The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-07-02
CHAPTER v.-(contInued.)
SILAS X. HOOKING.

ried apology, and pushed his chair to-
ward the table. IN be back to tea
IL possible he said, and was gone :
Don't seem much interested In the
young upstairs" Mrs. Mawgan
remarked, sententiously, when the
door closed behinv-x7r son. And a
good thing, too"
Why a good .nlng?" Esther ques-
toned, without looking up.
Because one is always more or less
uneasy about these romantic episodes,
If may call them So" and Mrs. Nav.
gan wiped her lips deliberately with
her serviette.
Esther laughed. THE idea of Glen.
emit falling in love with Marion West
had w occurred to her. Even IL
1t 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. | be-
'ieve your brother was chiefly instru-
mental In saving her life. Hence, I
repeat, am 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
might be an inspiration TO him."
Stun 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 woman in your
brothers ears and with this parting
shot she swept out of the room.
' II 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
Il = fellows, and were now reaping
lie reward chat always grows out OF
a generous action. Afternoon tea vas
served in the drawing room, and thith-
er the young men made their way.
Esther sat behind the tea tray looking
very sweet and animated. Mrs. Nav
gan was %ensconced in an easy chair
- m $500 $500 &c.
ward a little d%ifidently, 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
shaped, firm, and mobile, and a chin
that indicated decN'ed strength OF
character. He vas dressed in a dark
tweed suit of unclerical cut, spoke in
a strong musical voice, and was de-
void of the smallest trace of profess
sionalism.
Mrs. Mawgan received him politely,
but without n display of warmth.
Esther covered the situation by ask
ing him If he were 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-
err 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 we'll became a
clergyman. He brought himself too
much on a level with the common
people. He not only visited the cot
tage folk in a proper and professional
way, but occasionally sat by their
hresides a whole evening and smoked
and discussed politics and dissent and
other interesting topics. He had even
been known to don oilskins and spend
a night in their boats fishing. But his
worst offense In Mrs. Mawgan's eyes
was an evident liking for her daugh-
ter Esther's company. In this she
scented danger. There was no deny
ing he was a taking fellow - hand
some, cleanlimbed. and free from all
cant and hypocrisy. But he vas only
a curate and never likely to get much
higher in his profession. She had
been at some pains to get at his FAM
lily history. and she had discovered
that his father was in trade" in a
northern town and in a small way Of
business. that n of his brothers was
a solicitors clerk. that his mothers
people were ordinary mill hands,"
and that he himself had been ordain-
ed without a 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,
casions he had come unlimited she
had been careful to show no unnoces
sary cordially. On the present &C
casion Clement had evidently invitey
him. and so. as mistress of MawgaI
Chase. she was bound to treat hin
w I""H