Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-06-06
CHAPTER v.

w ntlOt, conveying tuc NeICohic iuteIu-
gercr that he would be with us In the
course Of the ensuing week.
"Now," I said, joyfully to my wife,
'our troubles are coming to an end"
II am not one to meet troubles half
way" she said In explanation; but It
Is as well to be prepared"
Yes, my love-" ! said. what are
you about to speak Oft"
"Of your uncle and Mr. Mortlock."
replied my wife. 1T has been In my
mind for some little time past, but I
was not sure. and. indeed. am! not sure
now. Your uncle says nothing In either
of his letters Of Eunice's engagement"
"IIc cannot be aware Of II. My letter
to him, written on the day the engage.
ment was entered into. remains, l am
afraid. unopened In his lawyers Office In
London"
There appears to be close intimacy
between him and Mr.. Mortlock. 1t would
| not surprise me TO learn that II IL an
affcctionate intimacy. His first letter
and the terms In which Mr.. Mortlock
speaks Of him nrc almost IN assurance
Of this. Whether ! am right or wrong
In my surnise. your uncle certainly has
very high opinion of Mr.. Mortlock.
Does II occur to you. Richard. that your
uncle had any special object In asking u
SO strongly to make friend Of Mr..
Mortlock r
"You think that he had Eunice In
view when no asked us to make Mr..
Mortlock welcome In our homef'
ut il my fear" said my wife.
reflected. The suggestion had never
occurred to me. but with every passing
moment Of time II gathered weight now
that my wife had mentioned It.
But before he arrives" said. "hs
will have read my letter announcing her
engagement with Harry. Surely. In the
face Of that" I paused. seeing from,
the expression on my wlfe's face. that
was making no impression upon her.
II nm so much impressed" she said.
"by certain phase In your uncle's
character which has been dwelt upon
by MI. Mort!ock--I mean In regard to
once he has made up his mind--that
cannot Danish my foars. 1t IL a painful
subject, Richard; do not let us dwell up
OH It any longer. Hope IL left to US
and we will cling to It,"
This conversation made me moody and
unhappy: there were SO many contin.
Minor incidents which occurred during
the day passed lightly of, although on
other occasions ! should have deemed
them Alright. had lately perceived signs
Of failing health In Samuel Fleetwood,
and had advised him to consult q doc.
tor. He simply smiled, and said that Il
| would be useless, as no doctors could do
l. a, h,,x L., hal
| tinucd. desired our own physician to
see and examine Fleetwood. The physi.
| clans report was melancholy enough.
He represented our faithful servant
case to be hopeless, saying he had heart
disease and could not live through the
year.
1t will be understood how deep would
have been the impression produced upon
me by this sad news had not been 90
terribly harassed by my own special aux.
ieties.
Before shutdown Mile. Rosalie also
played her part. In anticipation Of my
uncle's visit. and desiring that he should
see Boscombe Lodge at Its best, I had
given instructions to my gardener. which
he said he could not carry out alone.
empowered him to hire man to assist
him. and he told me had done %.
was satisfied to leave the matter "a
him; he had been In my service many
years, and had served me WELL All tina,
] knew Of the man he had engaged was
his name-Redwing. When the garden.
or. came to me on Saturday for wages.
! asked how Redwing suited him.
"Oh, pretty well, SIR" was the reply;
"he isn't all he made himself out to Be.
but shall manage"
And my gardener being content, 90
was !. At the beginning Of the week I
myself saw Rsdwing for the first time.
He did not appear to be overexerting
himself; and this, and the fact that he
was good'looking fellow, comprised my
observations Of him. ] return now to
the incident In which Mile. Resale play.
cd part on the evening of the day on
which l received my uncle's second lot.
ter.
Ito be contlnued.)