The Red Cloud chief., 1901-03-08

For all that, however, calm Mildred
was more the "hearth-angel" than she
was. To her, as to their mother. came
all the boys, with the numerous griefs
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. m
even Florence, who was slightly self
sufficient and given to assert herself.
at times, with astonishing holiness.
had been known, on two or three oc-
c%asions, to come all the way from Rye
lands to ask Mildred's opinion upon
certain subjects.
Mildred at home and Mildred abroad
were very different persons. She was
most capable OF loving. but her unfort-
innate GOODNESS of dcmeanor 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 a man
a need to be with seven growing
up children. But at the time he had
put the evil thought behind him and
considered Ii no more, until about a
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 d~isadvanta-
seOusly, walked about his farm, doing
gloomy penance, and was cross to his
wife for the first time for a number
Of years.
But this state of things only lasted
q very few days indeed, and at the
end of that time, his third hunter hav-
ing fallen lame, M of those disposed
OF was bought back again, at a 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 1t, and having kissed his wife, die
not go round the farm for severa'
days.
Lady Caroline OF course soon discov,
cred that they were in dificulties-in
deed Sir Georges face was incapabl,
Of ~concealing a 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 al
events.
The Trevanions were determines
also to follow up their lately begun
economical designs by having a quie
autumn and winter at home. and hal
actually made up their minds. witt
Spartan heroism, not even to invit
their usual number of friends for tn,
hunting seaso at Kings Abbott, whel
there reached them the unlucky lette
: from the Younges, saying how mucl
the head Of the family desired to Sc
the friend of his boyhood-namely, 81
| George.
| This letter put a full stop to all thei
, plans, and was looked upon as a brain
4 blow in more ways than one, as no
= only did it insure an expensive win
. ter, but. what was worse, upon exam
ination 1t was discovered that thes
I friends Of Sir Georges youth wer
\ most ~disreputable in their antecedents
o having been in trade. A cotton mel
chant! 1t sounded horrible! Cotto
could not possibly mean anything bu
h low birth, and low birth Of cours
meant vulgarity.
o Lady Caroline groaned in spirit, an
/. thought dismally Of what the Devei
ills and the Blounts and the Stanley
8 would say, finally going of to consu.
: with her prime minister Mildred.
o 1T is all over" she began; 1.-The
d must be asked"
81 never heard OF such a thing 1
g my life." said Miss Trevanion. 1T
v perfectly indecent-their asking then
r selves here. But what a one expe,
v from such people? Good graciou
mamma, fancy a cotton merchant!
quite makes me SILVER. How man
. of them are there?"
a -Four, answered her mother. "Fatl
Is err, mother, daughter and son"
n ANY more?" inquired Mildred, ga.
Y castically.
mo, no more. Do you not thin
"a four too many?" asked Lady Carolir
with surprise-never In her life. goc
q soul, could she understand anythin
approaching sarcasm. "Of course, no
IL they are coming. Mildred, We mu
only make the best of 1t, although
" do wish IL had been wine instead