The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-06-11

chair with a little gasp. II hope Glenn
emf 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. Mawgah walled. 1.-THE last time
there was a wreck on the Beetles our
house was full for days"
I'VE 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 ex-
cuse him to you"
Has he gone out"
81 expect he will be halfway to st.
Chloe bay by this. He would no stop
even TO change his clothes"
Clement can be quite energetic
when there is any excitement in the
air." she said. plaintively. 81 wish he
would display a little energy at other
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
butler 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
as It was silent. There we're courses
enough. and a brave p%retence OF style
and luxury; for Mira. 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 filled
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 a
great many good families had not
the ~wherewithal to keep up the family
traditions. Some people said he was
the wealthiest commoner in the duchy.
Be that as 1t may, he had sufficient to
crafty eve the most extravagant
desire.
Much. however, would have more.
Moreover. the passion for speculation
was in his blood. Both his father and
grandfather had been keen ~speculat-
ors. n as fortunate as they had
been keen. That he should desire to
tread In their footsteps was, perhaps,
only natural. The life OF a country
gentleman might have It's charms. but
II lacked excitement. He wanted
something to stir his blood. A futter
on the stock exchange would give
p~iquancy to existence.
How he got acquainted with the set
he did no n 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.
1t was an old story now. Charles
Mawgan had been In his grave these
twenty years and more-died, people
said, of a broken heart. The knowl-
edge that he had been outwitted-out-
maneuvered-that like a foolish trout
he had risen to the gilded fy-hum-
bled him beyond endurance.
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 s~eclusion 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
as best she could.
Fortunately she had a small income
OF her own. and this, added to what
was saved from the wreck OF her hus-
bands fortune. enabled her to main.
tain a position of outward gentility.
But how great the struggle was few
people guessed. Anne Mawgan was a
proud woman. and she would rather
have died than confessed to the straits
to which she was put.
Most of her love was layished on
her SON. Clement was the light of her
eyes. She disposed Of a good deal of
her jewelry that he might have four
years at Oxford. and he v guessed
till a considerable time after how
much she had sacrificed on his &C
count.
He wanted to read for the bar, but
to this she raised strong objections.
Her ambition was that he should be a
country gentleman-that he 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 counter to his moth
er's wish. Remembering all she had
sacrificed on his account. It seemed .
cruel thing to thwart her In this. par.
ticuiarly as one or two small legac,es
from DECEASED relatives made 1t a lit
tie less dificult to play the role she
desired.
Gradually he took the management
Of the small estate into his hands.
became interested in local affairs. cot
elected to the county council, and at
the time our story opens had been
made a j. p
On the whole. however, events had
not worked out to Mrs. Mawgan's sat