Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1905-09-15
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CHAPTER XIV.
By MRS. LOvETT CAMERON


vault in Frierly churchyard by the side
Of all the Sir Hughs and Sir johns and
Sir Gregorys who had preceded him. he
died as he had lived, unloyed and I'M
regretted. His selfshness stood hlm IN
good stead up to the last.
He was buried with all becoming pomp
and ceremony, and Roy, his son, relgned
in his stead But poor Roy's reign was
but a short and troubled one i'll the
house of his fathers. Sir Hugh's affairs
were found to be in greatest confusion.
1he property was heavily mortgaged, the
farms had deprecated in value the rents
had been left overdue. Poverty stared
the young heir in the face. Margaret,
who had partly guessed at the state OF
things, stood by him, with her strong
mind and good common sense, to help
aim through his calamities.
There is nothing for it but to let
she house. You cannot afford to live in
st." she said to him.
Let Frierly! Oh, Margaret.'
''It is the only thing to be done, Roy;
face it like man. If you let it we'll,
you will be able to live comfortably as
a bachelor in London, and when you
you will be able to come back to your
own again, pay off mortgages, put the
farms in repair, and start fresh again.
You see how important a good marriage
30 for you"
You mean rich wife. l am afraid
that l am not at all likely to restore
ahe fallen fortunes of my family in that
way. The only woman whom l could
ever have married is lost to me-"
"You are not, 1 suppose, going to re-
main q bachelor for ever because of a
married womanw cried Margaret, with
zeal irritation. She could not believe it
possible that he was still mourning over
Kitten Laybourne-there are women to
whom a steadfast faithfulness appears
In the light of absolute stupidity. Was
not Kitten married and safely got out of
Shs way? What on earth possessed the
boy to be thinking about her still?
But, Roy, you are the last-the very
last. 1t is your duty to marry. The
baronetcy will become extinct if you do
notT' cried Margaret in despair.
Somebody must be last, l suppose.
Just as somebody else must be first. You
are wonderful woman at counting your
Eh1SheIS, A1dfSdfeL, DuL, 10 DeSlu Will;
where is the rich wIfe?'
There is Felicia
II am not wicked enough for her. -
said Roy, with a little smile to himself
over sundry speeches of his cousin S
which still fingers in his memory.
Margaret looked indignant and severe
Il really do not pretend to understand
the character and manners of the young
ladies Of the present day. | am afraid
that Felicia is becoming rather reckless
in her conversation since her father has
left her so much alone"
exactly, and l could not marry a per
son who was reckless. even for her
money" laughed the young man.
w ell, there are plenty of rich girls
to be picked up in London, and if we
must let the Hall, we will go up to town
and live there. Ny own money will en-
able ME to take a small house; and you
of course will live with me. You will
be able then to live comfortably and
suitably upon the remnant that can be
saved ont of the fire. together with the
rent of the house. You can have your
horse and your brOugham, and do every
thing that is fitting to your position. As
80 your food. that need never cost you
a farthing. Whatever is mine is yours
They went up to London, and Mar
garet installed herself and her household
goods IN a small house in Connaught
SIuare. Here, too, Roy had his own
rooms and his own belongings. and he
stayed at home as much as he liked, and
went away also as much as he felt inclin-
ed. Nobody, either, could have said of
Sir Roy Grantley that he lived the life
of a woe-begone and despairing lover
He had plenty of friends, and his friends
took care to make his life pleasant to
Aim.
One afternoon, in the month of May
Roy found himself in certain tiny
drawing room in Mayfair. where, in these
days, he was always sure of cordial
welcome. The house altogether was Of
ahe most minute dimensions, and was
as thoroughly dirty and dingy as ''bijou
scsidenceS within stones throw of Park
Lane have a habit of being. The very
door. KS it was opened by the tall foot
man. seemed narrower and lower than
8ther peoples front doors. and the foot
man himself, as he preceded the visitor
ap the narrow wooden staircase, looked
AGO large for the house.
One end of the room was filed com
pieteiy with wide, low sofa, across
which Eastern embroideries and pieces
of Italian brocade-all rather dirty
were flung in careless confusion. At one
end of this sofa invariably reclined a
Black poodle. at the other was his mis-.
sress. BY Mrs. Talbot's side was a
small table. upon which were arranged
Q hand looking glass set in silver, sey-
erai bottles of perfumes of different
kinds, the poodle's silk bag of French
sweetmeats and the photographs of hel
pet admirers. To these latter Roy had
been lately added in a respondent new
Sraale of crimson plush.
Gertrude. in her white muslin drap
eTIes. Iay back among her embroidered
cushions and shifted at her salts bot.
sle Felicia. who had found herself 8
small, low seat on the other side of the
little table, had seized upon a japanese