The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-07-23
THE MAN In POSSESSION.

THE MAN In POSSESSION.
"What outrageous conduct" .ex-
claimed Mrs. Fielding, gazing at her
daughter with wide opened eyes.
"Very extraordinary" agreed Ethel.
II never heard of such q thing in my
life!"
II 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 hie intention of
" staying in the house until you accepted
him? I've not even read in novels,
with a 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 chin he has. Itwould make
three of mine!" .,. ..
"What did you say?"' asked Ars-
Fielding.
"What could say? I've already told
l
know, at rchant-Mainwarng's, and
after our first introduction saw him
almost every day during the following
month. The night before came home
he proposed to me, and I-well, you
know what said. He then declared his
intention of asking me again 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 told him that I 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. Fie1ding's decision,
I'VE must send for the police"
"Oh, no-no-no-no!" calculated
Ethel, spring;ng up. "Please don't do
that. He's sure to go. He-he's very
gentlemanly, mother, and I'm sure he'll
behave himself if he does stop. Besides,
If he fought the policemen (and am
sure he would fight them) there would
be such q 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, najestically.
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 be is. If he weren't I 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 stern
her mien, Dick Waterbury declined to
bulge. He apo1ogized for the gross
rudeness Of his decision, but, neverthe-
less, refused to spike his guns and re-
tire. During thealtercation Mrs. Field
ing discovered that he was q young
gentleman of twenty-five, with an
ample income, and small country seat
that stood sadly in need, Of some oheto
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. I suppose he must remain. He
may be in q 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 will
arrive in due course"
The result was: (1) That Mr.. Rich
ard Waterbury gained his point and
stayed at Pleasant View. (2) That only
his fixed determination to win Ethel
Fielding would have led him to take
such desperate step. (3) That Ethel
by no means deceived her maternal
Judgment when she expressed herself
indignantly about Dick ind his resolu-
ton. (She let slip his name-''Dick"-
several times unthinkingly.) (4) That
it was the general opinion in the
kitchen that the gentleman who had
come SO neutrality-suspicious. any lug
gage-was a imam in possession" (5)
That he seemed to the kitchen a very
we'll dressed man in possession. (e)
That the gentleman Immediately sat
down and wrote long letter which
was given TO the housemaid to post. (7)
That he wired to another address for
some clothes. (s) That the letter was
addressed to Mr.. John Blunt, Friar's
Court, Temple, London. And Coy that
IN the opinion of the kitchen. "Triar's
Court" sounded like a low place-for any
gentleman's friends to live in.
II.
Dick Waterbury had been with the
Fieldings q week, and still showed no
signs Of departing from his resolution.
He had soon made himself at home;
he had broken the ice. over the dinner
table during The first night of his stay.
Mrs. Fielding AID HUI dsug hter had
opened the ball b treating him with
rigid politehess; but Dick had pre-