Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1905-07-21

understand exactly why inc SdSv A@-A
asked him to come and stay with MN.
Brian had no scientific tastes, and ne
knew nothing whatever about beetles
and grubs and winged creatures or the
air. He was not even clever man.
according to the modern ideas OF clever
ness. He was neither an author nor an
artist. Mr.. Desmond was simply mod
erately well-educated gentleman of ex-
pensive tastes and luxurious habits,
which an acquisition of most unexpected
wealth had, within the last few years,
enabled him to crafty. He could not,
therefore, conceiFe why the professor,
who was an old man, and in his way
great man, had chosen to seek his socie-
ty in so marked a manner on the present
occasion.
While he was bordering upon this sub
ject Mr.. Laybourne interrupted his med
itations by the following words:
snow, I daresay, my dear Desmond,
that you are at this very moment Won
dering why I have invited you to come
down all this way to spend few days
with me. | take it very kindly of you.
1 lead a life of retirement and study. l
have no inducement to offer to a man
of your age and tastes, and yet you have
done me the honor to leave your Lon
don friends and your London gaieties to
come down and see an old Diogenes in
his tub"
''The honor, Professor, is all for me-"
replied Desmond, that man with so
worldwide reputation as yours should
son like myself"
swat, wait, my FRIEND" interrupted
the old man, with his gentle smile, "if
you had studied animal life as much as
| have, you would know that there is no
effect which has not cause.
Perhaps you have heard, Desmond,
that l was once married. he said quiet
ly, not looking at his guest. "My wife
died in childbirth"
"YesY Desmond looked up with ia
terest.
For few seconds Mr.. Laybourne was
silent, then looking up and meeting his
guests eyes, he continued: MY little
girl is a great source Of anxiety to me.
She inherits her mothers tendency to
consumption, and, 1 fear, my own I'M
sound constitution. Desmond, | have an
original disease of the heart"
Il am deeply distressed; are you
sure?''
''There is, unfortunately, no doubt
whateve about it. | have been aware
of it for some years and | have the first
medical opinions to confirm what had
long been my own conviction. [ am in
no appreciate danger, | may live years
and die of something else, again l may
drop down dead this very night; what I
want to know u.s." he added, with a sud-
den break in his voice, what is to be-
come of my little girl in that caseY"
Brian was uncertain how to answer;
he balanced his knife more anxiously
than ever and murmured something
about female relatives.
''She has none, not one, either on her
mothers side or my own; all are dead. l
have followers and worshipers by the
score; these go for nothing; and I have
also a number of professional acquaint-
ances, but where among them all shall |
find a man fit to take charge of a child
woman child?" For half a moment he
paused then said again, very earnestly:
Brian Desmond, will you take the
charge of my orphan child?"
Brian looked startled.
81? l am not fit. My life is a wan
dering one. L am here to-day, gone to-
morrow. Sometimes I travel in wild
countries, sometimes l spend months in
the racket of a London season; do you
indeed think such a man as | am can be
fit for the charge of a childw
The professor sighed deeply. "Then
you Decline" he said, sadly.
''No, no, do not think that. But your
proposition is so strange, so unexpect-
ed; give me but a moment to think. All!
yes, I have a cousin, sweet, good
woman with children of her own; your
little girl could be left with her and
l could see after her occasionally; that
would be a happy home for her; l am
sure she would take her gladly. Mr..
Laybourne, do not be uneasy about your
childs future, 1 will do what you ask Of
me-"
Go be continued)