Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-06-30

"A childish fancy" said my uncle,
which will soon pass away. She can
not marry him."
She must, uncle. She is pledged. I
know the nature of my child. She will
never wed another
He did not lose his temper, but I saw
a change come over his face His sharp
eyes grew sharper and smaller, and this
diminishing sign, if may so express It,
distinguished all biz features. His wiz
ened face grew 5.ill more wizened, his
mouth seemed - contract. his nostrils
to become thinner, and when he spoke
again his voice was cold, clear and pre-
else, and seemed to come through lips of
steel.
Nephew lieLsrd, 1 was right when
said we do nor know much of each
other. Even if / had not set my heart
upon this match, / would never consent
to your daughter marrying young Mr..
ClaRronald; but l have set my heart up
on it, and if you are prudent you will
range yourself on my side. Yon shall not
be in the dark, whichever - yor de-
eide. l will be YER explicit. 1t is in no
petty or boastful moS mat say l nave
behaved well to yea and yours"
you have behaved, SIR" I said,
most literally, most generously. A life
time of gratitude could not repay you"
Il will be content with less" he said,
dryly. There is not much merit in what
L we done; what you have re-
ceived from me / could well spare. In
all my life l have really ,Hyed but one
human being-your mother my only sis
ter. When your father fell into misfor-
tune / resolved upon my course; and once
resolved, Nephew Richard, it needs, in
deed, a powerful reason to move me-
Oblige me by unlocking my dispatch
box" He paused occasionally as / at
tended to his Instructions.
Beneath the cash box are some pa
pers tied round with red tape Bring
them forward Lawyers papers, Nephew
Richard. Lock the box again. Unite the
papers, and take from them the largest
and most important. 1t is my will. You
may read it if you like. 1t makes you
my heir to the greater portion of my
property. For what / have done for
you--for what / have cheerfully and I'M
grudgingly done, | have never asked
from you he least return; | have never
requested you to render me the slightest
Favor. FOR the first and only time / ask
now favor at your hands-give your
| consent to the union of your daughter
with Friend Mortlock."
II cannot, sir"
Weigh well your words, Nephew
| Richard. The consequences of your re-
fusal will be that l shall destroy this
will, making another person my heir. To
you and yours not one shilling; nor shall
you ever receive another shilling of my
money"
My heart tainted within me; absolute
beggary stared me in the face: and with
that beggary, as it seemed to me, dis
grace.
Il regret" continued my uncle, "that
should have been forced into speaking
so plainly. l give you till tomorrow
morning to reflect, to talk over the mat
ter with your WIFE Till then. we will
speak no further on the subject. What
/ have resolved upon is irrevocable, and
there is nothing surer in life than you
and l have done with each other forever
| if you then determine to oppose my
wishes"
l saw that it would not improve mat
ters if l remained with him; therefore /
left him and sought my wife.
voice of alarm. She read the news in
my face. / told her all. and, cast down
and despairing as she vss, she said that
l had acted right.
do you realize what it means?" I
said. I'VE shall have to quit this place
| at once; we shall be thrown upon the
world to starvep' And then l started
up, and paced the room in state of ter
zible excitement, saying that it was mon
strous such a blow should be dealt US by
feeble old man.
Feeble and DID," l repeated vacantly;
yes, feeble and old. He is over seven
| ty. If he should die tonight The
words froze upon my lips.
Richard" cried my wife.
God forgive me-" l said; II know not
what 1 am saying. But it shall not
shall not-shall not be!'
| How the day passed l can scarcely re-
call. l know that my wife sent a note
| by hand to Harry Clanronald, request
| ing him not to come to our house that
| evening. l know that we, Mile. Rosa
lie, Mr.. Wilmot and Mr.. Mortlock, dined
together, and that was forced to play
the part of host l know that the three
whose names l have written were full
of sparkle and animation, while we were
moody and silent. | know that Mile.
Rosalie and Mr.. Mortlock played and
sang. And then came the goodnight all
round, and | was in my bedroom with
my wife. Her eyes were encircled by
dark rings; her face was wan; her limbs
shook; her voice trembled as she spoke.
| (To be continuedl