Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1895-02-22

it-always talking Of her family and
evidently considering it the most impor-
tant family In al Scotland. She had three
daughtcrs-onc married to a maj named
T~homson-ugh! a nice son-in-lnw to havel
You should have seen him in the draw
ing-room after dinner. But she never
spoke Of any son."
"You don't say so! That coarse, ig-
norant, vulgar womnn?"
At this talk-heard quicker than it
takes to write, and impossible not to hear,
for tho speakers were behind the curtain
Silence looked ut her companion, whose
eyes were cast down on the carpet. Maxi
Ing some remark quite foreign to the SUBJ
ject, Lady Symington rose; then, seeing
the poor little scarlet face, she let oil
polite pretenses drop.
"My dear, les ahsens ont t~oujours
tort Let it pass; we will move away"
"How can 1 let it pass? 1t is not true.
And she is his mother. 1t can not be
true"
eff it were," said the old lady, quietly,
cit could not affect any right-minded PEG.
pie. Your husband is what he is, a jar
dine of Blackhall, and the very image Of
his father"
"Still, a mother is a mother always. I
had one once"
In another moment, putting aside Lady
Symington's detaining hand she stood be-
fore the two ladies.
81 beg your pardon, but 1 overheard you.
1 could not help overhearing. You mis-
take. Mrs. Jardine, my mother-in.law, is
n very good woman. Her children love
l,4w 49, TY,,ol,,D&~ l r1- ,,.1- H. 1au
father was n working man-but coarse
vulgar it is impossible"
"Whethcr or no." said the young Lon
don lady, equally touched md surprised,
81 am sorry I said it. 1t is a certificate
of merit to any woman that her sons
wife should be so fond Of her"
The poor little face, pale with pain.
flushed visibly. ut is not that-it is be-
cause of the injustice. One should never
let an injustice pass if one can help it."
The eager voice, pathetic even in its
indignant pride, the II so simple
and straightforward-Mrs. MacAlister
said next day that young Mrs. Jardine
was the oldest and most .unconvention-
all young lady she ever knew; but there
was no installing her meaning. Both la-
dies felt themselves, rs the younger ex-
pressed it, quite shut up" and made no
end of incoherent apologies.
Silence accepted them smiling. "It does
not matter, since only I heard you-not
my husband"
Just then, turning around, she saw Rod
erick standing beside Lady Symington,
and was quite certain, by the expression
of his face, that he had heard, or guessed,
everything that had passed.
He said nothing-what was there to
%say?-only came forward, bowling with
almost more than his usual rather state.
~ courtesy to the two ladies, drew his
wife's arm in his. and making their adieus
to their hostess, took her away immedi.
ately.
Not until they had got out into tho dark
the quiet, soothing, solitary night-did
he break out in a passion of anger and
grief.
Coarse! Vulgar! How dared she say
it? Ignorant she may be. How could
she be otherwise with her up-bringingi
But she is, as you say, a thoroughly good
woman. Thank you for saying it; thank
you. my darling, for being so generous
to my poor mother"
Not generous, only just" whispered
the soothing voice. II could not be un'
just to any mother, least of all to yours
1lley ulu not KNOW ner, lneSe people,, uuC
they were sorry. You heard them say
So"
81 heard all; I was close by; but how
could 1 speak? Coward that I was! 1t wa:
you who were brave. Again, thank you
my darling"
They walked on awhile In total silence
then Roderick burst out again:
"Ycs, she is my mother. No unkind
ness can alter that. And she has don,
nothing really ~wrong-nothins that cnl
make me cease to respect her. He
weaknesscs-I know every one. It Il
nonsense to say children should not SCI
their parents faults; they must and 10
But then there is the love that covers al
She loved me, too, once If I saw he
this minute, 1 believe 1 should forge
everything except that she was my mothe
my dear old mother"
And Il great sudden sob, like a boys
betrayed what his wife had long guessed
the pcnt-up grief which even she coul,
not wholly heal.
(To be continually
> Tho lady. the COrnse md Roxv.Wox