Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-06-07
CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPTER VIII
On the afternoon Of Freds return he
looked in at a club of which both he
and General Moore were members.
and ii so happened that General Moore
was the first person whom he came
across in the smoking-ro The
General jumped up, shook his young
friend by the hand. and endeavored to
assume a proper air of affection. so
sorry to hear of your loss, my dear
fellow! Very sudden. was 1t not? I'm
afraid you can hardly have been in
time to see your uncle alive"
Il was too late by good many
hours" answered Fred. Il didn't even
know that he was i'll until I got home
from your house the other night when
] found a telegram waiting for me.
He must have died at the very time
when our theatricals were coming to
an end"
Dear, dear!-how very sad. to be
sure. Although" added the General,
with a cheerfulness which could no
longer be depressed. he wasn't exacs-
~ young man. you know"
"Oh, he wasn't young man certain
ly,'
And really when you come to think
of it, extreme old age isn't thing 70
be desired. You were poor Dean Mus
graves only surviving relative. were
you not?"
Very nearly" answered Fred. with
a slight smile.
'T presume, then" continued Gener-
al Moore. casting aside all affectation
of sorrow, that we may congratulate
you upon having come into very
handsome fortune"
The General turned rather red and
felt little ashamed of himself after
ne had made this interrogative re-
mark. which. 1t must be confessed.
was not in. the best taste. But there
were excuses for him. He knew that
when he reached home he would be
sure to let out that he had met young
Musgrave al the club; he knew that
he would be questioned by his wife.
and he also knew that she would be
displeased with him If he should pro-
fess himself unable to answer her
questions.
Fred hesitated for moment. but
only for moment. before replying
my uncle left me 10000"
General Moore's chin dropped and
his eyes grew round. Ten thousand
pounds! God bless my soul! do you
mean to say that he bad no more than
that to leave?"
THE lawyer tells me that he had
something like 1900, 900: but the whole
of II, except my share and few small
Iegacies goes-as of course II ought TO
go--to his daughter. Until heard the
will read | had no idea that he had u
daughter but 1t seems that there Is
such person. though nobody knows
her exact whereabouts at present. She
married against my uncles wishes
shortly before l went to live with him.
and apparently they have never met
since. However. he behaved generous
Iy TO her at the last"
acknowledges; he behaved gen
erously to her, and no mistake! But
must own-however. las no business
of mine. And nobody knows where
this woman is. you say"
We'll. It is known she sailed for
New Zealand after her marriage. |
dare say we shall soon have news of
her"
'.what-what very unpleasant suc-
prise," General Moore could not help
calculating. You take 1t most good
humorecly. Musgrave; but II must be
great blow for YOU; l defy a-y man
not TO feel such q thing as blow.
STILL" he added, presently, there's al
ways a chance that your cousin may
have died in New Zealand. In that
event you would inherit. l suppose"
YES: in that event everything would
go TO me. as the next of kim"
"Oh. WE'LL returned the general
rubbing his hands, wen hope for the
best then"
Like Mr. BRENT. he was strongly OF
opinion that the only child OF man
who possessed 100000 does not al
low the fact OF her existence TO remain
a secret for twelve years. and he said
as much, adding. while he moved away,
Come and lpok us up when you've
ways glad 10 see YOU"
But Mrs. Moore, when this deplora-
Bile tale was related to her decided
that intimacy with young Mr. Mus
ecave must for the time being be dis
couraged "Of course we can't ask
him TO dinner while he is in such
deep mourning; and although ons
wouldn't wish to seem unfriendly. Il
would be as we'll to keep him at a GER
tain distance until we know a little
more Oddly enough. somebody
can't remember who-told me about
this daughter of the old Deans on the
evening OF the theatricais. 1t is real
IN very unfortunate, Such mics
young fellow in every way; and for
tune OF 100000 too, But for Susie's
sake we are bound TO be careful"
The General conourred. Neither hi
nor his wife, were more worldly thar
their neighbors. but 1t stands to rea-
son that when you are blessed with .
daughter who is OF an age TO marry
YOU cannot allow yourself the addi'
tional luxury OF perpetually WELCOMING
handsome young paupers to your
house.
Taking this into consideration
Mrs. Moor judged q advisable L
write a very kind izote to the youn.
man. IN which much sympathy wa
expressed for him in his bereavement
and no allusion was made TO his IN
cle.s will In postscript she added
Il don't knew whether YOU care abou
seeing your friends just now. bit yo'
would always be pretty sure OF ind
sng us st home between half-past ans