Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-09-03
CHAPTER XIII.
DETERMINED TO TAKE THE sHILr

LING.
Gracious heavens!" he exclaims.
what can it all mean?"
what, father?" asks the innocent
Nigel. "You have received some I'M
pleasant news?" "You have received
some unpleasant news" The General
has not read the letter aloud.
Unpleasant! I should think So!
Read this"
He hands the note to Nigel, who.
taking, runs it over to himself, then
says:
sOf course, cant tell what it refers
to. father. / only know that it's very
unfeeling of Harry to write to you in
that strain-indeed, insulting. What
can be his reasons for it?"
Never mind about his reasons" re-
Joins the General. knowing them well,
and on reflection rather pleased at
what has taken place, since part OF 1t
is what he himself planned and expect
ed. Still, the other part-Henry' $
flight, with the unfilial, defiant tone of
his letter-this has cut him to the
quick; and the storm RACES on.
His sister again puts in word to
tranquilize him; and so, too, the hypo-
critical son, whose speech is meant to
produce an opposite effect, which 1t
does.
Il think, father" he says, you
shouldn't worry yourself so much about
the thing. Henry's young and foolish.
Z AfhesMl, he may mean nothing by
.'Mean nothing" interrupts the Gen
eral, in fresh burst of passion. Does
it mean nothing, his writing such a
letter as that? Every word in it de-
fiance!"
That's true" assents the half-Hin-
du. Il can't think what's possessed
him to speak so. He's evidently an
cry about some injustice he seems to
think you've done him. Someone's
been telling him stories, suppose.
However, he'll get over it in time;
though l admit, after what he's said
and done, it's not so easy for you to for
give him.
.Tll never forgive him! No! He's
tried my temper too often; and now
this new act of disobedience-his lev
NJ disrespectful- ah! he shall be pu-
nfsfed Tor tfem!"
I'm that regard" interposes the unc-
tuous Nigel, since he's spoken of my
giving you advice, l should say, leave
him to himself-at least for time. At
ter he has spent few weeks without
the generous support you have hitherto
afforded him, he'll talk less independ
entity. | think that thousand pounds
he says you've promised him, and of
which / know nothing, ought not to be
sent him"
.'He shan't have shilling of it-not
till my death.
"On these conditions, dear father, l
hope twill be long before he gets it
for your sake. Aye, and for his too it
may better be kept back. That would
sooner bring him to his senses; and,
take my word for it, will ere long"
Aunt Rachael is of the same opinion;
and between the two the .irate father
at length sobers down and returns to
the table, but with spoilt appetite.
The meal, commencing so cheerfully,
is eaten in sombre silence-only word
or two spoken by any of the three pre-
sent, these Monosyllabic, and without
reference to the absent one for the
General has sunk into morose, pen
sive mood, which forbids his familiar
ity.
Dinner over, he stays not for dessert,
but betakes himself to his studio, leav-
ing his sister and son over the wine
and walnuts.
Closeted chez soi-meme, with de-
canter of port at his elbow and chez
root between his teeth, the General
takes the whole matter into considera-
ton, mentally reviewing it in all its
details. And the more hereflects on
them the peter is nc satisfied with
what had been done 1t is 20 clear
him that Henry mas proposed to Miss
Mainwaring; equally so that she has re-
fused him, as also the reason-her
mother being counsellor. 1t is not so
clear, but very strange indeed, why the
widow should have told the rejected
sutton all about the will; which the
General imagines she must have done.
Still, that matters not much. He would
scarce regret the effect her eommuni-
cation has produced, were it not for
the tone of his sons letter, which still
sore1y grieves him.
For time he remains true to his
determination-to refuse Henry's re-
quest by holding back the thousand
pounds. But the mellow wine-glass
after glass of which he gulps down
makes him more merciful; and, reflect
ing on what his son has said about