The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-03
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| ana Lrclcc uctU Sctu IuO WV AAN.SNA -
md belie.ed them the best OF frlends'
There is little wonder. then, that she re-
ga,ded the present outbreak with wonder
II supposed Captain Starbright was
welcome guest here, mother"
sNevertheless he is not" retorted the
faded widow. taking pinch from her gold
snuff-box. II wish YOU would turn him the
cold shoulder hereafter. He is simply
fortune-hunter of the worst type. 1t IS my
| wish that YOU do not cOuntenance him
further"
| cit has been to please Won that ! have
e,;--,tenanced hun at ALL" declared Grace
| IN, :31si 1oo nave peen very dutlful
Let us see if you can be as much so in the
future. l have ordered the Captain to re
main away from Lone Hollow in the
future. He certainly will not return If he
does not have encouragement from YOU"
''Has he gone away voluntarily!"
ssNo. ordered him to leave, 1 tell you"
''But thought
ssNO matter what you thought, it's settled
that the Captain is hereafter stranger
| here. I will call in advisers and settle your
| grandfather's estate to suit myself as his
| only heir"
Grace was silent.
She was puzzled to know what had come
| over her usually docile mother, but she re-
| fused to grat1fy her curiosity by asking
| questions.
''You may 60 now. but remember that
forbid you having aught to do with Captain
| Starbright"
| Grace rose to leave the room. She had
reached the door when Mrs. Penroy said:
"O1e word further. 1t is possible that
| you have some sneaking regard for Austin
Wentword. 1 may be mistaken in this,
| since I have not seen him about in some
| time: but let me warn you that he must re-
main away as well. I'll have no sneaking
| beaux about-they're all fortune-hunters to
| the last man."
Grace's cheeks redeemed with indigna-
ton. Her mother had always treated her
| harshly, and now she felt that it was wholly
| unjust to treat her as though she were
little child to be reprimanded at will.
Grace was like her father, honest and gen
tle,with trusting nature that made friends,
yet rendered her easily imposed on.
Mother, 1 will obey you in all things
right, but you must not speak harshly OF
Austin Wentword."
"Musn't IL" with a sharp information.
''Well, well, has it come to this that ]
am tc be defed in my own house
and by my own daughter! Who is this
Wentword, l should like to ask, that he
must be treated with such immaculate re
gard! Nothing but a low mechanic, with
no thought above saw and jack-plane.
think"
Mother!''
81 will go on, and you shall not stop me
until I've had my say" insisted Mrs.
Penroy, growing hot with her own conceit.
'Austin Wentword supposed that you would
some day be rich, and that was why he paid
you such assiduous court. You have not
seen him since your grandfather's death, l
take it?"
81 have not"
"True. Well, he won't be apt to trouble
you again. Whys Simply because he has
doubtless suspected that all is not gold
that glitters, and that the supposed heiress
has been cut off with a shilling L under
stand these men, they are all sordid Great
ures."
"Mother, cease, pray you. Have you
forgotten my father!" said Grace, in a
chOked undert0ne.
No; Mr.. Peproy was good man, the
best one ever met, yet he had bis. faults. "
no has not?"
"True; but it was of Wentword that we
were speaking. Do you expect him again
to see yOu!"
Grace was silent.
81 understand your feelings; you hope he
will return again, but, let me tell you, he
had better not. 1 would sooner see YOU
dead than the wife of a low mechanic
Mother, why will you persist in speak
ing thus unexpectedly of kustins'
81 express my true opinion"
Il hope not"
81 see that you entertain sneaking affec-
ton for him. cried Mrs. Penroy, angrily
''Let me tell you that you receive his fur
Their attentions at your peril Should you
dare marry such as he l would disinherit
you"
1t was Grace's turn to show resentment
now. Meek people are usually firm enough
when the rock of forbearance has been
passed.
''Mother, will not listen. You talk of
disinheriting me, but that you can not do,
since you have nothing Of your own; my in
heritance comes direct from Grandpa
Vandible, and you can not touch it, While
1 live, however, you shall not want for a
home and all the comforts that money can
give, but you must not insult my feelings
as you have done tonight
The girl choked.at the last, and there were
tears in the honest gray eyes, for it grieved
the heart of Grace to speak harshly to he1
mother, even under provocation.
A sheer curled the lip of Mrs. Penrov
which failed to improve her looks, and in
her faded eyes there came sudden, un.
readable CLEAN.
"So!'' she aspirated, 81 see that the i'm
maculate Captain Starbright has PLAYED his
cards well; but In spite of that he shall not
succeedr'
Captain Starbright?"
Yes. He has given you to understand
that Morgan, my father, made a will on the
night OF his last illness, giving you every
thing. Will you deny it?"
No, for it is true"
u knew it. When Captain Starbrigbt
told you that your grandfather left will
az aiOe'. lOr rzU SUN uoCuInenJ was found
ana am the only heir to my fathers prop
erty. GU see, the shoe is ON the other
Ioot, and that you remain an inmate of Lone
Hollow at my sufferance. The little plot
arranged between you and the CAPTAIN to
WIN a million has failed l am not the
dupe and fool you and Captain Starbright
imagined"
Inc widow tapped her gold snuff-box to
give emphasis to her words.
Grace regarded her in Mortified silence
her motner must be losing her reason, it
seemed 10 Grace, else she would never
MAKE such an accusation, so causeless and
wicked.
stand there and cape, like the silly fool
That you are," cried the unnatural mother
You didn't imagine that 1 would see
planned" '-'
Motner, please DON'T" pleaded Grace.
But Will, just the same, you migrate
.ul girl L will not submit to be driven
l,om nome by you and that scoundrelly
Captain. I"
Motner' can not listen," protested