Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-05-15
CHAPTER XNlif.

cncc Fame, a favOrite acquaintance OF her
father, had not been there. too, and con.
tinunlly haunting them. She had been
distrustful Of him ever since Annnple's
warning. md II became continual worry
20 the mothcrless girl to decide whether
his civil attentions really meant anything.
or whether she were only foolish and ridic.
ulous In not accepting them as freely and
simply ar before.
When Nu:tic went back to London she
was warned that Marks little son. Billy.
had the whooping cough, rendering them
unapproachable all the winter, SO that s'ic
could only hear of them through MIR. Out
ton. whom she continued TO see OCCASION
ally whenever there was anything to com.
munica'e. Mr.. Egrcmont rather liked
him, and on meeting him In the street.
would nsk him casually In to dinner. or TO
make up n rubber, or play piIuet. for he
exccl,ed In these arts, md still more In
chess, and an evening with Mr.. Button
was quite n rcd-lcttcr time with Nuttic.
1t gave her an indeiinablc sense of safety
and protection.
In the spring Mr.. Egrcmont was laid
mp with the worst rheumatic attack he
had yet had, In consequence Of yielding to
the imperious will Of his son. who had In.
sisted on standing In bleak corner to SEQ
the Life Guards pass by. On this occa.
sion Nnttlc did not prove herself the
hcavcn.born nurse thar the true heroine
ought 10 be, but was extremely frightened.
and altogether dependent on Grcgorio.
who knew all about the symptoms. and
when 20 send for the doctor and nurse.
Grcgorio felt himself In the ascendant. as
he certainly was ut present; but he be-
came much less gracious when he heard
that Mrs. William Egrcmont might be cx.
pcc,cd.
There was n lease 10 DO signed and,
MS soon us might be. Mr.. Bulinch. the
I.cdcas,lc solicitor. brought 1t NJ. and had
TO be entertained at luncheon. While he
was waiting IN the drawing room for MIR.
EgrcmOnt 10 be made ready for him. he
looked with deep interest on the little heir.
whom Ursula presently led OH to the 9th
or end Of tho room to the hoard OF down
stair toys; and an elaborate camp was
under construction, when by the tircsihc.
the canoncss inquired In low confidential
tone. May ask whether you came about
Wilt"
"No. AIRS. Egrcmont. ! wish were. 1t
il only about tho lease OF Spinncycotcs
Farm"
"'rhcn there is none!"
"Nonc that l am aware of. None has
over been drawn up by us. Indeed. l
was wishing that some influence could be
brought TO bear which might show the en-
,pedicncy Of making some arrangement.
Any melancholy event Is, I trust, far dis
tant, but contingencies should DO pro.
vidcd for"
"Exactiy 30. He IL recovering now, but
these attacks always leave effects on the
heart, and ut his age. with his habits, no
ono knows what may happen. or course
II would not make much difference to tho
boy"
mo, the Court Of Chanccry would an.
point tho most suitable natural guard.
JAMS"
But" said Mrs. Egrcmont. II am
afraid that the personal property when
divided would not DO much OF u provision
for her"
"You are right. The Investments arc
unfortunately and disproportionate!y
small"
"Shc ought either to have them all. OF
there should DO charge on the estate.
said tho can0ness dcclsively. If posi-
BILE, he must be made TO move"
"Oh, don'tw cried Nuttic. Jumping ~
from tho floor. "He mustn't be upset on
any account"
MY dear, ! had no notion that you
heard us" exclaimed her aunt. II though,
Alwyn was making too much noise with
bis soldiers"
~ beg your pardon" said Nuttic; per.
haps ] should have spoken sooner, but In.
deed he must not DO worried and disturb.
ed" she added, somewhat aerccly.
Don't be afraid, my dear" said her
aunt. "Mr. Bulfnch knows that your
father Ia In no condition to have such mat.
tiers brought before him."
"Certainly," said the old lawyer. 30.
litcly; "and we will trust that Miss Eyre.
mont's prospects may soon come forward
OH a more suspicious OCCASION"
Nuttie thought she had defended her
patient sufficiently, but she found she had
been mistaken, for when her aunt had
left them, some days later. her father be-
gan: 1--WE are well quit of her. Those
troublesome, dictatorlal women always 20,
worse when they are left MISUNDERSTANDING
upop them to say what their dear hus.
bands would have said, fOrsOoth."
Aunt Jane was very kind to me-" said
Ursula, not In the least knowing what he
was thinking OF.
ITO you. Az, I should think 30. taking
upon her to lecture me about securing u
provision for YOU"
"Oh, | hoped"
"Whatw he broke In. "You knew OF It!
You set her ON. ! suppose"
"Oh! no, no, father. She and Mr.. Bull.
finch began about 1t. not meaning inc ia
hcar-abOut a will, ! mean-and ] told
them ] wasn't going to have you worried
and thought had stopped Il altogether
'Stop woman bent on her duty? But
you are good girl, and shall come to no
loss when we have to make your ma rriag.
settlement"
"iou won't have to do that. fatherw
"What do you keep that poor fellow
Clarence Fame dangling In attendance OF,
you for?"
~ don't! I'm sure don't want him.
would do anything to keep him at dis,
tance!"
"How now! thought Your grace con,
descended to him more than to anyone
else"
II l2n't dislike him unless he has tina,
in his head; but as to marrying him! Oh
H." such note of horror that il
elected little laugh.
80 hot against him. are We? Who Is
1t, then? Not the umbrella fellowy"
"Father! how can your" she cried, with
burning flush of Indignation. Gle
why-he! He has always been sort OF
uncle, ever since was little girl"
"Oh. yes, adopted uncles are very de-
vout when young ladies' rush out to morn
ing prayers at unearthly hours"