Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-04-27
THE Sins OF THE FATHERS.


Sir Gilbert Mordaunt was a very
proud man. Those who professed 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 loveliest wo-
man in the country-for such he told
himself she was-promised to become
his wife? What matter, then, IL her
parentage was not quite all he would
have wished? Her beauty and grace
were sufficient solace, and indeed a
commissioned officer in the service of
her majesty cher father had been pay
master in the navy was always sup
posed to be gentleman.
If there was one thing Sir Gilbert
f1attered 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: His 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 ex
pressed sympathy with his future
bride, whose life they imagined would
not be altogether a bed of roses. Some
there were, among those who INDUCED
in these last reflections, who did so
with feelings of pleasure. These were
those who, with q 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, 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 unamlable 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 as it came nearer and
nearer Sir Gilbert's spirits seemed to
rise SO that he even became fiippant in
his demeanor, and even dispensed
pennies to the village children with
liberal hand, thing he 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 tainted 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
a 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 peremptory 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 n very lovely woman.
A gentle, lovable woman, too, she
seemed, already standing somewhat in
awe Of her husband, who appeared to
alternately pet and patronize 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 al
ways been the same.
' OF course, all the county called upon
Lady Mordaunt, all except-and the
exception seemed somehow significant
Mrs. Macy. That such an excep-
tional gossip and story teller should
stay away excited the attention of all,
particularly as, when questioned as 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, OF
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
ms 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 reccp
tions with that which was troubling
him.
He was rather disposed to look dowr
upon Mrs. Macy as an underlined per
son, albeit friendly with her husband
a country squire of the old school. Blu
the climax was reached at bazaar
held In aid of the county hospital.
Mrs.. Macy and her daughters wer'