The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-09-26
CHAPTER ~.
Continued.

! had something of interest to com
1 municate to Mr.. Wilmot, and that
should feel obliged to them if they
| would give me his address. Their re-
| ply was to the effect that they had re-
| ceiyed strict Instructions from their
client to give his address abroad TO no
Fperson whatever, and thar they could
/ make no exception in my favor.
wrote again, asking, if l sent letter
| to Mr.. WilmOt under cover to them,
whether they would forward it to him.
| They replied that here again the in
structions under which they acted were
so strict and peremptory that they
| could not depart from them. All let
tiers which they received for Mr.. Will
mot were dropped in sealed boxes. OF
which he had the keys. Once more
wrote, inquiring whether they were
expecting Mr.. Wilmots return home,
and within what time. In reply they
| stated that they did not know when
he would return. Nothing was left for
me to do but to write to Mr.. Wilmot,
| acquainting him with the fact of my
daughters engagement, and giving him
every information in my power of the
| standing ana character of the family
into which she was about to marry. In
this letter / made delicate reference
to the subject of settlements; and said
that in my interview with Mr.. Clan
ronald ! had been compelled to ask
for a postponement Of this branch of
the matter until my uncle returned to
England. ! dispatched my letter to
the lawyers, with a sense of intense
satisfaction at the idea that it would
be dropped in sealed box and would
be read by my uncle heaven knew
! when.
1t was with feeling OF joy that. one
morning, among my letters, ] recog-
nized the handwriting Of Mr.. Wilmot.
His letter, which / read with eagerness
and anxiety, was addressed from Nor
way, and in it I received the welcome
intelligence that we might expect his
return to England within three months
from the date Of his writing. This in
| formation enabled me to give salts
factory answer to Mr.. Clanronald, who,
| in the course of the day, made an in
direct reference to the nncompleted
business of my daughters settlements.
1t was not the first time that he had
made such a reference, and hitherto
| l had always experienced feeling OF
awkwardness in meeting it. Now l
was quite at my ease
81 have received letter." ] said,
from Mr.. Wilmot, who is at present in
Norway, and within three months all
will be arranged
.'Mr., WilmotY, said Mr.. Clanronald,
in a tone of inquiry; and it was only
| then il struck me that l had never
mentioned my uncle's name before to
him-there being, indeed, no special
reason for it.
my mothers brother" said, who
has made the most handsome promises
In respect to Eunice's future"
.sYes, yesr' said Mr.. Clanronald, and
seemed to ponder upon the name, and
not with pleasure, but nothing more
was said.
My uncle's letter contained something
which then regarded as of small i'm
p0rtance, but which, in the near future,
was destined to bring about the peril
Of my life. 1t was included in the
following words:
Very soon otter my return TO Eng
land it is my intention to pay you a
visit at Boscombe Lodge, and to tres
- ...,.... -,.,.,, % lif for {, -fnxv
days. MeanwhileS y0u cansconfer an
obligation upon me. have given Mr..
Leonard Mortlock, young gentleman
| In whom l take a deep interest, ana
who for three months has been my
! companion in my travels, q letter OF
introduction to you, which he will
present in person. l wish him to be-
come acquainted with you and your
family; l wish you to make friend
OF him. Any social courtesies and
kindness which you can show him !
shall regard as extended to myself.
You win find him an agreeable and
/ charming person, and it will afford me
! pleasure to learn that the association
has been mutually pleasant"
The request, which could not have
| been more distinctly conveyed, was
| to me and my wife a law and we de-
| cided that when Mr.. Leonard Mortlock
made his appearance we would ask
him to make our house his bone for
while. My wife set about at once
making the necessary preparations, and
| a sitting room and bedroom were put
| in order for the expected visitor. We
had ample accommodations at our dis
| posal, there being at least half dozen
| spare rooms in our house. Eunice
assisted in making the preparations
| delighted at the opportunity of doing
something in return for MIR. Wilmot't
4 great generosity. Two days after the
/ receipt Of my uncle's letter Mr.. Mort
lock sent IN his card, ana was warmly
welcomed.
He was man of good education
! agreeable manners and smooth speech
ana we judged his age to be thirty
From his conversation it was Gear
that he had seen good deal OF X
world: and when ! invited him to stay
with Us as long as he wished to re
main in the neighborbood, he accepted
the Invitation with cordially. Moth
Ing, Of course, was said BY us as to ths
duration OF his visit. looked upol
him as much my uncle's guest as ours
and he was welcome to remain as Ions
as it suited his convenience and pleas
IRE.