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


Now" said my uncle. on the follow
ing day, when we were together in his
room, I'VE will have our chat. shall
be glad TO get it off my mind. and you
will. too. First let me express my an
prevail of my new scoundrel Fleetwood.
When l leave you | shall be almost in
clined TO tempt him to accompany me-"
HE has heart disease" l said. land. I
am afraid, has not long to live
by the way, Nephew Richard. the
young man who was here last night and
revoked at whist-haye you known him
long?"
For somewhat over two years. 1 re-
Piled But my letter has explained-v
''Ah, those lettersr' said Mr.. Wilmot.
Would you believe, Nephew Richard
that there are two boxes full of them
actually two boxes full? l burst out
laughing when | saw them, and quickly
locked the boxes again. Life is too short
for correspondence. When / return to
London / shall instruct some one to sep
arate the wheat from the chaff, and then
probably burn the iot-positively burn
the lot without looking at them
| was seized with CONSERVATION. Ny
uncle had not read my letter announcing
Eunice's engagement with Harry Clan
ronald; he was in ignorance that Eunice's
heart was pledged to the young fellow;
and he was now in my house with the
Intention IF promoting Mr.. Mortlock's
suit. was convinced of it, and presently
the proof came, and left no shadow of
doubt behind.
"A great many years ago." said my
uncle, Il was acquainted with a Mr.
Clanronald, whom l have no reason to
think well of. If it is the same, he is
this young mans father. Perhaps you
have a photograph of him?"
l went to the drawing room, and, Sc
lecting the album in which Mr. Clan
ronald's portrait was placed, l took it up
to Mr.. Wilmot. My mind was filed with
misgivings. for my uncle's voice. when
he spoke of Mr.. Clanronald, BODIED i'll.
Let me find the portrait for myself, ;"
he said; and l handed him the album.
AS he turned over the pages l felt that
consequences almost vital were trem-
bling in the balance. Yes" said Mr..
Wilmot. pausing at a page, this is the
msn-it is he" He nodded and snarled
at the bit of pasteboard. Let us be
sure This is the father of the young
man who played what he called chess
Wltn ule last ulSut4
"Yes"
He closed the book. Nephew Rich
arc you and % not know much of
each other"
Not as much as should have de-
sired. SIR
well, we'll Perhaps we have been
better friends apart 1t is often the case
often the case. l like you; / like your
wife; like your daughter. There are
one or two others / like-only one or
two. l like Mortlock; you like him, too:
you said he was a charming gentleman.
So he is--charming. There are men
dislike-Some more, some less. They do
not trouble Inc. because l do no, allow
Them to trouble me. | wipe en- out,
l do not express my dislike: | 90 not as
much as think of them, unless they hap
pen TO be forced upon me- As in this
case. dislike your Mr. Clanronald.
much more than less | will not enter
into the reasons for my dislike; they are
private and delicate. and are, 10 nae sui
ficient. That much being said, we dis
miss the Clanronalds. Let me never hear
their name again."
But. sir. l said. in a helpless tone of
remoastrance, for hope seemed surely
slipping from me, sit is of this very Har-
ry Clan-0nald | must speak"
Pardon me-" he said. in tone of
extreme politeness. and had l been bet
ter acquainted with his character /
should have known that TINS was ia him
dangerous sign. Il do not see the
necessity. Let Us. at all events. first
speak of what win be mutually agree
Automatically agreeable. present my
self 10 you as an ambassador"
AS an ambassador p l stammered
AS an ambassador he repeated
blandly. Il have the honor TO ask the
hand of your lovely daughter Eunice for
my dear friend Mortlock." l gszed AT
him in a kind of despair; he continued:
He is a gentleman; a msn Of good fam
liz, travelled man; a cultured man; a
man of parts: aud | like him. When I
introduced him to you aad your delige.s
full family l had a latent hope that he
would fall in love with your daughter.
Ii has happened. l did not say to him.
Go TO England, so 10 Boscombe Lodge.
SevenoakS. and make 4 friend of my
nephew Richard. and there behold
fresh and budding type of English beau
" in the person of nay nephew Rich
ards charming daughter Eunice- ] might
have said as much. having, before l
left England. received q picture of your
daughter. for which. | think. | have not
thanked you. and in which discerned
bud ghat would blossom into : rare love
linesn: but l did say TO Friend Mort
lock. Nephew Richard has a daughter:
n il time you should settle dewn-' What
hoped has come 70 pass. and ap-
prove
What you ask said. SIS impossi-
bic. Eunice does not love Mr. Mort
lock. Her heart IL given TO another. Te
Harry Cl&nr1nald."