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

/ return. Nothing was left for me to do
but to write TO Mr. Wilmot, acquainting
him with the fact of my daughters en-
gagement, and giving him every informa-
ton in my power of the standing and
character of the family into which she
was about to marry. In this letter
made delicate reference to the subject
of settlements: and said that in my In
terview with Mr.. Clanronald l had been
compelled to ask for a postponement of
| this branch Of the matter until my uncle
returned to England.
| 1t was with a feeling Of joy that one
morning, among my letters, / recognized
the handwriting of Mr.. Wilmot. His let
| ter, which | read with eagerness and
anxiety, was addressed from Norway,
and In it ] received the welcome intelli-
gence thai we might expect his return
to England within three months from the
date of his writing. This information
enabled me to give a satisfactory answer
| to Mr. Clanronald, who, in the course
of the day, made an indirect reference to
the uncompleted business of my daugh-
ter's settlements. 1t was not the first
time that he had made such a reference,
and hitherto l had always experienced
a feeling of awkwardness in meeting it.
Now | was quite at my ease.
II have received letter." / said
Rom MIR. Wilmot, who is at present in
Norway, and within three months all
will be arranged"
| Mr. WilmotY' said Mr. Clanronald
in tone of inquiry; and it was only then
| it struck me that l had never mentioned
my uncle's name before to him-there be-
| ing, indeed, no special reason for it.
my mothers brother" | said, "who
has made the most handsome promises
! in respect to Eunice's future"
''Yes, yesw said Mr.. Clanronald, and
seemed to ponder upon the name, and not
with pleasure, but nothing more was
| said.
| Ny uncles letter contained something
which l then regarded as of small inn
portance. but which, in the near future,
was destined to bring about the peril of
my life. 1t was included in the follow
ing words:
Every soon after my return to Eng
land it is my intention to pay you a
visit at Boscombe Lodge, and to tres
pass Apon your hospitality for a few
| days. Meanwhile you can confer an OBJ
| legation upon me. | have given Mr.
y
whom l take a deep interest, and who
foe three months has been my companion
| in my travels, a letter of introduction to
you, which he will present in person. l
wish him TO become acquainted with you
and your family; wish you to make 3
friend of him. Any social courtesies and
kindness which you can show him l fhall
regard as extended to myself You will
find him an agreeable and charming Der
son, and it will afford me pleasure to
learn that the association has been niu-
| tually pleasant"
The request which could not have been
mere distinctly conveyed, was to me and
my wife a law, and we decided that
when Mr.. Leonard Mortlock made his
appearance we would ask him to make
our house his home for a while. Ny wife
set about at once making the necessary
preparations for the expected visitor. We
had ample accommodations at our dis
posal, there being at least half a dozen
spare roms in our house. Eunice assist
ed to make the preparations, delighted
at the opportunity of doing something in
return for Mr.. Wilmot's great generos-
ity. Two days after the receipt of my
uncle's letter Mr.. Mortlock sent in his
card, and was warmly welcomed.
He was man of good education,
agreeable mann rs and smooth speech;
and we judged h. sgs IL &c thirty. From
his conversation it Was clear that he
had seen a good deal of the world; ord
when l invited him to stay with us as
long as he wished to remain in the neigh
borhood, he accepted the invitation with
cordiality. l looked upon him as much
/ m nnalafe nj L.
welcome to remain as long as it suited
his convenience and pleasure.
He was soon at his ease with us, and
we with him. Ny wife pronounced him
to be a gentleman. and concurred; Mile.
Rosalie said that he was delightful, y
and was not backward in showing him
attentions.
Mr.. Mertlock had much to tell us of
Mr.. Wilmot. whom he evidently knew
better than we did. He dilated upon my
uncles uniform kindness and considera-
tion for others, upon his sound opinion of
men and things, and, incidentally, upon
his strength of character.
what l admire in him." said Mr..
Mortlock, sis that, once having taken
certain view, once having resolved up
ON certain course, he is not to be turn
! ed from it by any arguments that can
be advanced against it,"
| During the week small matter some
what ruffled me. l was taking the let
ters out of the post-bag. preparatory to
sending them to the postofice by the
hands of Samuel Fleetwood, when Mr.
Mortlock said:
II beg your pardon. / have dropped
a letter by mistake into the bag"
| There was not more than six or seven
| In all, and Mr. Mortlock, selecting the
one to which he referred, took It from
the little pile and put it in his pocket.
1t was quite by accident that l saw it
was addressed to my uncle. Mr.. Mort
lock, L concluded, was acquainted with
my uncle's address, of which l was kept
ignorant and was in communication with
him, whereas l was debarred from the
privilege. II was, as | have said, a
small matter, but it ruffled me. Our rel
alive positions should have given me the
advantage in my uncle's confidence, but
this advantage was held by another, who
surely could not be so close TO him as
was. l consoled myself with the rehec-
| ton that time was waning fast. and that
ms gacle would soon be home.
Time, indeed. was flying. Two months
haN SlSHseu SINCE MT. MorIlpck SET IoOt
( in our house, and he evinced no inclina-
/ ton 10 put an end TO his visit. Not in
the remotest manner could L give him a
hint upon the subject. 1t would have
been breach of hospitality; aud yet
felt that his visit had been unduly pro-
longed. l did not feel at my ease. nor
did my wife and daughter. There were
reasons for this discomfort
- u.
Jock was too strongly attracted toward
Eunice. His attentions to her were
marked by a tenderness which was not
agrees Bile 10 her or us. There had been
nothing concealed from him. lie knew
that Euuice and Harry Clanronald were
engaged. aud he could not but see that
they were devetedly attached TO each
other Was It. then. the conduct of an
honorable man 70 Introduce a diseoSdGnt
element into this engagement
N,uws.., T,,E ax-N-x Mains ~ oxriI NfaS