Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-06-16
CHAPTER Nv.

Living in some style, as may be gath
cred from what have already narrated,
1t may be supposed that l was rich
was not. | paid no rent for the house
IN which we resided, neither was 1t mine !;
and the money which supported it came
not from my own resources. / will briefly
describe the peculiar nature of my pri-
vate affairs.
Ny father, for some years of his life
an opulent man, lost his fortune when
/ was very young. partly through the
treachery of a friend, partly through I'M
wise speculation. and from the day of his
ruin was dependent upon his wife's broth
er, gentleman of great wealth.
Mr.. Wilmot was az once generous and
eccentric. He never had any great idea
of my fathers business capacities; and
1t is doing him no injustice to say that
he was self-willed and obstinate, and that
he entertained the idea that he should
be not only law unto himself. but to
other people as well. 1t was through his
assistance that my father extricated him
self honorably from his business difficult
ties, and when they were settled my I'M
Gle refused TO re-establish him.
"You shall have life of ease and
happiness" said Mr.. Wilmot, land shall
run no more risks"
To this end he promised my father
an income sufficiently large to maintain
the social standing to which he had been
accustomed. The promise was faithfully
kept At the end of every six months
a sum was placed in the bank to my faith
er's credit. in fulfllment of the arrange
ment: and Mr.. Wilmot, who was and
who remained bachelor. gave us TO I'M
derstand that at his death we should
inherit the whole of his wealth. Neither
of my parents eved long to enjoy the
life of luxurious ease for which Mr.
Wilmot's generosity provided. and 1 re-
mained the sole recipient of his kind
ness. He paid literally for my Support
and education; aud 1t was with his con
currence that L became engaged to the
lady ! married. On that occasion he
purchased the little estate in Sevenosks,
10 which l took my wife, and devised il
70 me in his will Therefore, l was en-
tirely dependent upon aim during his life
time.
AT the time Of my daughters engage
ment Mr.. Wilmot was absent from Eng
land. and / had nc means of placing my
self in communication with him. lie was
passionately fond of travel. and was IN
the habit of making long disappearanees.
During these periods il was his whim TO
he troubled by no correspondents what
ever. either from his friends or business
agents. He wrote 10 them from time to
time. but never gave an address. nor
would re consent TO receive replies from
them except upon matters Of the highest
private Importance All letters for him
were addressed, by request. TO a arm of
lawyers in London, who conducted his
affairs, and there they accumulated until
his return home
On the day that Mr.. Clanronsld asked
of me the hand of Eunice for his son. l
wrote to these lawyers, saying that / had
something Of interest TO communicate to
Mr.. Wiimot. and that should feel oblir-
ed to them If they would give me his
address. Their reply was TO the effect
that they had received strict instructions
from their client 70 give his address
abroad TO no person whStever, and that
they could make no exception in my IA
vor. l wrote again. asking. II sent
letter to Mr.. Wiimot under cover to
them, whether they would forward 1t to
aim. They replied thx. here again the
anstruc ions under which they acted were
20 strict and perem story that they eoald
not depart from them. AL letters which
RAsy received for Mr.. Wiimos we're drSp-