The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-12-24
CHAPTER I.
SSSS".


obstinate silence. There! read it, says
her husband, contemptuously. The con-
tempt is all for the writer of the letter.
Mrs. Monkton taking it up. with most
honest curiosity, that might almost be
termed anxiety, reads it through, and,
in turn, filings it from her, as though it had
been scorpion.
Never mind, jack says she, with
great assumption Of Indifference that does
not hide from her husband the fact that
her eyes are full of tears. Butter that
bit of toast for me before it is quite cold,
and give Joyce some ham,"
Have you two been married eight
whole years?' asked Joyce, laying her Ell
bows on the table, and staring at her sis
ter with an astonished gaze. 1T seems
like yesterday. To look at Barbara, one
would not believe she could have been
born eight years ago.
NONSENSE says Mrs Monkton, laugh
ing, and looking as pleased as married
women. even the happiest, always DO
when they are told they look unmarried.
why, Tommy is seven years old, and
there's Mabel. too
'Oh! That's nothins!' says Joyce, air
lily, turning her dark eyes. that are love
lier, if possible, than her sisters, upon the
sturdy child who is sitting ut his fathers
right hand. Tommy, we all know, Is
much older than his mother. Much more
learned in the wisdom of this world
'Thomas!' says his father. with a rue
ful shake of the head sit is pity that |
am not like my father
Like him, Oh, no. says Mrs. Monk
ton, emphatically, impulsively; the latent
dislike to the family who had refused to
recognize her on her marriage with their
son, taking fire at this speech. Her voice
sounds almost hard-the gentle voice, that
in truth was only meant by her Mother
Nature to give expression to all things
kind and loving.
But why not. my DEAR" says Mr..
Monkton. magisterially. Surely, consid-
ering all things. You have reason to be
deeply grateful to Sir George. Why, then.
abuse him? Why, he
Grateful. To Sir George TO Your
father"' cries his wife, holly and quick.
'Freddy!' from his sister-in-law brings
him 10 full stop for a moment.
DO you mean to tell me-" says he.
brought to bay. that you have nothing to
thank Sir George for?" He is addressing
his wife
Nothing. nothing-' declares she, yehc-
mently, the remembrance of that last let
| ter from her husbands father that still
lies, within reach of her view, lending
suspicion of passion to her voice.
''Oh, my dear girl, consider" says Mr..
| Monkton, lively reproach in his tone,
Has he not given You me, the best hus
band in Europei'
"Ah, what it is to be modest says
Joyce, with her little quick, brilliant
laugh.
well. its not true" says Mrs. Monk
ton. who has laughed also. in spite Of her
| self and the soreness 1t her heart. He
did not give you TO me. You made me
that gift of your own free will. l have.
as / said before, nothing to thank him
tor"
! Il always think he must be a silly old
| man. says joyce, which seems TO put
! fitting termination to the conversation.
| Mr.. Monkton rises from the table, and
| his wife rises, too.
| You are going to your study" asks
| she. a little anxiously. He is about to
| say mo" to this, but glance at her face
| checks him.
Yes, come with me-" SAYS hr. instead
| answering the lovely silent appeal in her
| eyes. That letter has no doubt distressed
| her. She will be happier when she has
| talked it over with hint they two alone.
! He will always have it in his potvcf to
| annoy me-. says she, quickly. That. per
/ haps with a little burst OF feeling. is
| why | can't forgive him. If ! could for
| get or grow Indifferent 70 it all. | should
! not have this hurt feeling in rnt heart.
! But he is your father, md though no is
| the most unjhst the cruelpst man on
,rih Ma. Al.
! gard me as he does
| There is one thing howercr, Won for
, GET saws NJ. Monkton, sravcly. Il don't
! want 10 apologize for him. but I would
! remind you that he has never seen Won"
Il shall never so to England to soc
/ him. l shall stay in ireland always Nv
! own land; the land he dcspisrs. the land
I whose people he dctests because he knows
/ nothing about them. It was one Of his
| chief objections to your marriage with me-
| that ] was an Irish grit
| Barbara say. Monkton, very gently
| hut with certain reproach. YOU almost
! make me think that You regret our mar
| riagc.'
No. don't" quickly. III I taItnd
| forever, | shouldn't be able 10 mako yon
/ think that. But" She turns 10 him
and sazes Mt him through large eyes thai
/ are heavy with tears. Il shall always ha
1 sorry for one thing, ana that iS-that Won
/ first met me where ypu did"
AT your auntsr Mrs Burke'sr"
/ She is not my aunt" with little
/ frown Of distaste: she < nothing IN mo
| 50 far as blood * concerned. Oh, Fraddr"'
/ She stops close In him and gives him
| -rief-strickpn glance. Il wish my n,o-
/ rather had been alive when first Won saw.
| me. That we could have mot for tho firs,
! time in the old homo. 1t was shabby
faded her face paling now with intense
! emouon-"hut You would have known a.
! once that it had been n fine old place and
5'u1 me owner OF It She breaks
down, very slightly, almost impercenfihIv
bat Monkton understands that even ono
more word is beyond her.
nat the owner Of it. Ike &. Patrick
came OF decent people, quotes ne. with an
assumption Of gayety he s far from fol
'ns' My poor child, don't want 10 see
any one 10 know thar Of yen. Yor co-~v
the sign manual. Il i written in rarro
characters all over you.'
Aet | wish you had known no i,efor,
my father died says she. her grief and
pride still unassuaged. He was 80 nm
Ike everybody else. His manners were so
lovely. He was offered haronetcv at the
emu OF that Whiteboy business. on account
or MS loyalty. that nearly cost him his
me- but he refused it. thinking the old
name good enough without handle to it
havanash. We all know. : a good
name
II he had accepted that title he would
nave been as-tha same-as Your father"
There Is defiance in this sentence
Quite the same"
No. no, he could not" her defiance now
changes into a sorrowful honesty Your
father has been a haronet for centuries
my father would have only been 4 baronet
Tor few years
Wen, never mind that. I've got you
Without any gross hattery, consider you
worth dozen Ga ds"
And yet youF fathes--'
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