Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1913-05-08

to me. l was more sorry, tut more
perplexed sorry that he had had
such an idea and that / had to nip it
in the bud; to tell him as plainly as
could that | would prefer NY own
way in life, unhampered and I'M
vexed by one who would have been
an addition to my responsibilities,
for all his natural shrewdness,
rather than in any way a relief from
them, or a sharer in them. He was
light of heart, and / was heavy; he
laughed at the Fates, and / believed
In them; he could turn everything
into a jest, and I had not seen q
life with him was pleasure, perhaps
folly; to me it had been stern real
ity. His the better and brighter char
acter of the two, but I could not
share life with him. In my heart
was afraid of him little; in great
trouble or a crisis I fancied he would
be the man to give way.
And l was perplexed, / have said.
| Why did he, who had never been able
to settle to anything long, wish to
| settle down with me-Of all men!-
in a shabby back street of South Lon
don, where | worked desperately
| hard to earn my bread? Why had
he talked of a big house, a carriage
and pair, of making a show, of a
partner with money? Was it posi-
| BILE that his aunt, of whom he had
| often spoken, whose sharp tongue
| and grave admonitions he had de-
spised, and whose money he had
squandered till the supplies were
stopped for good and all, had left
! him, despite her past denunciations
of him and his ways, share in her
wealth? And had his first thought
been in what way could he benefit
me?
I went down stairs again to ask
him this; I could not rest till he
had answered me. He and Nan
Matherway had lectured me up to
bed half an hour ago, insisting upon
a long nights rest for me after my
railway journey.
Nan Matherway had gone to her
| room, and left George Fairfax to
himself He was lying back in his
chair, with his hands clasped behind
his head. staring straight and stern
ly at the opposite wan, ana Win an
expression that l had never seen
upon his face before.
George" 1 said apologetically, u
couldn't rest"
What the matter with you
bile?"
'T have been thinking great
deal of all that you have said. Have
you come into any portion of your
aunt's property"
Into the whole blessed lot of 1t, >
he said, coolly, and without looking
my way.
my dear old boy, am so glad
l congratulate you with all my hear
on your good fortune. l did moi
guess it."
mo; you are deuced dull"
ST did not dream Of 1t.
81 suppose not. Well, will yor
have me for your partner now?"
He said it tauntingly, not In hi
usual way, which was always
pleasant, frank way, which won tt
him many hearts. have met few
, men in my life who were ever lovet
SO much as Fairfax; cut this, al
ready, was new Fairfax to me
How the mere acquisition of none.
will alter some poor fellows! 1t ha'
never struck me 1t would make an,
difference In George; but it had. H
had become quick to resent an at
front-he, a man who had been iron
clad against whole volleys OF chat
fired of at him in the old student
ship days. / was hurt, but / did no
let him see that.
'I have told you my Ideas upol
partnership, George; and, rich 0
poor, / couldn't have you chained t
me-
] Like galley-slaye-eh?"