The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1908-07-03
CHAPTER V.-(Continued,)

E -'
AS you WILL" he grunted. and then
conversation came to a sudden end.
He jumped up at length, with a hur
rled apology, and pushed his chair to-
ward the table. "I1l be back to tea
II possible" he said, and was gone.
Don't seem much interested in the
young woman upstairs" Mrs. Mawgan
remarked, sententiously. when the
door closed behino-x7r son. And a
good thing, too"
why a good ,ulng?" Esther ques-
toned. without looking up.
Because n is always more or less
uneasy about these romantic episodes,
II | may call them So" and Mrs. Nav
gan wiped her lips deliberately with
her serviette.
Esther laughed. The idea Of Glenn
ent falling in love with Marion West
had v occurred to her. Even il
It had occurred TO her, she would not
have been troubled, for she had con-
ceived a strong liking for the brave,
sweet eyed girl who had been flung on
their charity.
Il don't think there is anything to
laugh about" Mrs. Mawgan went on,
severely. Clement is a young man
yet; the girl has some claim to good
looks, there can be no doubt. l be-
lieve your brother was chiefly instru-
mental In saving her life. Hence, I
repeat, l an glad he shows no par
ticular interest in her. Anything in
the shape Of a romantic regard might
be mischievous in the extreme"
1T might give him some interest in
life, which he evidently lacks at pres
emit"
Don't talk nonsense, Esther. For
Clement to marry a nameless nobody
would be a calamity"
Not necessarily. A good woman
mighl be an inspiration to him"
STUFF and nonsense and Mrs.
Mawgan rose hastily to her feet.
And what is more, Esther, do try to
realize the unwisdom OF singing the
praises of that young mn in your
brosAer's ears" and with this parting
shot she swept out Of the DON
It had been dark an hour when
Clement returned, accompanied by
Grayton. They were both in excellent
spirits, judged by appearances. They
had spent the day in the service of
ii i. fellows, and were now reaping
thf .eward that always grows out OF
q generous action. Afternoon tea was
served in the drawing room. and thith-
er the young men made their way.
INrkl,@,e - hnh3,,I fLo 70, fro, 1oplrinr
very sweet and animated. Mrs. Nav
gan was ensconced in an easy chair
near the fire. The curate came for
ward a little efficiently, as if not quite
sure of his position. He was a hand
some athletic young fellow, with a
frank open face, dark brown hair
slightly incline to curl, eyes deeply
set and rather wide apart, lips well
shaI ed, firm, and mobile, and a chin
that indicated det\'ed strength of
character. He was dressed in a dark
tweed suit Of unclerical cut, spoke in
q strong musical voice, and was de
void OF the smallest trace Of profess
siOnalism.
Mrs. Mawgan received him politely,
but without any display of warmth.
Esther covered the situation by ask
Ing him ii he We're frozen and then
passing him a cup of tea. He took
the teacup from her hand and then
looked at her, but she did not meet
his eyes, though a careful observer
might have seen the color deepen on
her cheeks.
Mrs. Mawgan was not greatly en-.
amored of the curate. She was rath-
|, er scandalized by his tweed suit. A
clergyman, she contended, should
dress like a clergyman always, and
under all circumstances. Then, too,
he had certain democratic tendencies
which rather Jared on her sensitive
nerves. He lacked the aloofness
which she thought SO well became a
clergyman. He brought himself too
much on a level with the common
people. He not only visited the cot
tage folk in Z proper and professional
way, but occasionally sat by their
firesides q whole evening and smoked
and discussed politics and dissent and
other interesting topics. He had eve
been known to don oilskins and spend
q night in their boats fishing. But his
worst ofense In Mrs. Mawgan's eyes
was IN evident liking for her daugh-
ter Esther's company. In this she
scented danger. There was no deny
Ing he vas a taking fellow - hand
some, clean-limbed, and free from all
cant and Hypocrisy. But he was only
/ q curate and never likely to get much
higher in his profession. She had
been at some pains to get at his fam.
lly history, and she had discovered
that his father was in ''trade" in a
northern town and in a small way OF
business, that mi OF his brothers was
. solicitors clerk, that his mothers
people we're ordinary mill hands"
and that he himself had been ordain.
ed without q university training.
With such a record she felt that
any Intimacy between him and her
daughter must be guarded against at
every point. For the last six months
she had never once invited him to
Mawgan Chase. and on the few &C.