The San Francisco call., 1904-11-27
CHAPTER VII.
Ideals and Aspirations.

A sudden rigfdity seemed to affect
Mrs. RaymOre from the waist upward
Her back grew stiff. her head rose
very straight from the neck. her eyes
looked fixedly in front Of her, her lips
were tight shut. These symptoms were
due TO the fact that she saw Tom
Courtland approaching, in company
with a woman who was certainly
not Lady Harriet. Thanks to the
gossip about among Toms friends,
Kate RaymOre guessed who she
was; the w0man's gorgeous attire,
her fiamboyant manner, the air Of
good-natured rowdyism which she
carried with her, all confirmed
the guess. Yet Tom was walk
ing with her in the broad light of day
not in the street, it Is true; it was
In a rather retired part of the park
But people came there and drove by
there, and TO many his companion was
known by sight and by repute. His
conduct betrayed increasing reckless
ness. There was nothing to do but to
pass him by without notice; he himself
would wish nothing else and Hoyld
expect nothing else. Still Mrs. r.
more was sorry to have to do 1t;
Tom had been kind and helpful in 90
tanning that position in a railway com
pany's Office in BuenOs .Ayres which
had covered the disastrous retreat OF
her well-beloved son.
InlS ldMenLdDle AFFAIR udQ Oecn
hushed up so far as the outer world
was concerned; but their friends knew
the truth. In the first terrible days,
when there had been imminent risk OF
a criminal prosecution, RaymOre had
rather lost his head and had gone
round to Grantley ImasOn. to Tom
Courtland, to John Fanshaw, making
lament and imploring advice. So they
all knew-they and their wives; and
the poor bows sister Eva had been
told, perforce. There the public shame
stopped, but the private shame was
very bitter to the Raymores. RaymOre
was driven to accuse himself OF all
kinds Of faults in his bringing up Of
the boy-of having been too indulgent
here or too strict there-nost OF all.
Of having been so engrOssed in busi-
ness as not to see enough OF the boy
or to keep proper watch on his dis
position and companions, and the way
he spent his time. Kate Raymore, who
even now could not get II out OF her
head that her boy was a paragon, was
possessed by a more primitive feslinS-
To her the thing was nemesis. She
had been too content, too sure all was
we'll with their household, too upliftsd
in her kindly but rather scornful 1udg-
ment of the difficulties and follies
which the Courtland family ana the
Fanshaw family and other families OF
her acquaintance had brought before
her eyes. She had fallen too much into
the pose Of the Judge, the critic. and
She censor. Well. she had trouble
enough Of her own now: and that, to
say nothing Of Toms kindness about
Buenos Ayres. made her sorrier to have
to cut him in the park.
She was religious woman, OF a type
now often considered old fashioned.
The nemesis which she instinctively ac-
knowledged she accepted as a just and
%
husband was impatient with this view.
but he had more sympathy with the
mercffuI alienation. OF her sorrow
which heaven had sent In the hour
of her affiiction her sons heart, which
had wandered from her in the way
wardness OF his heady youth. had come
back TO her. Thew could share holy
memories OF hours spent before Charley
went after forgiveness had been Of
fered and received, and they were all
drawn very close together. With these
memories inltheir hearts they could en-
dure and with a confident hope look
forward to their sons future. Mean
while they who remained were nearer
in heart. too. Eva, who had been in
clined 10 fightiness, was frightened
and sObered into a greater tenderness
and a more willing obedience; and Ed
gar RaymOre himself when once he
had pulled himself together had be-
haved so well and had been such a
help to his wife in the trial that their
old relations Of mellow friendship took
on a more intimate and affectionate
character.
1t was Sibylla Imason whom Mrs.
Raymore chose to pour out these feel
ings to. Who could better share them
than the young wife still in the first
pride and glory of her motherhood?
Children bring YOU together and
keep you together. whether in trouble
or in joy. That's one reason why
everybody ought to have children"
Kate RaymOre said with a rather trem-
ulOus smile. IF there are none. there's
such a danger Of the whole thing get
ting old and cold, and-and worn out,
you know"
Sibylla was in wonderful health now,
and at the best Of her looks. Her man
ner, too had grown more composed
and less imDulsive. although she kept
her old graci0usness. To Nate Ray
more she seemed veT- fair and good TO
gaze on She listened with a thought
fuf gravitv and the wonted hint OF
questioning or seeking in her eyes
There was hint OF pain in them also,