The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1892-09-16

somewhat heavier in type than Kath-
leen and not half so beautiful, but with
the same graceful bearing and the same
scUlpturesque arms and neck She held
her head higher than ever did her
daughter and moved about with q state
lier air She was always thinking of a
great marriage teveu as a little girl she
had dressed mp her dolls in bridal robes
for their weddings % imaginary princes
or dukes and when the family had gone
and she was obliged - live with her
mother in q Ninth street boarding house
her matrimonial ambitions burned Etiu
more feverishly-
The Van Lerius kindred Cuncles and
aunts and cousinsJ could call upou her
in these new and hated SURROUNDINGS
and 60 away shocked by her worldIiness
and pride
''Isn't 1t dreadful?' her mother would
vail TO them, whenever AIargaretta was
out OF hearing. ''Advsrsity hasn't hum
bled her a bit Shes just as grand in
her ideas as ever she was" Now had
begun for Marguerite those drastic or
deals Of economy from which nearly all
her future life was to suffer. She per
sisted in ''going out, - for to stay in was
torture. Her gowns often made a woe
fu1 showing, but she always wore
them with a 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 a 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 glitteriug usurp-
atiOnss though its rules were already
potent. AIargaretta was too intense an
T. y
word did and yet did not fit her, and
perhaps for the very reason that she
was snOD ON too imperial q scale. If
she had been luclzier in life she would
have ahone as "a great social leader,
though her salon would have won re-
uOwn through the rank. not the bril-
iiancy, of its guests. As it was, she had
weary and even toilsCme career to ez-
plot. Social leadership was "a prize
that she could never clutch, eagerly
stretched toward IL as were the view
less hands of her desire and viii. The
environment Of that Ninth street board
ing-house became a horror to her, and
she literally iRsulted her acknowledges
by the rePulsion of her demeanor. And
yet, strange to say, II was here that she
met Maitland Kcnnaird, the man whom
she married. He was handsome and OF
marked personal chaEms- An English
man and a stranger, he threw himself
on her mercy, and told her tale which
was, in the main, perfectly true. He
was the only brother Of Sir Frankland
Kennaird, a rich English baronet. But
the fraternal temper was terrible, and
they had lately quarrelsd. 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 ginning 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 edefOFmed from his
birth, had been doomed by several of
the best European physicians to an
early death. 1t was not possible that
he could live five years longer, and his
marriage was wholly out of tine ques-
ton. The title and estates would de
scend, on his death, to Maitland. These
tidings were Of the lzeenest interest to
Margaretta. She took means of having
them verified, and after she had made
herself in q 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), IEcnruird
proposed to lIarEaretta 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 Keunaird
had exaggerated or no the physical
state OF his brother, news of that gen
tleman's marriage HOated across the
Atlantic in a few months. Meanwhile
Maitland had been adjudged indolent
and unbusinesslilze by his New York
employers. Receiving the offer of a
mercantile engagement in London, he
sailed thither with his wife. They had
I not much money between them, and a
/ certain slice of Margaretta's modest
[ fortune was borrowed from her to
I put into an investment which afterwaryi
( turned out worse than prOhtless. But
/ Margaretta had employed polite arts
! toward reconciliation between the
/ baronet and his brother, and succeeded
/ in having herself and her husband civ
/ lily received at the family seat ia War
/ vickshire. After all, though Sir
I Franlzland had married a 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 FARMLAND was not of a
! generous disposition, but he now helped
/ his kindred in the maintenance OF a
4 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,
I talent and good looks could captivate.
/ At length, her Erst child, a boy, was
/ born, and she rejoiced lEeenly at his
sex Not long afterward. however, a
/ distressing piece Of intelligence was
{ conveyed to her Then she was smitten
/ by a double blow; in the same week her
own little son died and Lady Eennaird
/ became the mother Of a boy.
] Her husband throughout this period
| had proved himself not merely shiftIess
/ 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
I mothcrIy grief with those OF dissp-
/ Pointmsnt and chagriu- A year later
Kathleen was born 20 her, and when
/ they told her that 1t was a girl she
tainted aud for a time her life was ia
danger. This event seemed like the
last ieer Of an evil destiny But she
b-avely hid her despair, and no one