Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-02-16

ooh, but, dad" said Aileen, Il must
not show any dislike to Mr. Acheson
1t would be an insult to our friends
the Coombes, whose guest he is rs
well as us"
We'll, we'll" said her father. Il
trust to your own good sense
The party having now assembled,
there could be no more said. But the
Colonel was both angry and astonished
when he saw that, as the party broke
up into groups, his daughter and Mr..
Acheson were together. And more than
once he heard Aliens merry laugh
walking with him.
Il say, COombe, he said to the Major,
| with whom he was walking, 'I don't
think it's right Of Acheson monopo-
lizing my daughter. He ought to be
| with"
Alice, you were going to say. Oh,
no, Craufurd. I think he shows his
courtesy in entertaining a stranger.
He sees Alice often enough
ga stranger" muttered the Colonel.
Next morning the Colonel had
tWinge of his old enemy, the govt, and
didn't come down to breakfast, and
Aileen remained in his room during
| the forenoon, and took luncheon with
| her father
| While the others were at luncheon
in the dining room, new arrival was
announced, and soon message was
sent requesting Aileen to come down.
More than half an hour elapsed before
| she returned to her father.
"Oh, daddy" she burst out, shall 1
| give you peg to brace you up?
There's a gentleman coming to see
| you"
''Who is he?"
Hes a-a-soldier, and there's his
card"
The Colonel took the card and read
Captain Acheson-Philips, Royal En-
gineers." who the dickens is he,
AiIie?" he said st don't know him
Aileen left the room and soon re-
turned, accompanied by very hand
some young man of military bearing.
Daddy" she said, amidst tears and
smiles, this is Franklin. Acheson's
brother-and he has-asked me-to
ma-marry him.
Colonel Craufurd," said the young
man, Il must first apologize for not
treating you very we'll"
'Oh, no, it was all my doing, daddy.
Don't blame Frank" interjected
Aileen.
when l proposed to your daughter"
the young man continued, 'you were
travelling abroad. I did not consider
that was in a position then to marry,
but | know that l ought to have made
you aware Of the fact that my promo
ton would soon come. I've agreed,
therefore foolishly, no doubt-to wait
awhile before acquainting you with
the state Of matters. But love, like
murder, will out, and your sister-in-
| law led you to understand that we
were affianced lovers. l now ask you,
sir, to give your consent to our mar
riage, and I hope to prove myself not
an unworthy son."
! The Colonel had kept the visiting
| card between his fingers all this time.
! Then he said
IF you are Mr.. Acheson's brother,
how are you Philips?"
My fathers old friend, General
Philips, Of Canterbury, who died only
recently, left me his heir, one condition
being that | should assume his name"
General PhiIips!" cried the Colonel.
Ana your own father-who is he?"
He is dead, sir. He was Colonel
Acheson, OF the Bengal Cavalry"
Great guns!" exclaimed Colonel
Craufurd, another of my old COM
rades. But how did you know we were
here, Captain?"
Il didn't know, sir. l have had no
leave Of absence for long time, being
engaged on the new Notifications. My
brother, knowing most of my-er-pri-
vate affairs, procured me an invitation
from Major CoOmbe to visit him. |
was detained a day too long, or l
should have joined them at Edinburgh
| trust, sir, you are not offended at my
coming?"
It's a curious business altogether
how things have turned out" said The
Colonel musingly. Then turning to
Aileen, he said, with pretence at a
frown-
Here, you little baggage, didn't you
tell me that your lover was a civil en-
gineer?"
Yes, dad" Aileen replied, with a
ripple Of laughter, but 1 didn't mean
with a big G. When 1 said he was an
engineer, l pretended not to see the
point of Interrogation when you said
'Civil?' l only answered Yes"
Then, linking her arm into her
lovers, she continued
And isn't Frank civil? And a SOL
! der as well?''
We'll, well, said her father. L hope
you'll be happy, although you have
practiced-"
"a little mild deception SAID
Aileen
I WOMEN GREAT MEN MARRY.
r Byron married Miss Millbank to ge