Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-09-22

ana go away shocked by nef World1neSS
and pride.
s'Isn't it dreadful" her mother would
wall to them, whenever Margaretta was
out of hearing. Adversely hasn't hum
bIed her bit She's just as grand in
her ideas as ever she was" Now had
begun for Margaretta those drastic or
deals Of economy from which nearly all
her future life was to suffer. She per
sisted in s'going out" for to stay in was
torture. Her gowns often made a Woe
full showing, but she always wore
them with feminine sovereignty Of
mien that was quite her own Poverty
had by no means crushed her; she
aspired in a way still to lead her world,
and the stress of her extreme energy
and self-belief saved her from failure.
Caste was then more thought of in New
York than now. To be Van Lerius
meant more than it now signifies, even
though an empty purse went with the
name. Plutocracy had not yet begun in
such strong earnest its glittering usurp-
atoms, though its rules were already
potent. Marguerite was too intense an
aristocrat to be called mere snob. This
word did and yet did not fit her, and
perhaps for the very reason that she
was snob on too imperial a scale. If
she had been luckier in life she would
have shone as a great social leader,
though her salon would have won re-
nown through the rank, not the bril-
Hancy, of its guests. AS it was, she had a
weary and even toilsome career to eX-
plot. Social leadership was a prize
that she could never clutch. eagerly
stretched toward it as were the view
less hands of her desire and will. The
environment of that Ninth street board
ing-house became horror to her, and
she literally insulted her acknowledges
by the repulsion of her demeanor. And
yet, strange to say, it was here that she
met Maitland Kennaird, the man whom
she married. He was handsome and of
marked personal charms. An English
man and stranger, he threw himself
on her mercy, and told her a tale which
was, in the main, perfectly true. He
was the only brother of Sir Frankland
Kennaird, rich English baronet. But
the fraternal temper was terrible, and
they had lately quarreled. He, Matt
land Montague Kennaird, had come to
this country with a small legacy inner
tied from his mother, and in the hope of
temporarily gaining livelihood as a
clerk in the firm of a large wholesale
druggist. That word temporarily
suggested an explanation which was
soon afterward given. The elder
brother, Sir FARMLAND, an irascible in
valid, hopelessly deformed from his
birth, had been doomed by several of
the best European physicians to an
early death. It was not possible that
he could live five years longer, and his
marriage was wholly out of the ques-
ton. The title and estates would de-
scend, on his death, to Maitland. These
tidings were of the keenest interest to
Margaretta. She took means of having
them verified, and after she had made
herself in manner certain of their
truth, she secured for her new acquaint-
ance cards of invitation among the
most exclusive New York circles. A
few months later ION the death of her
mother, who had always rather mis-
trusted and avoided HIM, Kennaird
proposed to Margaretta and was accept
ed. She liked him exceedingly, but
would never have married him if it had
not been for the fascinating prospect of
soon becoming Lady Kennaird." That
dignity, however, she was doomed not
to reach. Whether Maitland Kennaird
mad exaggerated or no the physical
state of his brother, news of that gen
tleman's marriage foated across the
Atlantic in few months. Meanwhile
Maitland had been adjudged INDECENT
and unbusinesslike by his New York
employers. Receiving the offer of
mercantile engagement in London, he
sailed thither with his wife. They had
not much money between them, and a
certain slice of Margarettas modest
fortune was borrowed" from her to
put into an investment which afterward
turned out worse than proftless But
Margaretta had employed polite arts
toward a reconciliation between the
baronet and his brother, and succeeded
in having herself and her husband civ
lily received at the family seat in War
wickshire. After all, though Sir
Frankland had married healthy and
pretty girl of good lineage, there was
still no prospect of an heir, and the
chances Of his life were still pronounced
slender. Sir Frankland was not of a
generous disposition, but he now helped
his kindred in the maintenance of
small London home not far from May
fair. and here, for several years, Mar
garetta nursed her passionate longings
while surrounding herself with all the
people of distinction whom her tact,
talent and good looks could captivate.
At length, her first child, boy, was
born, and she rejoiced keenly at his
sex. Not long afterward, however,
distressing piece of intelligence was
conveyed to her. Then she was smitten
by double blow; in the same week her
own little son died and Lady Kennaird
became the mother of a boy.
Her husband throughout this period
haA>eroved himself not merely shiftless
as a bread winner but prone to foolish
excuses besides. The baronet made no
concealment of his triumphant glad
ness, Margaretta mixed her tears of
motherly grief with those of disap-
pointment and chagrin. A year later
Kathleen was born to her, and when
they told her that 1t was girl she
tainted and for time her life was in
danger. This event seemed like the
last jeer of an evil destiny. But she
bravely hid her despair, and no one
save her husband knew its keenness.
He had by this time sadly deteriorated,
though her indomitab1e will and a
sense of homage that she inspired in
him kept him from the grosser depths
of dissipation. Perhaps he might have
o<;1 he I'LL