Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-05-09
in a like manner, and 1t surprised mo

10 see grave lOOk Ill HcT eseS'
Il am not one to meet troubles half
way" she said, In explanations; but 1t
Is we'll to be prepared"
"Yes, my love-" said. what are
you about to speak OFF,
"Of your uncle and Mr.. Mortlock,"
replied my wife. IL should like to say
what is in my mind concerning them.'
"Speak freely" said. "Therc have
never been any concealments between
us, and there should be none now when
happy event Is approaching"
ut has been in my mind for some
little time past, but was not sure, and,
indeed, am not sure now. Your uncle
says nothing In either Of his letters OF
Eunice's engagement"
"He cannot be aware of 1t. My letter
to him, written OH the day the engage
ment was entered into, remains, am
afraid, unopened in his lawyers office
in London"
"There appears to be a close int1'
macy between him and Mr.. Mortlock."
"Yes, my dear, and l am sorry to
think so."
1T would not surprise me to learn
that 1t Is an affectionate intimacy.
His first letter and the terms In which
Mr.. Mortlock speaks of him are almost
an assurance of this. Whether l am
right or wrong in my surmise, your
uncle certainly has very high opinion
! Of Mr.. Mortlock."
(which now." l said, "is not shared
by me-"
"Nor by me. regret to say"
knew it panied her to make the adnns-
sion; it was grief to her TO think Ill
of any person. Does 1t occur to you.
Richard, that your uncle had any spe-
clal object in asking us 20 strongly to
make friend of Mr.. Mortlock"
NO" replied.
II am glad to hear you say that; but
think. Bring our dear Eunicc into the
question"
l OWNED her trouble Immediately.
"You think that he had her In view
when he asked us to make Mr.. Mort.
lock welcome in our home"
ut is my fear,' said my wife.
reflected. The suggestion had never
occurred to me, but with every passing
moment of time 1t gathered weight
now that my wife had mentioned 1t.
ut is possible" | said, gloomlly.
"lt Is more than possible. Richard; 1t
IS probable. and Mr.. Mortlock's be-
havor seems to favor It,"
"But before he arrives" said, "he
will have read my letter announcing
her engagement with Harry. Surely,
In the face of that" paused, see
Ing, from the expression on my wife's
face, that | was making 10 impression
upon her.
II am so much impressed" she said.
"by a certain phase in your uncles
character which has been dwelt upon
by Mr. Mortlock-l mean in regard to
his being self-wiled and obstinate
when once he has made up his mind-
that cannot Danish my fears. 1t g
a painful subject, Richard; do not let
us dwell upon 1t any longer. Hope Is
left to us, and we will cling to it,
This conversation made me moody
and unhappy; there were SO many con-
tingencies depending upon ny uncle 5
whim.
Minor incidents which occurred dnr-
! Ing this day passed lightly Off, although
on other occasions should have
| deemed them Of Importance and have
estimated them Alright. ! had lately
perceived signs of failing health in
Samuel Fleetwood, and had advised
| him to consult a doctor. He simply
smiled, and said that 1t would be use
less, as no doctors could do him good:
but as his bad symptoms continued, l
desired our own physician to see and
examine Fleetwood. The physiclan's
report was melancholy enough. He
represented our faithful servants case
| to be hopeless, saying he had heart dis
ease and could not live through the
| year.
Ibid you inform him CT itT' In
| quired.
'It was scarcely necessary" replied
| the physician. "He has been for some
time aware Of his state, and he looks
forward to the end almost with cheer
| fulness."
1t will be understood how deep would
have been the impression produced
upon me by this god news had not
been so terribly harassed by my own
special anxieties.
Before sundown Mile. l,osalic also
played her part.
In anticipation of my Unclc's visit,
and desiring that he should see Bos-
combe Lodge ut its best, had given
instructions to my gardener. which he
| said he could not carry out alone. l
| empowered him to hire man to assist
him, and he told me he had done so.
was satisfied to leave the matter to
| him; he had been In my service many
years, and had served me well. All
| that knew of the man he had engaged
was his name-Redwing When the
gardener came to me OH Saturday for
wages, l asked how Redwing suited
him.
"Oh, pretty well, sir" was the reply;
"he isn't all he made himself out to
be, but l shall manage"
And my gardener being content, 80
was l.
At the beginning of the week l my
self saw Redwing for the first time.
He did not appear to be overexcrtinS
himself; and this, and the fact that he
was a good-lOoking fellow, comprised
! my observation Of him.
| return now to the incident In which