The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-01-21
By FREDERIC REDDALE


another letter. Stella WrlSSleu ~
tie nearer. seating herself on the arm
of his chair.
"Well, what is it?" asked her broth
er, leaning back with an air of resig-
nation. Let me know the worst, and
get it over
ooh, it's nothing alarming" CUR
gled Stella-"at least | hope not. Are
you in a very good humor this morn
ing, Arthur
81 was he answered gravely, but
the most patient man has his limits,
you know"
Stella-the dignifed little Stella
fairly giggled-there is no other name
for the sound of suppressed delight
and merriment which rippled from her
lips-and Immediately went off on
another tangent.
Don't you think it very nice that
Richard and Mr.. Kane seemed to like
each other SO much last night?"
why, yes since we are all neigh
bors should say it was most fortu-
nate. Perhaps we ought to feel de-
lighted that Mr.. Kane likes us so
wcll-eh?" and he pinched the girls
ch eek mischievously, while quizzicai
smile twisted the corner of his mouth.
do you really like him." she muir
INJURED, hiding her face on her brothers
shoulder.
"Who-Ricll? Sir Arthur pererse-
ly inquired.
mo, you old stupid-Mr Kane!"
she replied, giving him an admonitory
shake.
Certainly. He impresses me as a
fine fellow man Of action and al
fairs; a man of head and of heart. In
point of birth ana breeding, | suppose,
we must concede something, but in
these democratic days the new men
are coming to the front and must be
with politically and social
ly."
During this didactic speech, delivered
in Sir Arthur's most deliberate man
rer, Stella Slid off the chair-arm and
edged towards the door.
81 am so glad you feel that way"
she said as she turned the handle; and
then, nudding saucily at her brother,
lng." and with a whisk of drapery she
was gone.
Sir Arthur preserved his gravity for
a moment, and then, with his favorite
phucltlp said alf-olOud-
Another addition to the family, I
1t is not always an easy thing to ask
a father for his only daughter in mar
riage; but when the guardian of the
girl happens to be her brother and
rather younger than the sutton himself,
the task of the latter is not whit less
But Kane found the baronet disposed
to meet him half way-perhaps be-
cause of his general liking for the
man. So when, after the usual salu-
tations and inquiries, he came to the
point simply and directly with
"As the head of your family, Sir Ar
thur, | am come to ask your sanction
TO your sisters engagement to me-" the
baronet smiled and said:
Yes, | received a hint to that effect
This morning, coupled with command
Kane, what has the culprit to say for
himself? You know it's a pretty Sc
rious matter to rob brother of his
only sister, particularly when that
brother is a bachelor!'
The only eXtenuation | can plead,
Sir Arthur, is that the lady will be
making another poor bachelor the hap
pieSt man on earth"
ooh, if you put it in that way"
laughed the baronet, 81 can have moth
ing to say except that | do not know
anyone to whom l would sooner trust
Stella's happiness" And so saying he
offered his hand.
The lawyers can attend to the set
Elements, suppose" he continued,
and from what | have seen and heard
Of your resources, Mr.. Kane, | opine
there is little danger of your wife ever
coming to want"
They both laughed at the jest, and at
this opportune moment Richard
strolled in.
Here, Rick" exclaimed Sir Arthur.
you are just in time to be introduced
TO your future brother-in-law. Shake
hands and congratulate each other"
AS Rick came forward his manner
was most cordial. The mornings rec
elections of the, night before had APP
left no unpleasant taste, and
he took Kane in all seriousness and
Cor what he had appeared to
be.
See what comes Of my leaving
home" he said ruefully. 81 find the
family running at loose ends when |
return and my little sister about to be
carried off into captivity But you
lave my sincere congratulations and
good wishes, Mr. Kane. | wish our ac-
quaintanCC had begun little earlier
out yonder. | rather think you and |
together could have pulled off some
big things
Kane could only bow his acknowl-
edgments as was perhaps natural UNI
der the circumstances, and was GER
tainly safest.
Rick knew, out of his own experl-