Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1912-05-14

| ConfOund his 1mpudence! e1-
claimed Mr.. Maitland, more and more
annoyed at what he was pleased to
| characterize mentally as western as
surance. Where is he?"
TN the hall, sir"
Show him into the library and say
| shall be down in a moment"
Very good, SIR"
It was a decidedly wrathful individ-
ual who confronted Stephen Maitland
a few moments afterward in the IL
brary. for Armstrong was not accus-
| toned to such cavalier treatment, and
had Maitland been other than Ends
| father he would have given more out
ward expression at his indignation
over the discourtesy in his reception
Mr.. James Armstrong, | believe,
began Mr.. Maitland. looking at the
card in his hand.
Eyes, sir"
''Er-from Colorado?"
"And proud of it."
"Ah, / dare say believe you wish
ed to see me about
your daughter, sir"
"And in what way are you concern
ed about her, sir?"
81 wish to make her my wife,"
"Great God!'' exclaimed the older
man in a voice equally divided be-
tween horror and establishment
How dare you, sir? You amaze me
beyord measure with your internal
impudence."
Excuse me, Mr.. Maitland" inter
posed Armstrong quickly and with
great spirit and determination, 'but
where / come from we don't allow
anybody to talk to us in this way.
You are Ends father and much old
err man than 1, but 1 can't permit you
| To-"
"Sir," said astounded Maitland,
drawing himself up at tnis bold fout-
ing, you may be very worthy young
| man, | have no doubt of 1t, but 1t Is
out OF the question. My daughter"
Again less excited hearer might
have noticed the emphasis in the pro-
noun
why, she is halfway engaged to
me now," interrupted the younger
man with a certain contemptuous
amusement In his voice. Look here,
Mr. Maitland, I've knocked around this
world a good deal. l know what's
what. | know all about you eastern
people and I don't fancy you any
more than you fancy US. Miss Enid is
quite unspoiled yet and that Is why l
want her. I'm we'll able to take care
of her, too; don't know what you've
got or how you got 1t, but can come
near laying down dollar for dollar
| with you, and mines all clean money
| mines, cattle, lumber-and it's all
| good money. l made 1t myself. left
| her two weeks ago with her promise
| that she would think very seriously
of my suit After came back to Den
ver-I was called east-I made up my
mind that I'd come here when I'd fin
| ished my business and have it out
with you. Now you can treat me like
a dog if you want to, but If you expect
to keep peace in the family you'd bet
ter not, for l tell you plainly, whether
you give your consent or not, | mean
to win her. All want is he consent,
and I've pretty nearly got that"
| Mr.. stephen Maitland was black
with anger at this clear, unequivocal,
| determined statement of the case
from Armstrong; point of view.
II would rather see her dead" he
exclaimed with angry stubbornness.
! than married to a man like you.
How dare you force yourself into my
| house and insult me in this way?
| Were l not an old man I would show
you, l would give you a taste of your
own manner"
The old mans white mustache fair
ly quivered with what he believed to
be righteous Indignation He stepped
over to the other and looked hard at
him. his eyes blazing. his rudy
cheeks redder than ever. The two
| men confronted each other unflinch-
ingly for moment, then Mr.. Maitland
touched bell button in the wall by
his side. Instantly the footman made
his appearance.
James" said the old man, his voice
shaking and his knees trembling with
passion, which he did not quite sue
coed in controlling, despite a desper-
ate effort Show this-er-gentle-
man the door. Good morning, sir; our
first and last interview is over"
He bowed with ceremonious polite
ness as he spoke, becoming more and
more composed as he felt himself
mastering the situation. And Arm
strong, TO do him justice, kneg a gen.
| tleman when he saw him, and secretly
admired the older man and began to
feel touch of shame at his own rude
way of putting things.
BEG pardon, sir" said the footman,
| breaking the awkward silence, but
here is a telegram that has just come.
| sir"
There was nothing for Armstrong to
do or say. Indeed. having expressed
himself so unrestrainedly to his rapid
| Embarrassing regret as the old man
took the telegram he turned away In
considerable discontinue. James bow
/ ing before him at the door opening
into the hall and following him as he
| slowly passed out Mr.. Stephen Matt,
land mechanically and with great de
liberation and with no premonition of
evil tidings, tore open the yellow en-
yelope and glanced at the dispatch.
Neither the visitor nor the footman
he'd got out of sight or hearing when
they heard the old man groan and
fall back helplessiy into a chair Both
men turned and ran back to the door.
| for there was that in this exclamation
which gave rise to instant apprehen-
sion. Stephen Maitland now, as white
were all broken. and IN many cases
the blocks were split through and
through. The opinion of officials here
at that time was to the effect that