Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-05-24
Mildred ~
* 6resUuniorl
ny THE DUCHESS.
& * 81 s: * i: y: 8: 3: y: y: & 3: s: 3: * * &:

For all that, however, calm Mildred
was more the 'hearth-angep' than she
was. To her, as to their mother, came
all the boys, with the numerous grefs
and annoyances that usually beset a
schoolboy's path. Charles was very
fond of asking her advice, and Eddie
believed most firmly in her wisdom,
generally addressing her under the
title OF Minerva" Her father and
mother had few secrets from her. and
even Florence, who was slightly self
sufficient and given to assert herself,
at times, with astonishing boldness,
had been known, on two or three cc-
casions. to come all the way from Rye
certain subjects.
Mildred at home and Mildred abroad
were very different persons. She was
most capable of loving, but her unfort-
innate GOODNESS OF demeanor prevented
this from being universally acknowl-
edged. Only her own people knew her
tender, loving heart, and returned her
affection in kind
There were two other boys, mere
youngsters, named George and Ernest,
who were at present undergoing the
discipline OF school in some distant
shire.
Sir George had discovered, some
years previously, that he was not as
we'll up in this worlds goods as man
had need to be with seven growing
UP children. But at the time he had
put the evil thought behind him and
considered it no more. until about
year back, when several circumstances
had happened again to force 1t upon
his memory. Debts somehow had be-
gun to accumulate of late years, and
now began to declare themselves with
very disagreeable openness. The fam
lily lawyer shook his head solemnly;
and Sir George in self-defense went
home, and having sold two of his
favorite hunters most disadvanta-
geously, walked about his farm, doing
gloomy penance, and was cross to his
wife for the first time for number
of years.
But this state of things only lasted
very few days indeed, and at the
end Of that time, his third hunter hav-
ing fallen lame, one of those disposed
of was bought back again, at very
different price from that paid for it to
Sir George, and presently the other
followed suit; after which their master
gave up the gloomy penance, to the
great relief OF the household at Kings
Abbott, who were considerably put out
by it, and having kissed his wife, did
not go round the farm for several
days.
Lady Caroline of course soon discov-
cred that they were in difhculties-in-
deed Sir Georges face was incapable
Of concealing secret-and these two
women, in Mammals boudoir, dis
cussing probabilities and improbable
ties, and the selling of "papa's' hunt
ers, until Mildred at length suggested
that the annual visit to London should
be given up-for this year at all
events
The Trevanions were determined
also to follow up their lately begun
economical designs by having a quiet
autumn and winter at home. and had
actually made up their minds, with
Spartan heroism, not even to invite
their usual number of friends for the
hunting season at Kings Abbott, when
there reached them the unlucly letter
from the Younges, saying how much
the friend of his boyhood-namely, Sir
George.
This letter put a full stop to all their
plans, and was looked upon as BRAIN
blow in more ways than one, as not
only did it insure an expensive win
ter, but, what was worse, upon exam
ination it was discovered that these
friends of Sir Georges youth were
most disreputable in their antecedents,
having been in trade. A cotton mer-
chant! 1t sounded horrible! Cotton
could not possibly mean anything but
low birth, and low birth of course
meant vulgarity.
Lady, Caroline groaned in spirit and
thought dismally Of what the Dever-
ills and the Blounts and the Stanleys
would say, finally going off to consult
with her prime minister Mildred.
"It is all over" she began; "they
must be asked
II never heard Of such thing in
my life." said Miss Trevanion. ut is
perfectly indecent-their asking them
selves here. But what can one expect
from such people? Good gracious,
mamma, fancy cotton merchant! It
quite makes me shiver. How many
Of them are there?"
-Four" answered her mother. "Fath-
er, mother, daughter and son."
"Any more?" inquired Mildred, sar-
castically.
"No, no more. Do you not think
-four too many?" asked Lady Caroline
with surprise-nev in her life, good
soul, could she understand anything
approaching sarcasm. "Of course, now
they are coming, Mildred, we must
only make the best of it, although l