Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-05-03

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Denver News.
THE Sins OF The FATHERS,
Sir Gilbert Mordaunt was very
proud man. Those who protested to
be his friends said so SO there is little
doubt his enemies did likewise, and
proud he doubtless was of his an
cestry, his wealth, his title. Just now
he was more than ever pleased with
himself, for had not the lovcliest wo-
man In the country-for such he told
himself she was-promised to become
his wife? What matter, then, if her
parentage was not quite all he would
have wished? Her beauty and grace
were sufficient sOlace, and indeed u
commissioned officer in the service of
her majesty (her father had been pay
master in the navy was always sup
posed to be a gentleman.
If there was one thing Sir Gilbert
fattered himself on more than another
1t was his high idea of justice. He
often remarked that he would never
forgive anyone who had once deceived
him." and those who knew him best
believed his statement. AS one Of his
creditors once remarked: Ills was
twenty shillings in the pound Justice"
and poachers and such like evil doors
always looked eagerly to see If he
was on the bench when they were
brought up to receive their deserts for
wrongdoing.
1t may therefore be imagined that
Sir Gilbert was not an all-round popu-
lar man, and there were many who en-
pressed sympathy with his future
bride, whose life they imagined would
not be altogether bed of roses. Some
there were, among those who INDUCED
In these last reflections, who did so
with feelings of pleasure. These We're
those who, with large bevy of un-
married daughters, saw with envy the
most eligible parti In the country snap
ped up. Chief of these was Mrs.
Macy, a gossiping, scandalizing
rather stout lady of mot less" than
fifty summers, the mother of six fair
unmarried damsels, whose great joy
had been to capture Sir Gilbert for a
son-in-law. Fooled in her design, all
the unamiable qualities which reposed
beneath her breast-and they were
many-were stirred up against the
one who had SO unconsciously spoiled
her plans.
Meanwhile the day of the wedding
approached, and rs 1t came nearer and
nearer Sir Gilbert's spirits seemed to
rise so that he even became fippant in
his demeanor, and even dispensed
pennies to the villc 20 children with o
liberal hand, n thing lie would not
have deigned to do once. AS for
the poachers, their sentences pro-
nounced by the former austere lips of
the lord of the manor, for such was
the position of Sir Gilbert, were so
light that one or two fainted from
excess of emotion, so surprised were
they.
At last the day previous to that on
which the marriage was arranged to
take place arrived, and Sir Gilbert
took train for Southsea, where the
bride-elect was living as companion to
q widowed aunt.
The wedding over, Sir Gilbert took
his bride to the south of France for
the honeymoon. so that it was some
months before his feet were once more
on his native health. His old manner
seemed to have now returned, his
voice was percmptory and his actions
as stilted. AS to his BRIDE though
the gossips found fault with her in de-
tail. all had to agree that on the whole
she was very lovely woman.
A gentle, lovable woman, too, she
seemed, already standing somewhat in
awe of her husband, who appeared to
alternately pet and pntronize her. Had
any of their friends known of her
family history sufficiently well they
would have said that Sir Gilbert was
one who was hardly likely to forget
that their social standing had not ul-
ways been the same.
OF course, all the county called upon
Lady Mordaunt, all except-nnd the
exception seemed somehow significant
Mrs. Macy. That such an exccp-
tional gossip and story teller should
stay away excited the attention of all,
particularly as, when questioned us to
her absentatiOn from calling, she in
dulged In mysterious little innuendoes,
which might mean much or little. The
mods also by which she accompanied
her words were very profound.
Naturally her attitude provoked
more and more comment, and that
Mrs. Macy knew something, or
thought she knew something, dreadful
concerning Lady Mordaunt, was gen
orally expressed opinion. A conviction
that all was not right somehow forced
its way into the mind of Sir Gilbert,
and he was very wroth, particularly
us he could not fathom the matter.
Truth to tell, he never thought of con-
Meeting the absence of Mrs. Macy and
her daughters from his wife's recep-
tons with that which was troubling
him.
He was rather disposed to look down
upon Mrs. Macy as an underlined per-
son, albeit friendly with her husband,
q country squire of the old school. But
the climax was reached ut bazaar
held in aid of the county hospital
Mrs. Macy and her daughters were
attending Mt one of the stalls and tax
ing warm (?) interest in the affair.
When Sir Gilbert, who was patron
of the hospital. and Lady Mordaunt
arrived at this STALL it happened that
only the youngest Miss Macy, much
the incest of the fair bevy, was pres
ent to attend to the wants of custom
ers Sir Gilbert, divining that his wife
had not before been introduced, was
about to perform this necessary duty
when he was dumfounded to hear a
voice from behind say, ",Thank you,
Sir Gilbert, but would rather my
daughter were not introduced to your