The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-08-13
"The Shadow Between"
-BY-
SILAS X. HOOKING.
K. HOOKING.

ANoW hC a NolhDsslhNu " icoh NN'p
er. Love had not only stirred his
heart, 1t had also quickened his brain.
The old condition OF laisseZfaire had
been broken up and destroyed. Love
had widened his outlook and enlarged
his view of life and responsibility. He
had become unconsciously a new man
with a new outlook and a new sense
of the greatness Of things.
Since he left Oxford he had done
nothing, and, worse still, he had been
content to do nothing. His mother
had been partly TO blame for this, no
doubt. He could play st being an adj
ministrator or q local legislator, for
in every district the gentry" were ex-
pected to dabhle in these things. But
that he might add TO the wealth OF
the nation, or contribute to his own
maintenance by anything he might do,
was an idea that never occurred TO
that estimable woman. The Nav
gans were country people and had
been for generations. SO were the
Tresinneys, OF which she was a mem
Der. They derived their income from
land. They did not till the land, of
course, other people did that-the
common people, the working classes;
the gentry appropriated the larger
portion OF the harvest, and were gen
orally disappointed that the harvest
was so small.
An arrangement so sensible and so
Just would naturally commend itself
to her. There was nothing vulgar
about it. Trade vas essentially COM
mon, and even the professions
smacked more or less of plebeianism,
for professional men had to earn
their living by their own exertions.
But those who derived their incomes
from the land stood in quite a differ
ent category. They might be as poor
as Lazarus, but they did not belong to
the common herd
Mrs. Mawgan rarely expressed her
views on social economies. for neither
of her children agreed with her.
Nevertheless, Clement made no seri-
Gus attempt to depart from the course
of life she had marked odt for him.
Seeing how strongly she had set her
heart on his remaining At home and
playing the part, in a small way, of a
country squire. he had fallen in with
her wishes, and had tried to believe
that his whole duty lay In hat direc-
ton.
For awhile he had been fairly con-
tent, but the constant pinch of poverty
was a serious drawback TO his enjoy
ment. He could not afford to keep a
hunter, could not afford a town house,
could not afford yearly trips on the
continent-could not afford a dozen
things that other young men had in
abundance.
He tried not to complain, but he
grew a little bitter, especially against
the scoundrel who had robbed his
father.
Then came his introduction to
Edith Tremayne and his pursuit OF a
fortune. This became a little eXcit-
ing, and his spirits rose in proportion.
Life became interesting and the out
look cheerful. He saw wonderful pos
sibilities in Edith's fortune; he say a
great many charms in Edith herself.
Propinquity increased his ardor. He
honestly believed he was in love.
Then Edith Tilted him-and not only
Tilted him, but laughed at him. 1t was
an unexpected blow, and for a while
he felt stunned. He had -revereneed
all women UP to that point-had be-
lieved them incapable Of ~treachery or
deceit; and for Edish-the woman he
had idealized-to turn round and
launt her h~eartlessness and perfidy
in his face was like taking away the
very foundations OF things.
He did his best t. put a bold face
on the matter, assumed a don't-care
attitude whenever possible, and took
10 cynicism as some men take to
drink. He grieved less over the loss
of Edith's fortune than did his moth
er. II was the loss of an ideal that
wounded him so deeply.
Mrs. Mawgan thought nothing of
the loss of the woman. Being, a wo-
man herself, Edith had little or no
value in her eyes apart from her for
tune. "Girls are cheap" she said. in
her short, Gogmatic way. "and mono
Of them worth picking I'D except for
what they possess"
1t was not the best kind Of seed to
sow In her sons mind just then, but
she did not think of that. she was
anxious, II possible. to save him from
unnecessary pain.
From that day Clement began to
look for the worst in people instead of
the best, and. naturally, he found
what he looked for. He did not talk
much, he went less and less into COM
pany. and he took less interest into
local affairs.
Esther rallied him again and again.
His mother assured him that there
were half-a-dozen girls with fortunes
either OF whom might be had for the
asking; but frequently he did not take
the trouble to reply. When he did re-
ply, 1t was with SO much vehemence
and bitterness that they were glad to
let the subject drop.
So matters continued until the
wreck Of the Nebraska and the rescue
Of Marion West from the clutches Of
the deep. That moment marked a new
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