Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-05-07

merchant, with some irritability, "if
young man is not too shy and backward
to meet it halfway. But may as well
tell You of whom / am thinking it Is
my daughter.''
what"
Hugh sprang from his chair with
bound, the color flooding his face readily
enough now. 1t was marvellous, inered-
ible, that this man who believed him q
criminal could be offering to give him his
daughter-tha the depth of seeming
degradation into which he had sunk, had
brought him TO the very highest pinnacle
of his hopes. lie stood facing his
guardian with every expression but
amazement gone for the moment out Of
his face.
do You mean this, sirf" he said at
last, hcarsely. Are you not jokingg
You would give your daughter to man
whom You believe capable of committing
forgery"
For moment the hop merchant did
not answer-he seemed at loss; and in
that moment it came nome to Hugh with
the force of conviction that the man act
ing part-thst there was something
dark and incomprehensible behind all
this He observed him with new keen
ness, ard for the first time III his life it
struck him that the gray eyes which
met his. and avoided them again so
quickly, were shifty; that the usually
smiling mouth had touch of sonnet hing
sinister about it; and he knew with as
much certainty as if the man had told
him SO himself, that he had been tricked
and fooled.
Mr.. Bcale recovered himself very
quickly.
Il have suggested this, Hugh" he sail,
in the same grave, kind voice which he
had used all through the conversation,
because. in spite OF what has occurred,
am sure You are not vicious As | said
before, Your chief faults are recklcssness
and weakness, and l am confident | could
trust my Aester's future to the son of
such an honest straightforward man as
my old friend, John Beverley"
Hugh found difficulty in framing his
next question, his heart was beating SO
tumultuously, his breath coming so fass.
Have you-have AFOREMENTIONED the
subject to Miss Beale, sir?"
Il have not at present, certainly-how
could : do so until you had expressed
yourself willing; but if you fall in with
my proposal, l anticipate no objection
from her"
What reason have YOU 10 think SO.
SIR" said the young man. eagerly, for
getting for the moment his ambiguous
position in the sudden vista of delicious
possibilities that Mr.. Beale's words had
opened before him.
Never mind my reasons" said the hon
merchant, quickly; 1T is sufficient that
| do think so. Now, have YOU decided
what course we shall pursuef"
1t was not possible for Hugh to hest.
tate long. On the one hand ignominy--
a blasted name, his whole future life
ruined; on the other, marriage with the
girl whom he had loved so silently but
so devotedly.
Mr.. Beale," he said, with tremor
of deep feeling in his voice. "if your
daughter will consent to be the wife of
one so unworthy of her. l Will will
try to make her a good husband"
What tame conclusion! And all the
while his heart was burning with pas.
sionate words and passionate thoughts
that his nnready tongue could not utter.
Mr.. Beale looked at him thoughtfullv.
Then, he said, leave the matter. IN
my hands. | viii speak to Hester to-
night, and write you the result of our
interview"
do you wish me, sir, to continue nv
duties in the officer"
The question was put respectfully
enough-indeed, in spite of the sure con.
viction he now had that the man was a
rogue and n schemer, it was impossible
for him to speak otherwise. Was this
not the father of the girl whom he hoped
to marry-his own fathers old and
trusted friend-did not force of habit as
we'll as force of circumstances, compel
him to treat the man with at least an
outward semblance of honor?
You may as WELL" Mr. Beale said
slowly; your absence might excite re-
mark and, as things stand now, that
is the asst thing We want. Yes, get back
to your work as usual; after you have
left | will talk to my daughter, and YOU
shall hear from me by the first post in
the morning"
So Hugh went into the office, and Ill
through that long day worked as if moth.
ing had happened, but all the while his
brain was i'll whirl He seemed as if
he were living in the midst of some ex-
citing dream. Within the last two DAYS
he had lived on see saw of varied emo
tons astonishment, despair, hope. and
now an almost delirious Joy. Had not
Mr. Beale's words implied that he
thought Hester cared for his ward? The
revelation was absolutely dazzling to the
young man.
10 RE c0<TI<TEn