The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-10-08
MRS. ALEXANDER
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CHAPTER II.
uIhor OF

The two ensuing udyo "Ci0 AA
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS excitement
TO Mrs. Saville. Her keen eyes shone
with a hard glitter as she thought that
her son was probably saved from COM
mitting some dangerous folly, ana
launched afresh on a career which
nromised honor and promotion. IN
truth Mrs. Saville's hopes and amDl-
tions were centered on her second son.
Her eldest was an apathetic, Well-Dred'
briefiess barrister, Of dilettante tastes,
given to writing elegantly-expressed
papers in the more exalted periodicals
on obscure passages in Shakespeare,
and latterly in Browning, on the deri-
walton of obsolete words, and other
such topics, in which ordinary mortals
took not the slightest interest.
Mrs. Saville was the only child and
sole heiress of an exceedingly wealthy
Sheffield manufacturer. She had mar
ried the accomplished, amiable, distln-
guished-looking younger brother OF the
Earl of Everton, an impecunious peer
whose sole means of existence was de-
rived from the rent of the family man.
sion and domains. Mrs. Saville was
an extremely ambitious woman; she
had keen desire for personal dlstlnc
ton, and in her own mind had re-
solved that as her eldest son must in
the order of things succeed his uncle
and become Earl of EvertOn, so Hugh
must marry a woman of rank and for
tune, and thus she would be free to
give the bulk of her belongings to
support the title which would devolve
upon her eldest son. He was stead"
iIreproachable young man, but her
heart, her pride, conferred in her Ben
jamin.
Mrs. Saville's love was a somewhat
onerous obligation; she had a very
tough, inexorable will, and a profound
belief that she could manage every
ones affairs considerably better than
they could themselves doctrine in
which her younger son rarely agreed.
His mothers greed for power was
greatly developed by her early widow
hood though the deceased Honorable
her husband was a peace-loving soul
who rarely contradicted her. Such was
the condition of things at the begin
ming of this narrative
Receiving no reply to her telegram,
Mrs. Saville sat up late on the follow
ing Wednesday, hoping her son might
arrive, and retired to rest weary with
unfulfilled expectation.
When ner maid brought her early
cup of tea, the following morning, she
announced that "Mr. Hugh arrived
about half an hour ago, and has gone
to his room"
Whereupon Mrs. Saville ordered her
breakfast to be brought to her in her
own apartment, that she might not de-
lay her sons refreshment, and pre-
pared leisurely to meet him in her
morning-room. She was already there
to greet him when he came up-sta irs.
well. my dear Hugh! l am glad
to see you. My best congratulations
Have you read the Secretary's letter?
I told Atkins to give it to you"
Yes, he did," said Hugh, shortly;
then he kissed his mothers brow and
stood looking at her with a troubled
expression.
He was a fair, sunburnt man of per
haps six or SYSTEMATICALLY, rather
above middle height, broad-shouldered
and seeming shorter than he really
was. His features were good, and a
pair of large handsome brown ewes
lighted up his face. which was square
and strong; his hair and thick nous.
taches were light brown, with a red.
dish tinge
why. Hugh, you are looking i'll and
worn. You do not seem like yourself
Why did you not arrive last night
Il came as quickly as l could: the
trains at this season are inconveni
cnt,' he returned, still in an absent
tone. He had a pleasant, deep-chested
voice. and, though he had never given
much time to its cultivation, could
sing a good second.
If you had started on Monday night
after you had my telegram, you might
have been here yesterday"
Il could not, mother" And he be-
gan to pace the room in quarterback
style.
"Why?" persisted Mrs. Saville. with
vague uneasiness.
Because l had a rather particular
engagement on Tuesday morning"
What do you mean?"
Il had arranged to be married on
Tuesday morning, and l could not dis
appoint the parson and the consul r.
say nothing of my fiancee," he return
ed, with grim smile, and pausing in
his walk opposite his mother.
Married." she repeated, CROWNS
white and grasping the arms of he,
chair. Hugh, this is a supid vulpa,
jest"
1T is not, mother. am married
as fast as church and state can him
me. II l look haggard and seedy yor
need not wonder, for it isn't pleasant
to leave your bride almost at tn.
church door, l. can tell you"
Madman!" she Kissed through he,
get teeth, while her keen black eve,
flashed with fury. ITO what adventur