The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-27
THE MYSTERY In PAL
ACE GARDENS.
Hy MRS j. H. RDuEIL
CHAPTER III (Continued.)


A. for trying to pump the children,
that was worse than useless; it was irri-
tating; they know nothing, literally
nothing, of their mothers relations and
antecedenta No old servant had they
attached to the family to tell them Of
their mothers early days; her beauty;
the gentlemen who were crazy for love Of
her; the way their papa met her.
They had never been down to any
grand place in the country which had
once belonged to her people; they knew
nothing of any ield-marshais or admir-
ais, or bishops, or deans, or lords, or Gel
ebrated commoners, whose names were
preserved in the family archives, and
with whom mamma claimed kindred;
they had never heard anything of their
mamma's mamma or papa; they could
tell nothing, for they knew nothing. If
secrecy concerning her antecedents was
desired by Mrs. Moffat she had taken an
admirable way to insure it, for children
no more than grown-up people can talk
of things concerning which they are to-
tally ignorant.
In sober earnest, if Mrs. Mofat had ap-
peared in London as suddenly as Mr..
6eaton had disappeared from its midst,
less could not have been known or found
out as regards her origin.
, That she was not clever or accom-
plished her visitors soon discovered; but
they found she had temper which made
up for all deficiencies of culture and ed
ucation. A naughty, defiant temper,
that would have swept down, or by, or
over any obstacle that came in her way;
relentless ambition; discontinued,
dissatisfied nature; and heart colder
than ice.
Here were the elements Of sufficient
domestic misery, and yet the household
at Carlton Hill could not have been de-
scribed as thoroughly wretched.
Husband and wife seemed to 90 on
their separate ways with as little dissen-
sion as might he. '.,.
Mr.. Moffat did not interfere with the
conduct Of the house, or with Mrs. Moi
fats "penchant" for society. He went
to the City as he had always done. She
began to visit great deal, which she had
never done. The same daily governess
who was engaged for the girls when they
lived at Islington still confined to teach
them after the removal to Carlton Hill.
They had masters, and were well taught;
and the eldest daughter made good use
of her opportunities, and learned rapidly
and well. Nt
The boys were sent to school, and,
consequently, if Mrs. Mofat had ever
recognized the claims of domestic duties,
she must have found them considerably
curtailed.
Literally from morning to night she had
nothing to do except dress, drive, visit,
and receive visitors. 1t was life she
took to kindly for a time, and compara-
tive peace reigned in the household until
that question of the baronetage was
raised over again, and this time, unhap-
PLY, in Mrs. Mofats hearing.
She had never heard word of.it be-
fore. Her advice had never been asked,
her opinion never taken. Long, long
previously her husband had declined the
honor, and hoped and believed the sub
ject could not be revived; but friends
were officious, and acquaintance trouble
some.
"Why should he not be baronet ?"
1t would be nice, they all felt, to call
him Sir John, and the ball was accord
iEgly set rolling again, with the result
that, for the second time, Mr.. Moffat
was sounded on the subject and found to
be as firm in his refusal as ever.
"But, my good sir, only consider"
urged gentleman, who would have un-
dertaken to convince any one of the error
Of his ways. "Think what you are throw
ing away-position, influence, distinc-
tion. You are not merely refusing all
these for yourself, but you are finging
them away out of the reach of your
children. In the interests of your eldest
son doubt greatly whether you have a
right to decline title 10 gratefully Of
fered." u tt
II do not doubt at ALL" answered Mr..
Moffat. II have said before, and can
only repeat my words, that no induce
ment you could offer would tempt me to
accept this offer" ~; .i
"But whyT persisted his officious
friend. tpt. s.. .5. ...zfa
Sam l bound to give my reasonsq'
asked Mr.. Mofat. a 3
4'Well, no; l won't go SO far as that,
yet still" .as.
"Can not you see," interposed another
gentleman, ,"that our friend is like the in.
dividual who said, when offered similar
honor, May l entreat the king to com.
mute the sentence to knighthoed, SO that
the disgrace may die with me? There
was another Irishman, who, one morning
rode forty miles after the knightine
LSrd-Leutenan to ask him to undo the
evil he had done in his cups, and remove
the Sir from before his name."
There was an awkward pause. Soma
times an anecdote holds within its tortue'
Gus twists some truth which never ap.
pears bitter till told under special cir.
cumstances to some particular man,
Mr.. Meffat broke the silence.
II thank you," he said, gravely; "you
have exactly expressed my feelings, only
much better than could have expressed
them myself"
"You can not be seriousT