The Red Cloud chief., 1901-05-10

strained. stlr tone that Eddie looked
M amazed, and. catching sight Of his
mothers despairing. and Mabel's dis
mayed expression. discovered for the
first time that he had been the cause
" much disturbance In the bosom OF
his family for the past five minutes.
Lady Eagleton maintained u studied.
not to say ominous, silence during the
remainder OF the meal, giving no vent
tn her outraged feelings until the la
dies rose to return to the drawing
room leaving the happier sex to dis-
cuss their wine In peace.
when the former were seated round
the hre-for IL was more than ordinar-
lily cold even for November-and tho
old lady had comfortably ~ensconced
herself In the snug armchair specially
brought down from the upper regions
to meet her wants, she began:
Caroline, is this thing true that |
have beer hearing" she said, sol
EMMY.
What thing. Aunt Harriet" asked
her niece, family.
iP'u L pIfNdl l'u'ft Nalh ffo'y
Eagleton. II warn you II Is best to be
open and above-board with me. Speak
the truth lis II possible that you have
had n cotton merchants family on
terms of intimacy at Kings Abbot. en-
%joyIng.' free association with your
daughters, our sons"
Poor Lady Caroline felt herself n
child once more, In hopeless bondage
to her aunt. and crossing her soft.
white hands helplessly upon her lap.
looked with imploring eyes at MIL
dred. and Mildred looked straight into
the fire.
They were friends OF Georges Aunt
Harriet" she ventured to murmur.
Then they were here" calculated
the old woman. in an awful voice.
Yes. they were here. confessed Lady
Caroline. In a nervous whisper.
Mabel, my smelling salts" said the
dowager; and Mabel rose to comply
with her demand.
Would you wish for some eau-
de-cologne. Aunt Harriet" she asked,
meekly. 1T might do you good"
II always felt George was a radical"
she said. In an aggrieved voice; Il al
ways knew his tendencies were low.
but that he should go to the length OF
introducing to his private circle peo-
pie connected with trade never for an
instant occurred to me az possible.
even In my widest flights of magma
ton. How could you. Caroline. stand
tamely by and permit such proceedings
to be contaminated In your house?
How could you allow low, vulgar per-
sons to associate with the members OF
your household"
But they were not at all vulgar"
Lady Caroline yentured to remon-
stratc.
do not tell me-" interrupted her
aunt, warmly. "and do not try to ex-
cuse your conduct by e%ndeavoring to
throw n halo of responsibility round
such people. Edward spoke Of a son:
was he the sort Of person to be thrown
In your daughters way-to aspire to
the hand OF one perhaps? Mildred. I
appeal to you, as the most rightly
Judging individual in this house. what
was your opinion OF this Mr.. Younger"
Mildred's long dark cyelashes quiv-
cred slightly, and her color rose a de-
gree as for a moment she hesitated.
but, when at length she did speak, II
was with perfect composure.
IL think that In bearing, look, and
manner he was an unmistakable gen
tleman," she said-''the warmest-
hearted and the truest | have ever
met"
Lady Eagleton was struck dumb.
She was astounded. She had SO entire
~ depended upon Mildred for support;
and now she found herself with no
language ready in which to express her
just Indignation.
"You have made me acquainted with
a new phase In your character" she
said to Mildred, In what was meant to
be a whitening tone-'one with which
| have been hitherto totally unac-
quainted. And, as ! have not an idea
In common with anybody in this house
now that you have declared your
self think the sooner | leave II the
better. I shall therefore hasten my de-
parture even more than l have done.
and beg you all to understand hat |
depart on Wednesday,"
(To be continued.)