Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-10-27
CHAPTER vI.-lContinued.)

sor awav from all civilization / heard
no+bine until weeks after the whole thing
=. over: and then, when / do return. be-
fore have even had time to learn where
,he Young lady has hidden herself, ac-
.;5Antally discover her in the ward of
.bom I had CHANGED to hear you speak;
and find her so comfortably provided
with the very snuggest of homes that all
,or hopes are once more dashed to the
Ground. There. Wharf, you have the
TINE unvarnished facts of the case.
,o,nk them over, and tell me if you don't
consider that | have been hardly used.
Vo1 have been a second father to Miss
yalverton. of course; but you have GER
foinlv done your best to spoil my little
game
Sir Ughtred had stood listening with
look of something like amusement in his
face; but here he raised his head with a
sudden change of countenance and sur
yevad the invalid with undisguised as
constituent.
why, my dear fellow, you do not
mean to say you are going to owe me
grudge for providing my ward with the
hare necessities of life?"
.The bare necessities! All, then sup
nose that that cob for which you paid
100 guineas at TattersalPs the other day
comes under that category also? You
are a nice sort of guardian for girl to
have certainly! There are not many
wards who receive such delicate little at
tentions."
Lightly though the words were spoken,
there was a strong undercurrent of irony
in the captains tones, and Sir Ughtred,
who was occupied in lighting a cigar,
tossed the match away with a gesture of
impotence.
NV dear Grant, what on earth are you
talking about? / cannot imagine what
you can possibly meant Surely may
be allowed to make Miss Yelverton as
welcome as l can in this tumbledown,
ramshaclle old place, without being
called to account by my neighbors!"
Most certainly; you make a most
model guardian, L am sure. But that is
lust what has done the mischief. Had
YOU provided her with situation as com
panion to cantankerous old woman
there might have been some chance for
me. as it is"
A shrug of Grants shoulders would
have best indicated the hopelessness of
one Of them a deep drawn sigh was sub
stituted to finish the sentence appro-
priately.
well ] am sorry if have spoilt your
prospects," observed Sir Ughtred, his
of his smile. "You may be mistaken,
q though, there is no telling; Miss Yelver-
81 ton may yet be brought to see the error
III Of her ways"
"She might! I suppose that in your
capacity of guardian, you would have no
8 objection to the match? You would not
III withhold your consent? In fact, perhaps
might ask you to put in a kind word
"Perhaps" responded the baronet la
conically.
Because" proceeded Grant, with in
creasing eagerness, II have plenty to offer
her l have a nice little place down in
bankshire, besides that "bijou residence"
as the agents would describe it, in Bel
Taya which was left me by my uncle
last year, and my income will be con-
siderably increased at the death of
my godfather, which, as you know,
must"
Yes, yes, I understand" interrupted
know, and has been so for the last five
years"
Yes, he cannot last long now; he can
not, really! Besides, as it is, l am not
an absolute pauper, | shall be able to
provide my wife with all the necessities
Of life, even if 100 guinea cobs are a
little beyond me at present Still can
promise to make her happy can real
", Wharf. l honestly believe that l
should make capital husband"
1 am glad to hear it, there is nothing
like confidence" replied Sir Ughtred
calmly, watching the rings of smoke curl
ing up above his head
Then l may calculate upon your
helpq
Certainly will give you a good char
acter if that is what you want"
And just suggest" added Grant
quickly, chat it is an opportunity which
she ought on no account to lose. Advise
her strongly to accept my offer at once,
and tell her"
My dear fellow, do you suppose I am
going to remember all this7 Ny memory
Is not particularly bad but it has its
limits. l should say that the best thing
mat you could do would be to supply
yourself at once with a memorandum
book and secretary Meanwhile think
The matter over, and try whether it is
not possible to cut down a few of your
ideas"
Having delivered himself of this piece
OF advice, Sir Ughtred threw himself
BACK IN chair, and, taking up a news
II paper Immediately hid himself behind its
pages.
CHAPTER VII