Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-10-15
CHAPTER XIII.
A LATE VISITOR.

yOuuS6T SILL. Ilc 5upPOoS~S I'LL W uubfS
gone abroad; but, still incensed at his
Notwithstanding nevertheless
-he cannot bring himself to make
earnest inquiry. Enough concession on
his part to have furnished the means
of travel; and he is conltented-will in
deed be rejoiced-if his rebellious boy,
as he terms him. will but stay cut of
England till Belle Mainwaring changes
her surname by becoming somebody
wife.
He has no idea how near she is to
taking his own; for Nigel throughout
all has contrived to keep dark his do
ings in that quarter-at least from his
father. In this the lady has herself
assisted. So far from Boosting of the
conquest made, she is silent; reserving
it as a spare string to her bow, to be
used or cast aside, as time with its at
tendant circumstances may dictate. All
this under the tutelage of her astute
and talented mother.
On that same day. and about the same
hour, when / and by girlish companion
of the fete champetre were so unex-
pectedly being made acquainted with
the amorous aspirations Of General
Harding's elder son. the General him
self was eating his dinner. Almost
alone, as only his maiden sister sat
down with him-not much company
she.
The table, however. was set for a
Nigel-who promised to be back
for dinner, but did not come; at which
the old soldier is no little annoyed, hav-
ing his sense Of military punctuality
thus outraged by one usually so pre-
else in his obresvance Of it
Seated at the dinner table, now spread
for desert. with a decanter of South
Side Madeira by This elbow and Trichi-
nopoly cheroot between his teeth, the
General endeayors to console himself
for his sons protracted stay. Thinking
there must be some sufficient reason
for it, Aunt Rachel suggested his hav-
ing missed train; which seems salts
factory enough. Nigel is still her ia
volite, and she inclines to taking his
part, shaping excuses for him.
"Half-past eight" observes the Gen
eral glancing at the clock on the man
tel. There's train from Maiden
head at 6:15 BY that he should have
been here a good hour ago. l distinct
~ told him not to stay dinner. Besides
it wasn't dinner-Darty, and why
should he? A grand outdoor gather
ing, l suppose, as Sir George always
gives. wonder if the Mainwarlngs
were there?"
Likely enough" reioins the spinster,
clever at conjectures. IF invited,
they'd be sure to CO."
This with a sheer, for Mrs. Wainwar-
ing is no friend of Miss Rachel Hard
ing.
well" remarks the General, mus
ingly, it don't matter much, I've no
fear for Nigel; he's not the sort to be
made fool of by Miss Bellies blan-
dishments, like that hot-headed Hal.
But isn't it strange" he adds, chang
ing his tone, 1--WE hear nothing Of
aim?"
"Not at all brother"
"Odd he's never written" continued
she General in half soliloquy IF
only word to say where he is
you'll get that when he's spent the
thousand pounds you gave him. Once
the moneys gone, he won't be so spar
ing Of his correspondence"
HE should at least have aeknowl-
edged the receipt of it," bitterly rejoins
the General. q suppose he got it;
though it has never occurred to me TO
ask Lawson. l must write and in
Quire."
THAT would be a supernuous epis-
tie. He had it. or you'd have long
ago heard to the contrary"
mo doubt he has-no doubt"
you may be quite sure of it. Henry
isn't the one to have a thousand pounds
untouched, when he can lay his hands
upon it. You've had good reason TO
know that. and may be satisfied he
hasn't all this time been living on air"
= hope he has gone abroad"
=:.ad l doubt it. Londons the place
for him, so long as his money lasts.
When he's run through his last pound
he'll let us know where he is, by writ
ing for fresh supply; which OF course
you'll send him.
The irony is intended still further
to steel the fathers heart against his
absent son; which it does, as shown
by the rejcinder.
Not shilling" exclaims the Gen
eral, bringing his glass down TO the
table with determined clink. mot
a single shilling. Nay, more; if with
in twelve months l do not hear from
him-if in that time he don't write me
a repentant letter-then / shall make
a real will, and no counterfeit as that
with Woolet's name to it. Not so very
different in terms, though. I've given
Henry every indulgence, every chance,
i. ,1,r,lI H. T0,.4