The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-07-10
THE NAN In POSSESSION.

"Vhat outrageous GNU uc'' ~
,..,ad Mrs. Fielding, gazing at her
e SDnnbter with wide opened eyes.
uS "yarv extraordinary agreed Ethel.
~ over heard of such a thing in my
nfe!" 4,n uo.oa NJ
r,oIding What would your poor, dear
t.tber have said if, during his lifetime,
l', ronno man had come to propose for
o,r hand, and, on being refused by
'on had expressed his intention of
!'toTno in the house until you accepted
49, I've not even read in novels"
lTitb fine touch of scorn) 'of such a
Dwranosterous notion. Did he-did-did
+ seem firm about it, my dear?"
oFrightfully!" Ethel assured her,
4rightfulIy firm, and you should just
roo what chin he has. Itwould make
ssree of mine!"
aWhat did you say3" asked Mrs.
Fielding.
@What could say? I've already told
von everything. 1 met him, as you
tnov. at Observation-Disclosures and
otter our first introduction saw him
almost every day during the following
month The hight before came home
he proposed to me, and well, you
lnow what I said. He then declared his
intention of asking me again every six
months. ana didn't seem to care in the
least when | assured him that my an
swer woald be just the same, however
many times he asked. Well, it is ex-
setly six months to-day since the-the
first time 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,
1--WE must send for the police"
ooh. no-no-no-nol" calculated
Ethel, springing up. "Please don't do
that. Hes sure to go. He-he's very
gentlemanIy, mother, and I'm sure he'll
behave himselfif 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
months food for title tattle, if the
strong arm Of the law were to inter-
rene.
twill see the young person myself"
exclaimed the elder lady, majestically.
Don't be harsh, MOTHER said Ethel,
bushing a little, because, after all, you
know, he's"
Head over heels in love with you?
OF course" rejoined Mrs. Fielding.
"0f 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
nifcently 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 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 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: ~ 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 a desperate step. (3) That Ethel
by no means deceived her maternal
Judgment when she expressed herself
Indignantly about Dick and his resclu-
ton. (She let slip his name-''Dick''-
several times unthinkingly.) az That
it was the general opinion in the
kitchen that the gentleman who had
come so neutrality-suspicious. any lug
gage-was imam in possession" (5)
That he seemed to the kitchen a very
well dressed man in possession. co.
mat the gentleman Immediately sat
down and wrote long letter which
was given to the housemaid to post. ca
mat he wired to another address for
some clothes. ~ That the letter was
addressed to Mr.. John Blunt, Friar's
court Temple, London. And (9) that
N the opinion of the kitchen, ''Friar's
court" sounded like low placefor any
leentleman's friends to live in.