Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1908-06-11

! I1CCLAC6. 5
Mrs. Mawgan sank into the nearest
chair with little gasp. Il hope Glenn
ent Is mistaken" she painted. "He is
/ a little imaginative sometimes-don't
! you think SO? But hark!"
That Is another signal, mother
There can be no doubt that some YES
sci Is in distress"
ut is very dreadful to think Of"
Mrs. Mawgan walled. "The last time
there was wreck On the Beetles our
house was full for days"
We should be very thankful IL we
can render any assistance But there
goes the gong. Had we not better get
our dinner? Glenn asked me to OK
cuse him to you" '.'' '..'
Has he gone out?"
| Il expect he will be halfway to st.
Chloe bay by this. He would not stop
even. to change his clothes"
| Clement can be quite energetic
when there Is any excitement in the
air" she said, plaintively Il wish he
would display little energy at other
1 times"
They descended the stairs in.
silence, and Mrs. Mawgan seated her.
self at the head OF the table. Esther
sat down at her right hand. An old
&hutler who had been in the family
for nearly fifty years waited on them
he was the last remaining symbol
Of more prosperous days. 1t was a
very silent meal, and almost as simple
90 ff ci1 Ant
enough, and brave pretence OF style
and luxury: for Mrs, Mawgan could
never forget an earlier time. when
the Injuries Of every season were
found upon her table--but the actual
cost OF the meal would have filed
most housewives with establishment.
When she married Charles Mawgan
she was regarded AZ the most fortu-
nate girl OF her set. Not only was he
OF good family, but he had what
great many good families had not
the vherewithal to keep up the family
traditions. Some people said he was
the wsalthiest comYnoner in the duohy.
Be that as 1t may, he had sufficient to
crafty even the most extravagant
desire
Much, however, would have more.
/ Moreover the passion for speculation
was in his blood Both his father and
4 grandfather had been keen speculat-
ors, and as fortunate as they had
been keen. That he should desire to
tread in their footsteps was. perhaps.
only natural. The life OF country
gentleman might have Its charms, but
it lacked excitement He wanted
something to stir his blood. A fiutter
on the stock exchange would give
\ piquancy to existence.
How he got acquainted with the set
he did no one knew. He hardly knew
himself. He had prided himself on
his keenness-on his ability to see
round a corner--on his Skill In read
ing character.
Mawgan had been in his grave these
twenty years and more-died people
said, of broken heart. The knowl.
edge that he had been outwitted-out-
nlaneuvered-tha like foolish trout
he had risen to the gided fiy-huu-;
bled him beyond endurance
4 Had he lost his wealth through mis-
fortune, or. as the lawyers would say
by any act Of God, he would have
borne the blow bravely and faced the
future with courage. But to be
duped and swindled by a mere adyen-
turer was humiliation too great to be
borne.
He retired to the seclusion Of Nav.
gan Chase and scarcely saw any one
again. Twelve months later he was
laid to rest in st. Chloe parish church
and his wife was left to face the world
4 as best she could.
/: Fortunately she had d small income
of her own, and this, aided to what
was saved from the wreck at her hns-
bands fortune. enabled her TO mai-.-
tain a position OF outward eentiiity.
But how srsstt Il tie = struggle vas few
i people guessed Anne Nfawgan was a
4 proud woman. AMI she would rather
have died than confessed to the straits
4 to which she was put.
A Most Of her love was lavished on
her son. Clement WAS the light Of her
eyes. She disposed d, .. good deal of
her jewe1ry that he might have four
years ct Oxford, and he never guessed
till considerable time after how
much she had sacrificed on his &C.
4 count. 8
He wanted to read for9the bar, but
4 to this she raised strong objections.
Her ambition was thatsh should be a
country gentleman that hi should
continue to reside at Mawgan Chase
that he should marry into some rich
county family, and in this way should
refurbish the ancient name.
Clement had not the heart Or the
courage to run count to his moth
er's wish. Remembe ring all she had
1 sacrineed on his account It seemed q
4 cruel thing to thwart her in this, par
\ ticularly as one or two small Iegacies
! from deceased relatives made 1t a lit
tie less diiiicult to play the role she
desired ,E:s:
Gradually he took the management
of the small estate into his own hands.
became interested In local affaIrs, got
4 elected to the county council. and at
the time our story opens had been