The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-06-20
CHAPTER ".
puArpycr'c pp0pOSAI,

scarcely defined She was neither mistress
nor guest. She was, in short, tho only
daughter-indeed, the only surviving result
of that brilliant marriage made by Miss
Talbert when she allied herself with Sir
Maingay Clauson, Bart.
There is no reason for charging upon the
admirable way in which Lady Clauson filed
the position which her wnmerits had gained,
or to which fate had assigned her. Socially
and domestcally-in the outward as well as
the inward life-she was all baronets wife
should be-all save that she presented her
husband with no heir to his titles and estates
This was sad omission, but. for the sake OF
her many other good qualities, Sir Maingay
overlooked il. and made her very good hts-
hand, as husbands go. When Lady Clauson
died. some twelve years after the birth OF the
daughter who lived, Sir Maingay wept copi-
oaslv. He even opened his Biblc-the first
time for many years-and by the aid OF
"Cruden's Concordance" looked out text
APPROXIMATE 10 her many virtues. Moreover,
for her sake, or his own, he remained single
for five long wears. Then he went the way
OF all midile-aged, titled, wife-bereft flesh,
ani married again.
Beatrice ClauSon. just about TO leave school,
a romantic Young lady, whose head for the
present. was, however, only occupied by pref
~, tslisl dreams Of looking after her father,
r.ir-ssterinr 10 his comforts. ruling his house,
and generally doing the best she could to fill
the place II her dead mother, found herself,
w.thJat a word OF warning, presented - n
new mother: one, moreover, but four wears
ol5s- than herse T. II wa'a crushing blow
Ii wasa girls first lesson in the vanity and
instability Of mundane expectations
She ought, Of course To have anticipated
il but sle was young. and like most young
rs1ple, cuns5ierei her middle-aged father
ahp1rmally old and staid. Besides, she could
remember her own mother well enough, and
remembered also Sir MGinsays sincere grief
when death claimed his wife. She remem-
bered the way in which the weeping man
threw his arms around herself, and told her
that she was now his ALl.-his treasured
niereIto OF Lis wite-his one tie to lfe. Re
calling all this, she was sanguine enough TO
fancy that memory was even more vivid,
that grief had craven its lines deeper with her
father than with herself So the bolt came
from tie tluest OF the bite
At seventeen Beatrice Clauson was still a
spoiled child All distracted widowers, until
they marry again, spoil an only child; there
FORE If only on salutary grounds, second
alliance is 10 be recommended. We will,
then. take it for granted that at the time OF
Sir Maingay's second marriage, Miss Clauson
was spoiled Moreover, we may at least sus-
pect that she was both impetuous and stub
born. hcadstrong and romantic: also, in her
own way, aS proud as Lucifer.
Tho second Lady Clauson was beauty, and
nothing more. Her family was what is
called respectable-a term, the Specification
of which no man or woman has as yet been
able exactly to define. Like the Bible, we in
terpret it as we choose.
When the inforced meeting between Lady
Clauson and her stepdaughter took place, tho
young lady, by means OF those signs and
tokens, tho masonry of which women alone
fully comprehend, showed the state OF her
mind so clearly that war to the knife was
then and there declared
And civil war in families--baronets or
otherwise-is deplorable thing; doubly de-
plorablo for the neutral parties, who lack
tho excitement Of the internecine combat
For whilo Sir Maingay's life was anything
but happy one.
IL matters little who was most TO blame
the girl for her unreasonableness and stub
born spirit, and want OF resignation TO the
inevitable-Lady Clauson for retaliatng
and spite-Sir Maingay for the thoroughly
man-like conduct in letting things drift
They did drift with vengeance The
breach between the two ladies soon became
too enormous to be bridged over by any
'amily diplomatic engineering.
The sdrmishes between the belligerents are
not worth noticing The battle-royal was
fought when the time came for Miss Clauson
10 be presented. Lady Clauson asserted that
10 was the proper person to present her step
laughter Beatrice coldly declined her aid.
Her ladyship insisted; her stepdaughter was
firm in her refusal. Sir Maingay declared
himself under his wife's banner, and for once
attempted TO exercise parental authority.
Whereupon Miss Clauson cut the matter
short, and declined being presented at all. 1t
was Il most dreadful state Of affaiIsl You
can, at least, drive a horse to the water even
II you can't make him drink; but you dare
not haul refractory young woman into tho
presence Of a gracious sovereign.
Lady Clauson, who was rigidly exact In
following the prescribed usages Of society,
may not have been far wrong when she de-
clared that "a baronets daughter. who re-
fused to be presented, was-well, u mon
ytrosityw
Sir Maingay began to wish his ancestors
had not separated themselves from the
Roman Catholic communion. He could have
sent his daughter to nunnery. But then,
no sadly reflected, she wouldn't have gone at
any price. II put there by force, the Pro
testant league would soon have her out, and
perhaps take her round the country spouting.
The only thing the worried baronet could
think Of was to send for his rebel, and ask
her advice us 10 the best means Of disposing
OF her troublesome self
When alone with her father Beatrice always
behaved prettily. She was very fond of him,
although the remembrance Of the tears, the
text, tho distracted vows, when contrasted
with his second marriage for nothing but
good looks, made her look upon him with
little contempt. She did not know that man
Is 80 gregarious a creature that it is not meet
for him to live alone She heard his remarks
in silence, then gave him her opinion on the
matter.
II don't want TO be a nuisance To you,
papa. am eighteen now-too old to go back
10 school. It's nonsense, Of course, to say
should like to earn my own living, because
when come Of age shall have some money.
May go and live at Fairholmef"
Ea;rL,.l.na waa Sir Msinoa ~, eal,l,,,,> ,,.o.l