Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1909-11-26

ut Is not, mother. am married
as fast as church and state can bind
me. If l look haggard and seedy you
need not wonder, for 1t isn't pleasant
to leave your bride almost at the
church door. l can tell you"
"Madman." she hissed through her
set teeth, while ner keen black eyes
flashed with fury. ITO what adventur.
ess have you fallen a victim?"
"Hush," he said, with some dig.
nifty; you must not speak dlsrespect.
fully of my wife. Tomorrow or next
day you will see full particulars in the
newspapers"
What" she almost screamed, "are
you in such haste to blazen your dis
grace to the world?"
81 may as well let you know at
once" he continued, not needing her
interruption my wife was Miss Hill.
ton, daughter of the late Captain Hill.
ton, an old cavalryman, OF good fam.
lily, | believe; but that don't care
rap about"
in low, concentrated tone, and rising
In her wrath. Some inner voice told
me evil would come of your long, un-
accountable stay in that vile place
Now leave me. Never let me set eyes
upon you again. You have blasted my
hopes, you have destroyed my affection
for you, you cease to be my son."
Stop" cried Hugh, in such a tone
of command that his mother obeyed
you must and shall hear me. Pray
sit down. l have a good deal to say
you have a right to be angry
Hugh began, throwing himself into a
chair near his mothers. You have
been a good mother to me, and you
deserve that I should have consulted
you-but knowing that you would do
your best to forbid or prevent the mar.
riage, even to the length Of writing
cruelty to Kate, determined to say
nothing till the deed was accomplish.
ed. Now hear me. first met the Hill,
tons in Naples nearly two years ago,
when l was with the Mediterranean
squadron. My uncle Everton was
there, and had leave now and again
while we lay off Sicily: You know l
never bother about women, mother;
but before knew Kate Hilton week,
l was fathoms deep. l don't know
whether other people think her beauti.
full or not, to me she Is the best and
loveliest-" Mrs Saville made a
motion Of the hands expressive Of dis.
gust and repulsion, while a contemp-
tuous smile curled her thin lips.
There, | will not trouble you with de.
tails" continued Hugh, grimly. "She
sang-well, like prima donna, and
she used to let me sing with her, but
the more I showed her-well, the feel
ings could not repress, the colder and
more distant she grew. She drove me
half mad. Then l was ashore, as you
know, and went off wandering abroad
hoping to meet her, as I did. Still
she kept me at arms Length, but some
thing told me that she wasn't as in
different as she seemed"
No Doubt" calculated Mrs. Saville
About six weeks ago, l went Ia
Nice, and found old Hilton very ILL
so bad that l could scarce get speech
Of Kate They were lodging in the
outskirts Of the town. Then he died
very suddenly at the last, and Kate
i. unnerved with watching and grief for
the old man, who, though by no means
a good father, was never actively un
kind, broke down and clung to me
She was friendless, penniless, helpless
I took the command and insisted on
her marrying me-"
Have you done yet?" asked his
mother, harshly.
IF Nearly. Have little patience. As
a woman I ask you what opinion you
would have Of man who could have
deserted the girl he loved with all his
| heart and soul in such desolation!
Could I have helped her, given her
money protection, anything, save as q
husband? She was not her usual
proud self, or she would have seen
, through the thin excuses with which
, | yelled your silence Now, mother. be
) tender, womanly-ay. and reasonable
. Make up your mind to the inevitable
Kate is my wife. See her before you
condemn me, before you Danish me
Give her the protection l cannot stay
, to give. have left her with the kind
old Frenchwoman in whose house her
!, father died. l dared not endanEer my
career, my reputation, by losing an
hour: so for her sake as we'll as my
: own, l tore myself away don't
! think l ever asked you a favor; now
, ] pray you, If you ever loved me, take
! my wife to your heart; let her live
near you; give her chance of win
. ming your good opinion, your"