The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-10-11

AS she opened the door, Murdoch
advanced to meet her. He seemed 70
come from the direction of the ey-
tension.
Miss Murdoch shifted the air.
Isn't there leak of gas?" she in-
quired.
Yes" replied Murdoch; Il have
just stopped a leak in the laboratory.
Won't you take a chair, Agnes"'
She felt his calm, searching glance
upon her; and in spite of her prep
aration, she grew embarrassed 6s
was her wont, in her fathers pres
ence.
did Mr.. Chatham wait to see you
this afternoon" she asked after a
momentary silence.
Murdoch observed her narrowly
"Yes; Chatham has been here to-
day. | did not know that you had
seen him"
Il could not help seeing him; for
he forced his way into the parlor, III
spite of all the servants could do to
prevent him"
An almost imperceptible furrow APP
peared between the chemists eyes.
HAS he been annoying you with
his attentions?"
The words were spoken in Muir
docks usual tones; but Agnes saw
something in her fathers eyes and
in the firm lines of his mouth which
sent a cold SILVER down her spine, and
caused her pity to go out to the I'M
fortunate young man who had offend
ed her.
perhaps he is more to be pitied
than blamed" she suggested. gently.
My interview with him was certain
ly not pleasant; but l bear him no
malice"
Tell me about it," said Murdoch
slowly.
Agnes gave her version of the visit,
in which, instinctively, she softarcl
as much as possible. the passion and
brutality displayed by the account
ant.
Murdoch listened in silence until
she had quite finished. Then Agnes
noticed that his right hand was
clenched upon the arm of his chain
with a force which caused the mus.
cles to stand out in hard knots. She
looked up into his face in sudden sur
prise.
His features gave no indication Of
what his feelings might be; and his
voice, as usual, was steady and delib-
crate.
81 am sorry all this should have
happened, Agnes. As | told YOU yes
terday, | hoped to save you from this
mans opportunities. 1t cannot b.
helped now. But | think ! made l.
clear to the gentleman that his atten
tions are as distastefu to ne as thev
ore TO YOU. AS he seems to have toto
you, he has been obliged to leave the
country understand that he haa
done something or other which max, :
it safer for him to undertake a long
journey. Al any rate, we are well rid
of him for some time to come, and |
think you need have no fear of fur
ther molestation.'
what did he mean by saying that
he had had encouragement from
you?" asked the young girl,
Il am sure | do not know That
was of course lie out of whole cloth.
He came to me with letters of recon-
mendation from good friends OF mine,
and | therefore occasionally invited
him to the house; but that is all tile
encouragement he ever got from me,
We live in the United States and az
the close Of the nineteenth century
The selection Of a husband is no long
er performed by a stern parent. but
is left entirely to the young girl her
self That is certainly my way Of
looking at the matter When you
find the man of your choice, my only
function viii be to give YOU advice.
if you seek it, and my best assistance
in any event"
The turn of the conversation thus
suddenly brought to the surface the
topic which occupied the young girls
mind to the exclusion of all others;
| and which for that very reason, had
been kept severely in the background
up to that point
THAT reminds me-" said Agnes,
consciously, as a charming flush suf-
fused her beautiful face, that | have
not yet preached the principal object
of this interview"
Murdoch observed her closely and
waited for her TO proceed. But Agnes
was once more laboring under a
strange embarrassment and could not
fird words in which to frame the con-
fidcnce she was so reluctant to offer.
Perhaps the chemist OWNED some
! thing Of the nature Of what she was
struggling to find expression for. At
any rate. he noticed her embarrAss-
ment and endeavored to come to ner
assistance with few encouraging
words, spoken with unusual gentle
ness Agnes, engrossed with her own
thoughts. did not notice it.; but there
was in his manner as near an ap-
proach to tender usefulness as his
nature was capable of
At last the young girl seemed to
gather courage, and she was about to
speak, when there was a knock upon