The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1896-09-11
THE MAN In POSSESSION.

claimed Mrs. Fielding, gazing at her
daughter with wide opened eyes.
Very extraordinary" agreed Ethel.
Il never heard of such a thing in my
lifei"
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
hlm? 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 a chin he has Itwould make
three of minei'
What did you say?' asked Mrs
Fielding.
What could / say? I've already told
you everything. l met him, as you
know, at Merchant t-Mainwaring'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 well. you
intention of asking me again every six
months, and didn't seem to care in the
least when | assured him that nv 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 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. FieIding's decision,
I'VE 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
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 a scandal"
Yes, Mrs. Fielding agreed that the
affair would give Market Norbury a
months food for title tattle, if the
strong arm of the law were to inter
vene.
Il viii see the yoxng person myself"
exclaimed the elder lady, majestically
Don't be harsh, mother, said Ethel,
blushing a little, because, after all, YOU
know. he's
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 drawing room
But severe as was her tone and stern
her mien, Dick Waterbury declined to
bulge He apologized for the gross
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 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. / suppose ne must remain He
may be in a 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. Ricn-
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 a desperate step. (3) That Ethel
by no means deceived her maternal
Judgment when she expressed herself
indignantly about Dick and his resoIu-
ton tShe let slip his name-"Dick''-
several times unthinkingIy-) ca That
It WAS the general opinion in the
kitchen that the gentleman who had
come so suddenly ly-without any lug
2age-was man in possession (5)
That he seemed to the kitchen a very
well dressed man in possession. 90
That the gentleman Immediately sat
down and wrote long letter which
was given to the housemaid to post "a
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 (9D that
in the opinion of the kitchen, .'Friar's
Court" sounded like low place for any
gentleman's friends to live in.