Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-01-19
a DEAD PAST
By MRS. LOvtn CAMERON =
81
CHAPTER XIV,
BY lars. LOvETT CAMERON

udyS were snort and DARK, and black
frost and biting east wind made winter
hard to the young and unbearable to the
old, Sir Hugh Grantley shuffied off this
mortal coil and was buried in the family
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, unloved and un-
regretted. His selfishness stood him in
good stead up TO the last.
He was buried with all becoming pomp
and ceremony, and Roy, his son. reigned
in his stead. But poor Roy's reign was
but short and troubled one in the
house of his fathers. Sir Hugh's affairs
were found to be in greatest confusion.
he property was heavily mortgaged, the
farms had deprecia ted 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
him through his calamities.
There is nothing for it but to let
the house. You cannot afford to live in
it," she said to him.
Let Frierly. Oh, Margaret"
1T Is the only thing to be done, Roy
face it like a man. If you let it well,
yon will be able to live comfortably as
bachelor in London, and when you
marry, you must marry well, and then
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 maria ge
is for you"
You mean a rich WIFE | am afraid
that | am not at all likely to restore
the fallen fortunes of my family in that
way. The only woman whom | could
ever have married is lost to me-"
You are not, | suppose, going to re-
main a bachelor for ever because of a
married woman" cried Margaret, with
real irritation. She could not believe it
possible that he was still mourning over
Kitten LaybOurne-there are women tc
whom a steadfast faithfulness appears
in the light of absolute stupidity. Was
not Kitten married and safely got out OF
the 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
II
not" cried Margaret in despair.
Somebody must be last, | suppose
just as somebody else must be first. Yor
are wonderful woman at counting youl
chickens, Margaret; but. to begin with
where is the rich wife!"
There is Felicia"
81 am not wicked enough for her,
said Roy, with little smile to himself
over sundry speeches of his cousin,
which still fingers in his memory.
Margaret looked indignant and severe
81 really do not pretend to understand
the character and manners of the young
ladies of the present day. l 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 per
son who was reckless. even for hel
money" laughed the young man.
well, there are plenty of rich girl.
TO he picked up in London, and if We
must let the Hall, we will go up to towr
and live there. My 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 bt
saved out of the fire.. together with the
rent Of the house You can have youl
horse and your brougham, and do every
thing that is fitting to your position. A:
to your food, that need never cost yor
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 Connaugh
Square. Here, too, Roy had his owl
rooms and his own belongings, and HI
stayed at home as much as he liked, anC
went away also as much as he felt inclin
ed Nobody, either, could have said Of
Sir Roy Grantley that he lived the lif,
of a woe-begone and despairing lover
He had plenty of friends, and his friend,
took care to make his life pleasant t.
him.
One afternoon, in the month of May
Roy found himself in a certain tiny
drawing room in Mayfair, where, in thes,
days, he was always sure of cordia
welcome. The house altogether was O.
the most minute dimensions, and wal
as thoroughly dirty and dingy as ''bijou'
residences within a stones throw of Parl
Lane have a habit of being. The yer!
door, as it was opened by the tall foot
man. seemed narrower and lower thar
other peoples front doors, and the foot
man himself, as he preceded the visito
up the narrow wooden staircase, looked
too large for the house.
One end of the room was filed com
pletely with wide, low sofa, across
which Eastern embroideres and. piece
of italian brocade-all rather dirty
were flung In careless confusion. At on
end of this sofa invariably reclined
black poodle, at the other was his mis-
tress BY Mrs. Talbot's side was
small table, upon which were arrange,
hand looking glass set In silver, sey
eral bottles of perfumes of differen
kinds, the poodle's silk bag of Frencl
sweetmeats. and the photogranhs of he