
how much she had set her heart upon
it, he withdrew his opposition.
The child and her protectress were
~devotedly attached to mt another, and
during the long and painful illness
which preceded Mrs. Medlicott's death,
Rosamond proved her gratitude by
her unweary devotion to the poor suf-
fering lady, who. almost with her last
breath, commended her to her hus-
lands care.
MI. Medlicott had never altogether
sympathized with his wife's fondness
for hr protege. 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 a comfort
able home and should be provided for
after his death. and, not being Il man
of fine feelings, he considered that this
vas carrying out his wife's recon-
mendation to the letter. AS to any
sentimental feeling, that was quite
another thing.
Godfrey Medlicott. whose father n
mother had both been dead some years.
was the heir to Il large property; he
was his nephew. and that he should
marry a girl that had not even a name
and who lived upon charity was not
10 be 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
as 10 Godfrey. he would soon be re-
turning TO oxford. and before the next
term was finished he 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 it a splendid one. Blu
there was plenty of time to breach
that.
Mr.. MedlicOtt'S face assumed the
biandeSt expression as 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
ticular to say to you"
Such Il show of affection was very
unusual on his part, and Rosamond
was at a loss to understand its mean
ing.
Il am afraid" he went on. plunging
at once into the subject, that my
nephew is beginning to forget the old.
innocent, boy-and-girl relations which
have subsisted between you SO long
ia annn m thn tlnint thnt he hnS hnnn
making love to you. Now. don't speak
till you hear me out. Fol you own
sake. as well as for his, | must beg
you to give no encouragement. 4
boys love at twenty is pretty sure to
be a mans aversion at thirty. God
frey has seen nothing of the world
nothing of female society. He is n
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 be SO u%ngrateful to that
dear aunt. whom We both so sorely
miss, as 70 ruin not only his prospects
but his future happiness, for the sake
of indulging him or yourself in a pass
ing !nfatuation.'
During this speech, spoken with a
blandness that was far more mortify-
ing than would have been the sternest
rebuke, Rosamond grew alternately
red and pale with humiliation.
MI. MedlicOtt," she said, II shall
1ever forget my position. l shall new
er forget that Mr.. Godfrey is your
nephew. and a man of fortune. and
that | am only a poor, nameless or
rhan, dependent upon your bounty"
The lawyer was taken by surprise
by this answer; he had expected tears.
at least.
Somehow it did not please him: it
as too se.f-asSerting: there was too
much in 1t and too little you.
ID you not think it would he better
If | went away until Mr.. Godfrey has
returned to oxford? | have been in
Sited - stay with Mr.. and Mrs. Gard.
liner: had l not better go tomorrow
morning: Mr.. Godfrey need not be
t0lC where l have gone Or would il
not be a good opportunity to 20 to-
DAY: | could telegraph them to ex-
pect me-"
She spoke feveriShly. excitedly.
Mr.. Medlicott was more and more
surprised.
BY this time his dissatisfaction at
the manner OF her speech was COM
pensated by it's matter.
The very thing he cried, eagerly.
You're a good girl. l shall never for
get your behavior on this occasion
not but what it is all for your own
good, you know"
Il nave no doubt Of it, she an.
sWered, quietly, though her voice was
not without a touch Of bitterness in
Ii.
Without another word she hurried
away to her room to prepare for her
departure.
Within an hour the telegram an
nounclng her coming had been dis.