"I have already enlightened Paul on that subject."
Mr. Van Husen, Gertrude's guardian, was shocked at the intelligence Edward communicated; and declared up and down that the foolish child should not be allowed to throw herself away; that the wild scheme must be checked in some manner. But after the young lawyer had repeated his conversation with Dudley;—the cool determination of the lover to carry his point;—and the self-will which he was obliged to confess was a prominent trait in Gertrude's character, the white-haired old gentleman shook his head gravely.
It is not necessary at present to state all that passed on this occasion, Mr. Wallingford returned to Rose Cottage with a heavy heart, resolved, however, to effect a compromise if possible; and on the plea of time to prepare a trousseau for his sister, to postpone the time of marriage until her sixteenth birthday, which would be a week before Christmas.
Three days later Mr. Dudley had taken his leave, intending to make a hasty trip to Philadelphia; inform his parents of his new plans; and then proceed to Chicago, to establish himself in business.
Through the aid of a relative, Mr. Lancester, one of the monied men of that rising city, he was enabled to write his old chum that his prospects were of the most flattering kind. He took an office with a popular lawyer, with the understanding, that if agreeable to both parties, they would eventually enter into a partnership.
In October he wrote Edward again, (his letters to Gertrude were of weekly occurrence,) saying:
"Every body is congratulating me on coming here exactly at the right time. I have had such a successful practice so far, and am so confident of being able to support my family even in the style I used to talk about in the good college days; that if I could feel your consent to our marriage was willingly bestowed, I should have no more favors to ask of fortune. Dear Ned, any thing else under heaven that you could have asked me, except that I would resign the dear hand so confidingly trusted to my keeping, would have been granted without a word of dissent. I mean to prove myself such a model husband; and withal to act as teacher, that in time your prejudices, and those of that prim old maid will be disarmed."
Finding it useless longer to resist, Edward paid several visits to New York for the purpose of consulting Mr. Van Husen in regard to finances. The old gentleman had a few thousand dollars which he had carefully hoarded for the education of his ward; and as she was still under age, he refused to give up more than was absolutely necessary for her fitting out.
Rose Cottage was given by will to Edward; and he had heretofore refused to sell a foot of land, even when somewhat pressed for money; but he now resolved to part with a valuable house-lot rather than have his sister go penniless to her new home. He knew enough of Paul to be sure that in a house of his own, well furnished, he would be a more considerate husband than if the inmate of a fashionable hotel.
With a definite purpose in view he made a journey to Chicago late in the month of November, and was so fortunate as to find a new house in a handsome block, on one of the main streets, which he immediately secured, and furnished; using for the latter purpose, a thousand dollars he had persuaded Mr. Van Husen to advance, from his sister's fund.