The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-14
CHAPTER l.
LADY KEsrERroN's PLANS.

woman"
''Yes7" said the listener. Then, feeling
that more than a mere Interrogation point
was required, the Honorable Eva Lester
FASTENED to add. sweetly: 81 am sure you
are right, dear Lady Kesterton."
And" said Sir Anthony Kesterton's
mother, with majestic urbanity, mot only
happy, but fortunate woman, too"
81 am sure of that" said Miss Lester, in
30 low tone that the sentence was hardly
audible to her hostess ears. But perhaps
Miss Lester did not mean 20 DC heard, for It
expressed more feeling than she would have
thought it consistent with good breeding to
show. Fortunately, Lady Kesterton was a
little deaf.
Old Lady K sterton had once been a
beauty. She was now very angular old
dame. stiff as buckram and whalebone
could make her, with white hair, nut
cracker nose and chin, dark eyes that still
were bright, and the grand air Of one who
had been accustomed all her life to be
treated with Difference. She had claims to
authority and distinction which she never
allowed those around her to forget She
came Of q very ancient family, and she
had been enriched, early in life, with
fortune of $4,000, left to her by bachelor
uncle, and settled upon herself before her
marriage with Sir Giles kesterton of Kes-
terton Park. The possession of this money
increased her pretentions to respect.
She was of an a economical turn
OF mind, and managed her own affairs and
those OF the respecta BILE Sir Giles with ex>
emplary skill. When Sir Giles died she
managed better than ever. So that now
now when her son, Sir Anthony, was close
upon 80 years of age-Lady Kesterton's
fortune was reputed to be three times the
amount that had been left to her; and,
moreover, the disposition of it lay entirely
in her own hands Anthony had the title
of course, and the house and the landed
property; but the estate was not valuable
one and, without the prospects of Lady
Kesterton's thousands, Sir AnthonY's posi-
tion would have been anything but brilli-
ant
Two or three wise people shook their
heads, and said it would be pleasanter for
Anthony Kesterton if he had not to depend
so largely upon his mother. But the plan
did not work at all badly. Lady Kesterton
was not niggardly to her son, although she
was a good woman Of business. She
liked him to spend money-not profusely,
hut in proportion to his position in the
world she liked him to travel, and to have
expensive ooms in London, and to invite his
friends to his house, like other young men,
She had not refurnished the drawingroom
only because she was waiting for Anthony
intention of marriage to deceive itself
When his bride was chosen it was under
stood that she was prepared to spend money
TO any extent. Indeed, Lady Kestertoa was
particularly generous to him; especially
when one remberbers that she had rigid
evangelical religious views, and looked
upon many pleasant and harmless things as
worldly wicked, and altogether abominable.
But her love for her son counterbalanced
great deal OF Calvinistic senti ment.
1t was pity that Sir AuthoAy was not a
more satisfactory SOL to her. He was salts
factory in externals-nobody could deny
that-he was dis inguished looking, always
we'll dressed, always deferential in manner.
be was respectable, moreover; that is, he
had apparently no low tastes or evil pro-
clvities. But he " as not cut out for the
role OF country gentleman, and that role
mad always seemed to Lady KeSterton the
highest in the world. She was too old
fashioned to have quite Invested herself of
the idea that 1t was below a gentleman's
dignity to be studious; that it would be-
seem him better to be anxious about the
preserves, to look after the kennels AMI the
stud, rather than TO spend a sunshiny
September day sometimes in his library
over well-thumbed volume of the classics
Anthony's tastes were not her tastes at
all. He was curious in editions, and luxuri-
Gus in the matter of ookbinding; he
had something of passion for antiquarian
lore. Architecture and painting came in
Tor share OF his attention, and he had be-
gun OF late to develop liking for old china
and dainty bits of metal work. Lady Kes-
terton thought these tastes unmanly in the
extreme. To add to her sorrows he had
complained SO bitterly of her unimagin-
ative, stolid, British cook. that she had
been compelled to satisfy him by engaging
French chef lat something extrava can't
the year, In order TO satisfy his liking for
what she called foreign kickshaws." Sir
Anthony laid the blame on his digestion
but Lady kesterton was only so much the
more contemptuous. For what had Kester-
ton ever thought about his digestion before
she queried grimly. To which Sir Anthony
blandly made the very obvious reply that Il
they had thought about it more he NIGH
have had to think about it less.
But all these shortcomings were to b,
forgiven, and ell his tastes consulted, il
Anthony would but crafty his mother Ii
one direction. She longed-day by day
more intensely-for Anthony TO marry
She wanted to see him with suitable wife
at his side, and with children growing III
about him. She had fleeing visions o.
manly, rollicking boys and graceful Lttl
girls, with whom she was prepared to &C
the boating grandmother. With Anthony
wife and family to manage, to dose, t,
preach to end domineer over, she knew tina
she would have no lonely, sombr,
days as che now had, when b
was In London or on the continent
For she had not the slightest intention
of being turned out of the house when An
thony married. She would still be queer
of the park, and Anthony would neve
forget his courteous and concilia.o ry ways
1T would hardly be worth his while tx
quarrel with me, " she said to herself, with
rather cynical smile, for the good old lad,
had a fair amount of worldly wisdom ant
a knowledge of the weaknesses of humai
nature. But she was prepared to be kint
to Anthony and Anthony's wife, if the
were properly civil TO her. AS she had re
marked this afternoon to Miss Lester, sh
considered that the future Lady Kestertol
would be very happy and fortunat
woman.
Up to a certain point Miss Lester agree
with her. Otherwise, indeed, she woul
never have come to Kesterton Park, whic
was not particularly lively place to visit
But everybody knew why old lady Kester
ton every now and then asked perfect
eligible and good-looking young lady t
stay with her. The younn lady was t
make herself agreeable to Sir Anthony o
the understanding that if he chose to pre-
pose to her Lady Kesterton would not OF
ject. Some young ladies absolutely refuse
10 go to the park at all on these grounds
ITO be on view." as they termed it. Other