Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-12-14
A FOXY FATHER
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Finifred loves you"
ME, fatherY'
Eyes, you. You have been very stu
pid not to notice it,
Winifred Howe had been adopted by
Mr.. and Mrs. Olmsted and treated as a
daughter. Louis pondered for awhile
at his IA hers information, then asked:
What do you want me to do, ia
therY
What your inclination prompts"
After more bordering Louis said:
"Winifred is very lovely. Perhaps we
shall make match in time"
Fish easily caught are not considered
desirable, and Louis treated his foster
sister indifferently, while she, poor girl,
waited patiently for a loving word
Louis was spending his vacation at
home before his last year in the law
department of his alma mater and in
the autumn returned to his studies. On
his departure the family parted with
him at the door, Winifred among them.
When it came her turn to clasp his
hand she did so without pressure and
with averted eyes. Mr.. Olmsted, ST.,
accompanied his son to the carriage,
but made no mention of what Louis
knew was a thwarted desire.
Some time after Louis return to the
law school he received letter from his
father containing the following para
graph:
You may remember that I desired
match between you and Winifred This
was because l wished at my death that
you should inherit the homestead and my
other property without dividing it. Wini-
fred, however, has assured me that she
will in no case accept any legacy from
me, and / think she will marry young
man who has recently made her &C.
quaintance poor, but very promising.
Therefore you need not trouble yourself
any further about her and consider my
implied request withdrawn.
A few days after the receipt Of this
letter, Louis Olmsted appeared one
morning at home His father mani
tested surprise at seeing him and ask
ed him what brought him back in term
time.
"This matter of Winifred You see,
father, it places me in rather an un-
pleasant position. l appear as one who
doesn't fall in with your desires, as &C.
cepting all of fortune Of which Wini-
fred should have half and of turning
away girl who you assured me loved
me-
you are borrowing trouble, my boy,
though your feelings do you credit
You have nothing to worry about. We
can't force Winifred to accept what
she will not accept, and since you don't
want her know you are not dog in
the manger' to keep any one else from
getting her.
"Who is the-fellowY'
what fellow?"
"Shes going to marry"
"Oh, have no authority from her to
speak of that. It's only matter of
observation with me-"
You may be mistaken"
Certainly
Perhaps you were mistaken when
you told me that Winifred was in love
with me-"
"Quite likely"
You must certainly be wrong in one
case or the other"
That's a logical deduction. l see
that you're profting by your studies.
You'll make an excellent lawyer"
Louis was walking back and forth,
evidently much dissatisfied with the
situation.
"Where is Winifred?"
"She's away at present"
"AwayY
Certainly. I said So"
"Where?'
"On a visit to her Aunt Caroline"
Louis knew that this was days jour
ney. He muttered something between
his teeth.
"Come, Louis" said his father, you
have done very wrong to leave your
studies. You must go back at once"
A time table was produced, and it
was found that a night train would
leave in half an hour The young man
would just have time to reach it. He
babe his father a sullen goodby and
started for the train. Mr.. Olmsted
stood looking down the street after
him.
'Goodv' he muttered, going into the
house. ''He can't go back to college
that way"
The next day Winifred received word
that her foster brother was waiting to
see her in the drawing room.
"Why, Louis" she said, surprised,
what brings you here? Anything the
matter at homer"
Matter? I'm afraid I'm too late"
'Too late for what?'
ITO tell you that love you and want
you to be my wife"
Winifred stood gazing first at him,
then at the floor Louis put his arm
about her and, drawing her, to him,
kissed her. He was filed with a wild
JOY when he found that she did not
resist