Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1896-08-20
THE MAN In POSSESSION.

what outrageous conduct" ex-
claimed Mrs. Fielding, gazing Mt her
daughter with wide opened eyes.
VERY extraordinarily agreed Ethel.
Il never heard of such thing in my
life!"
II should hope not!" returned Mrs.
Fielding. "What would your poor, dear
father have said if, during his lifetime,
young man had come to propose for
your hand, and, ON being refused by
you, had expressed his intention of
staying in the house until you accepted
him? I've not even read in novels
with fine touch of scorn) "of such
preposterous notion. Did he-did-did
he seem firm about it, my dear?"
"Frightfully!" Ethel assured her,
"frightfully firm, and you should just
see what u chin he has. Itwould make
three of mine!"
what did you say?" asked Mrs.
Fielding.
what could say? I've already told
you everything. met him, as you
know, at Merchant-Mainwarmg's, and
after our first introduction saw him
almost every day during the following
month. The right before came home
he proposed to me, and I---well, you
know what said. He then declared his
intention Of asking me ugain every six
months, and didn't seem to care in the
least when assured him that my an
swer would be just the same, however
many times he asked. Well, it is ex-
actly six months to-day since the-the
first time l told him that / couldn't
think Of marrying"
"And he expressed his intention of
staying here in the house till you said
Yes? put in Mrs. Fielding.
Ethel nodded.
"Then," was Mrs. Fielding's decision,
we must send for the police"
"Oh, no-no-no--no!" calculated
Ethel, springing up. "Please don't do
that. He's sure to go. He-he's very
geptlemanly, mother, and I'm sure he'll
behave himself il he does stop. Besides,
If he fought the policemen (and l am
sure he would fight them) there would
be such scandal"
Yes, Mrs. Fielding agreed that the
affair would give Market Norbury q
months food for title tattle, if the
strong arm of the law were to inter-
vene.
II will see the young person myself!'
exclaimed the elder lady, majestically.
Don't be harsh, mother said Ethel
blushing little, because, after all, you
know, he's"
'"Head over heels in love with you
OF course" rejoined Mrs. Fielding
"Of course he.is. II he weren't should
suspect him of having designs on the
plate. Leave him to me, Ethel!"
So saying, Mrs. Fielding swept mag
nificently into the drawing-room.
But severe as was her tone and sterr
her mien, Dick Waterbury declined t.
bulge. He apologized for the gros,
rudeness of his decision, but, neverthe
less, refused to spike his guns and re
tire. During the alteration Mrs. Field
Ing discovered that he was a young
gentleman Of twenty-five, with al
ample income, and small country sea
chat stood sadly in need, of some one t.
look after it.
Twenty minutes later Mrs. Fieldin,
returned to her daughter.
MY reasoning had no effect what
ever" she informed Ethel; "none what
ever. l suppose he must remain. III
may be in a more sensible frame o
mind in the morning. Don't let th'
servants know anything about the rea
state of things, and say his luggage will
arrive in due course"
The result was: () That Mr.. Rich
ard Waterbury gained his point an,
stayed at Pleasant View. (2) That onl,
his fixed determination to win Ethe
Fielding would have led him to TAX
such desperate step. (3) That Ethe
by no means deceived her materna
judgment when she expressed hersel
Indignantly about Dick and his resolu
tion. (She let slip his name-"Dick"-
several times unthinkingly.) (D Tha
IT was the general opinion in th
kitchen that the gentleman who hat
come SO suddenly-without any lug
Rage-was a "man in possession" Is
That he seemed to the kitchen a YER
well dressed man in possession. &c
That the gentleman Immediately sa
down and wrote long letter whicl
was given to the housemaid to post. q
That he wired to another address TO
some clothes. (s) That the letter wa
addressed to Mr.. John Blunt, Friar'
Court Temple, London. And (0) tha
IN the opinion of the kitchen, "Friar'
Court" sounded like low placefor an,
gentleman's friends to live in.