The Red Cloud chief., 1901-03-08

wish very much to have these people
) here, they must be asked" said Lady
Caroline. regarding her husband Mt
tentively through the. handle OF the
tea-urn. The children had Just left
the room, so she thought 1t a good op-
portunity OF finally learning his Wishes
on this subject without the interven-
-tion OF Mildred's rather vehement
Opinions. ut is a dreadful nuisance
she said--"and | don't suppose they are
the very incest people In the world
for the girls to know; but. II you SCI
no way out OF the difficulty, OF course
there Is nothing more to be said
Nothing; 1t cannot be helped now
al all events" Sir George returned,
running his eyes ruefully over a let
ter which he held in his hand. He
was an old schoolfellow OF mine. you
know; and. when he expresses a wish
to come and see me. what can d.
but write and say how welcome he
and his family will be-"
Exactly So" assented Lady Caro-
line. but 1t Ia a horrible bore for all
that. And how they are to be amused
10 more than I can tell you. There is
q son, is there not. and q daughter
Yes. a son and a daughter. AS to
amusing them. the young gentleman
will hunt, I suppose, and probably
ruin one OF my best hunters before he
leaves; and the girl-oh. I should think
she will do very WE'LL" said Sir George,
Oavalierly. Mildred viii manage
about that, and will get some fellows
to meet her."
How did he make his money!"
Lady Caroline asked presently. and
then began to think with dismay OF
what the whole countryside would Jay.
It was eminently aristocratio. the coun-
tryside. and never had 1t az yet intro
.auced within the sacred boundaries or
Its circle such a horror ~ a family
polluted by trade.
Cotton" answered Sir George brief
~ly; and then indeed his wife felt thar
the cup of her affection was full.
If 1t only had been wine," she said,
-hopelessly. IL am sure l don't now
what the Deveriils will think; and OF
course the girl will be ~unbearable. Be-
.sides"-with a sight will be such
an additional expense"
True returned her husband. and
the lines laid by care upon his face be-
came more clearly defined; but, as |
said before, darling, 1t can not be
helped, so we must only make the best
of it."
But Lady Caroline could not make
L the best of 1t" just then. and 80 went
out OF the room to consult with Mildred,
of whose sympathy she was certain,
the girl being more opposed to the
coming of their visitors thar even she
could be.
Seven children had blessed the mar
rage of Sir George Trevanion and
Lady Caroline. First, there was
Charles, the heir, a great. tall, good
looking fellow. with a careless. sweet
temper-"as like his father at tina
age" said his mother, AS ever a boy
could be-" He was about twenty-six at
This time, and held a commission In a
cavalry regiment. After him came
Florence, who resembled nobody In
particular, and had married during her
Arst season-very desirably indeed
MI. Talbot. Of very prepossessing ap'
pe~arance-when he had any express
sion In his face, which was seldom-ant
the owner Of considerable property
about twelve miles from Kings Ab
bolt.
II was always q great source OF com
fort to Lady Caroline's anxious mint
that Florence had got oil" so wei
before Mildred was old enough e
make her bow to the world, Hal
Harry Talbot dallied in his love-mak
ing for two years ~longer-as som
Syoung men are In the habit of daily
ing-instead Of coming to the poin
at once-like a much-to-be-applaude
gentleman, as he was-Lady Carolin
would not have answered for the con
sequences. Mildred, her fathers darl
ing, was 80 much more beautiful-sucl
a slight, exquisite girl she appeared
with the darkest violet eyes and tn
most enviable golden hair imaginable
And yet, in spite Of all her beauty
she had no half the number of lover
her sister Mabel could count, who wa
barely eighteen, and not nearly s
handsome, Mildred being cold an
proud, and almost naughty In her man
'ner to strangers. Pride Of birth wa
the rock on which she stumbled. An
family without a pedigree, no matte
how rich and how well received b
society in general. was as an abomins
ton In her sight.
In between these two came Eddie
who was about nineteen at this time
q merry reckless fellow, handsome a
an Apollo. and the acknowledged pc
amongst all the women In the county
far and near. old and young.
Eddie and Mabel were something liz
each other, both being much darke
than the rest OF the family, who WEI
rather Saxon in their general appear
ance. Mabel, or Queen Nab or tn
queen" as she was indlscriminatel
HAL at a