The Van Buren press., 1896-08-08
THE MAN In POSSESSION.

What outrageous conduct" ex-
claimed Mrs. Fielding, gazing at her
daughter with wide opened eyes.
Very extraordinary" agreed Ethel
81 never heard of such thing in my
life!".
Il should hope not!" returned Mrs.
Fielding. what would your poor, dear
father have said if, during his lifetime,
a 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 a
preposterous notion. Did he-did-did
he seem firm about it, my dear?'
"Frightfullyi' Ethel assured her,
''frightfully firm. and you should just
see what a chin he has. 1t would make
three of minei"
"What did you say?" asked Mrs.
Fielding.
''What could | say? I've already told
you everything. l mel him, as you
know, at Merchant Mainwaring and
after our first introduction saw him
almost every day during the following
month. The night before | came home
he proposed to me, and well, you
know what said. lie then declared his
intention of asking me again every six
months, aud didn't seem to care in the
least when | assured him that my an
swer would be just the same, however
mauy times he asked. Well, it is ex-
actly six months to-day since the-the
first tifae | tod him that l 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,
tive must send for the police
"Oh, no-no-no-nci" calculated
Ethel. springing up. please don't do
that. lies sure to go. He-he's very
gentlemaniy. mother. and I'm sure he'll
behave himself II he does stop. Besides,
If he fought the policemen land am
sure he would fight them) there would
be such scandal"
Yes, Mrs. Fielding agreed that the
affair would give Market Norbury a
months food for little 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, hes"
Head over heels in love with you
Of course" rejoined Mrs. Fielding.
"Of course he is. If 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 draw:ng-room.
But severe as was her tone and stern
her mien, Dick Waterbury declined to
bulge. He apolcgized for the gross
rudeness of his decision, but, neverthe-
less, refused to spike his guns and re-
tire. During the altercation Mrs Field
ing discovered that he was a young
gentleman of twenty-five, with an
ample income and a small country seat
that stood sadly in need, of some one to
look after it.
Twenty minutes later Mrs. Fielding
returned to her daughter.
My reasoning had no effect what
ever" she informed Ethel; "none what
ever. l suppose he must remain. He
may be in more sensible frame of
mind in the morning. Don't let the
servants know anything about the real
state of things, and say his luggage viii
arrive in due COURSE"
The result was: 0) III Mr.. Rich
ard Waterbury gained his point and
stayed at Pleasant View. (2l That only
his fixed determination to win Ethel
Fielding would have led him to take
such desperate step. 90 That Ethel
by no means deceived her maternal
Judgment when she expressed herself
indignantly about Dick and his resou-
ton. tShe let slip his name Dick
several times unthinkinglyD (4) That
il was the general opinion in the
kitchen that the gentleman who had
come so suddenlS-without any lug
gage-was imam in possession" go
That he seemed to the kitchen a very
well dressed man in possession. 90
That the gentleman Immediately sat
down and wrote a long letter which
was given TO the housemaid TO post az
That he wired TO another address for
some Clothes. Isl That the letter was
addressed to Mr.. John Blunt, Friar's
Court, Temple, London. And (9) that
in the opinion of the kitchen, "Friar's
Court" sounded like low place for anv
gentleman's friends to live in.