The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-05
CHAPTER III.
AFTER TWENTY YEARS.

A week or two previous to the time in
dictated in the last chapter, Sir Sydney
Carsland, his wife and their daughter, had
returned to Carsland nall after a few
months soiourn on the continent, with the
intention of remaining there until the fol
lowing spring.
The day after their arrival the Cars
lands had been Joined by a young gentle
man who was 20 take up his residence there,
and who was considered to be "a member of
the family circle, although he was not in
any way related to eitheTthe baronet
or Lady Carsland.
This gentleman was Paul Meredith,
handsome, open-handed and kindly-hearted
lad. who would, on attaining his 25th year,
come into a considerable fortune. His
father and Sydney Carsland had been in
innate friends in their youthful days, their
intimacy had been renewed after Sydney
succeeded to the Daroaetcy and fortune:
and when the elder Meredith died after
long and painful illness he appointed his
friend sole executor and Pauls guardian.
At that time Paul was just entering his
teens and beginning his education at one Of
the famous public schools. His fathers de-
cease made him an orphau-his mother hav-
ing died some years beforehand henceforth
he had lived at Carsland hall when he was
not at school or college, Oakholme Manor
in Yorkshire, the house in which his parents
resided having been let, until he attained
his 18th year.
Hitherto there had been little of re-
markable character in Paul Meredith's
short history. He bad gone to Cambridge,
and despite the fact that he was no great
lover of books and study, had contrlved to
take respectable degree. The young mans
allowance was a generous one, and this had
enabled him to crafty many whims and
desires of a pleasure giving kind.
Being handsome, fairly rich, and of
nial nat ha fhA WIT ,,
the other harum scarum fellows of his col
lege, but, although be got into numerous
petty scrapes, after the fashion of his kind,
he contriVed to keep himself out Of dis
grace.
De had taken his degree while the Cars
lands were abroad, hence he had still to re-
ceive their congratulations when they all
met again at Carsland hall. These
CALCULATIONS were given him without stint
by both Sir Sydney and Lady Carsland for
Paul was q great fsvorite with them; but
what had pleased the newly Pledged B. A.
most of all was the preutily worded and
softly spoken compliment fair Cordelia
Carsland had paid him.
Here may be set down few words re-
speeding the Carslands, man and wife and
their doings during the past twenty years.
Their married life had been comfortable
and happy in q quiet sort of way. Neither
of them had been passionately enamored of
q bue OLuSTs hlEUOuRu at bu0 time OF tDe
wedding Sydney had believed himself
deely in love with the fair Adelaide; and
after their brief honeymoon terms of en-
dearment and those little endearing acts
and gestures of affection common to people
in love rarely passed between them.
Lady Carsland had clear head. a hot
temper ard decided will of ner own, as
Sir Sydney soon discovered, and he found
out also that the easiest way of managing
his handsome and stronR-minded spouse
was to give her good deal Of her own
way.
Her ladyship possessed considerable am
bition. She had no intention of passing her
life and spending her fortune in that dull
corner of Lancashire-she meant to see a
good deal Of the world; to cut a figure in
society-in phrase-to occupy the posi-
ton she thought herself entitled to, on &C
count of her beauty, wealth and title
Hence, year after the birth Of Cordelia
Carsland, Sir Sydney and his wife took up
their abode In the metropolis. She had
town to enter into public life as a poll
tician-to do ali things that would give
them a prominent position in the world
which has its center in London.
He acceded readily enough to these pro-
posals. for reasons of his own. A palatial
mansion in Park lane was obtained Sir
Sydney became an active and prominent
member of the Carlton Club; was lavish
with his money when funds were required
for either general or local election cam
paigu; made himself invaluable to his DO
llrical friends and the wre-pullers Of the
party in numerous little ways: dined and
wined with princes, dukes. earls, ex-cab-
met ministers, etc, and in a couple Of years
q safe seat in the House of Commons for one
of the southern shires was placed at his
disposal.
lie accepted the seat and took his place in
parliament. He was only a moderate
speaker, and be spoke but infrequently
But lie was still as useful as before to bis
party, and it was binted as the years rolled
on, and the pendulum of political power
swung from liberals 20 conservatives, and
nck again, that his reward would come
some day.
From this it will be perceived that Sir
Sydney and Lady Carsland played no in
considerable part in be stirring aud event
fui drama Of social and political life They
had been more successful than either had
anticipated at the outset of their voyage of
afnbltr US social adventure.
but tits was scarcely matter for wonder.