Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1909-12-03
MRS. ALEXANDER
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CHAPTER Ill

awaiting him when ne presented him.
self the following day In Stafford
Square. Bitter reproaches were show.
cred upon him for his disloyal encour.
agement Of an ungrateful son, weak,
contemplate dupe. But Mr.. Rawson
defended himself bravely.
No one could do so much with Mrs.
Saville as the family solicitor First
he was shrewd, far-seeing man, of
great experience and undoubted in.
tegrity, in whose Judgment she had tine
greatest confidence. Then, too, he
was rich man and perfectly indie
pendent both in position and in char.
acter. So high was her opinion of him
that she deigned to call periodically
on his daughters, and some years be
fore, when she was in the habit OF
giving large ball every season, sent
them invitations, which were general.
ly declined. Hugh Saville had been at
school with the solicitors only son.
who was also in the navy, and, when
the young fellow evinced a tendency
to drink, stood by him and helped him
at the turning-point where, but for
friendly help, he might have taken the
downward road.
Mrs. Saville was too clever a woman
70 be snob, though her love of power
and distinction made her over-value
the effect Of rank and title upon her
fellow-creatures. She was quite vii
ling that her sons should be on famil
lar terms with Mr.. Rawson's family;
they were perfectly safe in the society
of his quiet, unpretending daughters;
while the sincere regard entertained
by Mr.. Rawson for the family of his
distinguished client, whose debts, diff.
culties, and invoivements made many
steps in the ladder by which his faith
er and himself had climbed to fortune
lent something of feudal character
to the tie existing between them.
To Mrs. Saville the greatest power
on earth was money; but she was no
miser. She could be lavishly gener
Gus at times especially to any one
who had served or gratified her own
precious self She could throw aims,
too, to the needy, as you would bone
TO starving ours; but to her the poor
were not exactly men or brothers. Yet
as her son said, she was not without
heart only lifelong undisputed com
mand and unchecked prosperity had
hardened 1t; no one could do much for
har or Di hnr VII n in cha had
already, and amid the splendid sun
shine of her existence one small cloud
mo bigger than mans hand cast
deep shadow against which her in
ner heart rebelled. She was conscious
that no one loved her, except, indeed
her son Hugh. This 1t was that made
her so hard; she did not realize that
her manner, ner naughty aspect re-
PEELED such sweet free-will offerings as
love and tenderness.
"My dear madam" said Mr.. Raw
son when she paused in her reproach
es, II can quite understand your dis
pleasure, but suffer me to suggest that
have right to receive whom like
your sons imprudence; but, though
you renounce him, surely you would
not wish to deprive the poor young
fellow of friends as well as kindred?
To persecute him is revenge, and to
that I will be no party"
81 do not understand these nice dis
tinctions," cried Mrs. Saville, but
think your giving shelter TOTO that
6isobedient boy Is inconsistent with
loyalty to me-
mot in my opinion. Your son is not
the first young man who has left faith
er and mother to cleave unto his wife
He has been singularly imprudent;
still-"
"Imprudent dupe fool! an un
grateful idiot! Can't you see the game
Of the adventures all through"
"I must say, such construction
might be put on the disastrous story
If you are right, however" continued
Mr.. Rawson, your SOD is'more sinned
against than SHINING If Mr. Hugh
Savilles wife Is the sort of a woman
you imagine, she will hardly live for
year and more away from her hus
band, and within reach of the crew
with which her father used to asso
cate, without getting into scrape OF
some kind. l propose to have her
carefully watched II she gives us just
reason for action, let her be punished
and your son saved from her clutches
II she proved a good woman and true,
why, you must relax something of your
severity"
II can safely promise what you will
II she proves good and true. How do
you propose to find out?"
"The lady remains near Nice. In the
same rooms occupied by her father
Mr.. Saville thinks that the owner OF