Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-06-30
The Doom Of.
%DeanshQrst.
i
fsEIsllzyfIa LaIlEIE@ e

Aifo1 bhJttho AN GhNkN'RiA AAJ aNNp@AA
pllshed for about fifteen years, at the
end of which time he was drowned,
owing 10 the ~capsizing of a small yacht
in the Garronne. Whereupon his Wild
ow, who was left practically u%nprovid-
ed for. returned TO England with her
five children fof whom two were boys
and threw herself upon the generosity
Of his brother.
Sir Derek received her very coldlv.
and made il plain that he was by no
means prepared TO undertake the
charge thus suddenly thrown upon his
lands in a liberal spirit. He had much
10 say concerning his late brothers
lifelong extravaganza and IMPROVE
dence. and stigmatized the marriage
and its consequences, as nothing less
than scandalous.
in short" he added, angrily, HOscar
was in no position to marry a woma
with no fortune, and you had no right
to marry him. Still less have you any
right TO expect me to ppay the penalty
of your folly by providing for you and
your children"
Better would it have been for the
widow had she allowed these ebulli-
tions of temper to pass in meek ST.
lence. But she was a hot-blooded lit
tie woman TO whom meekness and 81
lence We're unknown.
what you say is unjust alike TO your
brothers memory and 10 myself" she
answered, boldly. "When we were
married he had several thousands OF
pounds from the sale of his ~colonel's
commission and his retiring pension.
Besides. he was heir TO the title ard
estates which you still enjoy"
80. You counted upon my dying
first. did youg' sneered Sir Derek.
"No; not in the sense you would inn
ply" she rejoined, though, as he was
several years your junior, the chances
were that he would survive you"
Were they, indeedl How about the
chances Of my marrying and leaving a
som"
oscar was positive throughout that
you would never marry was the re-
ply. ''In this. at all events, he was
right; and as his eldest son is now
your heir. surely |, his mother, have Il
claim upon you, as head Of the family.
10 enable me to rear him and the other
childrenl''
Claim repeated Sir Derek, testify.
Legally you have none whatever, IL
that is what you mean Some sor OF
neral claim las the cant phrase goes)
you may have: and, in any case. 1t is
not my intention that you and your
children should become paupers. Let
me add. madam, that you have main
tanned n defiant tone throughout this
interview. very much out of place ia
the mouth Of a person asking a favor.
And now l will tell you what / am
prepared to do. How old Is this eldest
boy of yoursg'
Oscar will be eleven in November"
she answered. somewhat cowed by her
brother-in-law's harsh, decided tone.
His brother. stephen, is two years
younger"
Never mind about his brother"
snapped the baronet, $50 long as the
elder lives. II Is upon this boy, Oscar,
as being my heir, that you base your
claims TO my assistance. Very well. l
will relieve you of all further trouble
SO far as he Is concerned. For the rest,
| will make you an allowance of $500
a year, with fJ3 a year for each of your
children, to pay for their education.
Does this proposal suit your
Mrs. Oscar Deane hesitated. The al
lowance, she admitted TO herself, was
fairly liberal-more SO, indeed, than.
she had expected from Sir Derek's pre-
vious remarks. But she had enter
tanned hopes of making Deanshurst
her home. of reigning. so 10 speak, over
the establishment of her elderly bach
elor brother-in-ln-law.
Sir Derek looked at her with n half
sheer upon his thin lips, as though di-
vining her thoughts. bat he awaited
her reply without further comment.
THE amount you have named" she
answered, presently, would perhaps
suffice for the children and myself.
Where do you wish me to reside?'
wherever you like" was the quick
rejoinder. providing the locality chos-
en- Is not within fifty miles Of Deans
hurst"
Then you desire all further inter-
eause between us TO eeaseg, she auer-
led, with heightened color.
quite So" he asSented, drily, ''for
some years to come, at all events. If 1
am TO take charge of this eldest boy of
yours, he must pass wholly under my
influence and control, and therefore
wholly out Of yours. Do you under
stand me?"
II am not sure that I do" she made
answer, n%eryously. "Do you propose
TO part us, my child and myself, en-
tirelyT'
Yes: that is precisely what | pro
pose"
Colby. harshly, deliberately, the cru
ell words fell from his lips and went
straight to the mothers heart.
DO yon make this a condition of
your proffered helpw she demanded.
with flashing eyes. what IL / refuse
TO part with my boy?'
No." said Sir Derek, In his iciest
tanner. II attach no conditions to the
allowance. except that, should you
marry again, your portion of 1t will at
once cease. But l will adopt the boy
only upon condition that you give him
up completely. III you refuse TO part
with him, as you suggest, l shall add
too TO your income, and wash my
hands of him, as of the rest. That is
all. madam"
Then. be 1t so, Sir Derekr" she ex-
claimed, Indignantly. II do refuse TO
part with him upon such cruel termsw
VERY well," replied the baronet,
struggling his shoulders with real or