Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1892-11-16
..rd no idea Of running, down marrtap,.- ,

laughs. 1t was laugh that always
sounded well in a drawing-room; 1t had
been for years like the delicate little
trumpet peal of her regnant popularity.
My dear Kathleenl IL you could
only hear YOURSELF You don't know
what really dewy effect you create,
with your droll assumption of ex-
perience. But the wisdom cap, my
child, is decidedly becoming Go on,
my dear, and talk of marriage as a
sweet and holy relation. The ensemble
is immensely fresh in n willowy girl
with your cut of features"
"Ah," cried Kathleen, flushing and
biting her lips. 81 truly believe, mamma.
that If you saw one man rescue another
from drowning, your first idea of the
affair would be whether the savior per-
formed his feat with awkwardness or
grace"
At about this time, as it happened,
Mrs. Kennaird committed the browning
mistake of her life. Among the per-
sons of note who had most cordially
greeted her on her return was n stanch
former friend, the marchioness of Dem
dudlen. The marchioness was n woman
of large heart, though quick temper.
She was famed for the sincerity and ten
acity of her likes and dislilSes, and Mrs.
Kennaird had long stood high on the
list of the former. Lady Dendudlon
thought that Sir FARMLAND had treated
her friend with sorry stinginess. and
very freely vented this opinion. She
fell in love with Kathleen. and cncour-
aged an intimacy between herself and
her only daughter, Lady Guinevere
PoindeXter, one of the reigning London
bellies. Twice she invited the Kennairds
TO come and visit her at the most de-
lightful of her several country-seats.
Dendudlon hall, near the Devon cliffs.
1t was during the second of these visits
that Mrs. kenaaird's fatal blunder oc-
Cured.
Besides Lady Guinevere, the mar
chioness had two other children. both
sons. The eldest, Lord Ar1nitage. had
lately married and was travelling on the
continent. At Dendudlon hall, when
Kathleen and her mother made the
second visit there, was the younger son.
Lord Egbert Poindexter Neither of
the ladies had ever seen him before, and
for an excellent reason. Although in
his latter twenties and of n marked
personal beauty, he lived most retired
life on account of his lameness. An ac-
cident in childhood had partly deprived
him of the use of both lower limbs, and
he never moved himself except with the
aid of crutches. His mother was al
most fanatically fond of him. and
guarded him as the apple of her eve.
She confided to Mrs. Kennaird that he
was immensely rich, and would in this
respect far outshine his elder brother,
even after he should become mar
quis; for an elderly aunt, pity
ing his Juvenile misfortune. had
left him great property in Sussex be-
sides ample moneyed capital, to the
rage and disappointment of bevy of
waiting heirs. 1T is great chance"
proceeded the marchioness, "for Egbert
To show his fine humanitarian spirit.
He will, am certain, send his name
ringing through the centuries as a no
BILE and wise benefactor to his race.
His marriage, you know, is impossible
and"
why impossible, my dear Lady Dem
dudlon?' broke in Mrs. Kennnird.
The marchioness' pure-cut patrician
face hardened little. "Oh, / should
not have said impossible, perhaps, but
surely in no sense probable. At least,
not for years yet. Egbert is still
young If he once reached an age of
sufficient discretion to make him real
ize that the woman whom he asked to
become his wife might give him fidelity,
affection, without n
CLEAN of the sentiment which Younger
men expect and demand, and if, sc
realizing, he married as much with head
as with heart, why, then, should put
no obstacle in the way of such union.
But now!' And the marchioness lifted
one hand, waving il before her face.
Plenty of girls might say that they
cared for him, you understand, but"
Here, with q self-consciousness little
laugh, she paused. However,, my
friend, let us talk of something else"
Mrs. kennaird thought her prejudice
a most perverse and ill-advised one,
which no doubt it was, considering the
gentle charm of Lord Egbert's CONVEX
sation and the marked comeliness of his
visagc.
More people came 20 Derdudlon hall
IN day or two, and the maYchioness,
occupied with other guests, failed to see
what swift and tender havoc Kathleen
had wrought in the breast of her
younger son. But Mrs. Kennaird saw,
and ticgled with new, delicious hopes.
Tho kcnrairds were, and yet wore not,
a portion of the present house party:
their ctoy had graciously been taken
for granted o. an indefinite one. Lord
Egbcrt fell in love with q kind of tu-
multrous expedition. He sat beside the
object Of his sudden passion as long
each day as she would let him, and
when not following her on his crutchcs
he did SO. as far as feasible, with his po-
etic lluc eyes. The determination of
his mother had thus far never given
hin Thought; now he rcbclled against
the idea Of not being permitted % marry
,vhCu and whom he chose.
In q short time tho marquis. his IA
Their, was expected back 90 his fnvoritc
homo in Dcvonshirc. after term OF
shooting on the Scotch moors. a GER
tain plan had entered the head Of Lord
Egbc~t. and Dc &c once proceeded TO
carry 10 ont. He had obecrvcd Mrs.
kcanairds power over her daughter; nc
had observed. too. this lady's marked
admiration Tor himself Though Young.
hc was worldly wise It was plain 70
him that his parents would not sanction
his engagement 90 Kathleen Kcunaird.
oven if tlry allowed him o. wcd &c all.
~Ec f,rs nos. from the DcududIou point
OF :..". d. c1ual. and the whole prop
cd would have been met with dain-
tv rust