The Marshall republican., 1909-02-19
CHAPTER I,

Of my Lady Rawkshaw, In her Chinese
drawing room, with her great black
yes glazing at me, and her huge
black plume Of feathers nodding at
me-, as she sat, enveloped In d vast
black robe like a pail, / said to myself:
"After all, she is but a woman" So
I stared back at her with all the cool
ness in the world-and / was a seeker
after favor, too-and but II years OF
; age, and had only seven and sixpence
In my pocket. The tall footman who
stood behind Lady Hawkshaw's chair
made a grimace at me-; and l respond
ed by a fierce look, as II l was about TO
run him through the body.
"Jeames," said her ladyship, go and
make my compliments to Sir Peter
Hawkshaw, and say to him that his
FOSTERING kept me awake half the
night, and consequently I feel very i'll
thfs morning; and that his great
nephew, Master Richard Glyn from
America, Is come after a midshipman's
warrant in his majesty's navy--and !
desire Sir Peter to attend me in my
bowdwor Immediately"
Her ladyship's French was the
queerest imaginable-yet in her youth
she had the French tutor who had
taught the daughters of the regent OF
France.
There was a silence after the tall
footman left. during which my lady
and eyed each other closely. l re-
member having heard that she had de-
fed her father, Lord Bosanquet, and
one OF the greatest family connections
in the kingdom, In order to marry Sir
Peter, who was then a penniless lieu
tenant in his majesty's navy and the
son Of a %drysalter In the city. This
same drysalter was my g~reat-grand-
father; but ! had an infusion of an
other blood through my mother, God
bless her!-who was of a high family
and a baronet's daughter. The dry
salter strain was honest, but plebeian,
while the baronet strain was rather
more lofty than honest, I fancy.
Having heard, as | say. OF the des.
perate struggle 1t cost Lady Hawk
shaw to marry her lieutenant, I some
what expected to find her and Admiral
Sir Peter Hawkshaw living like doves
In a cage, and was Disconnected at the
message her ladyship sent her lord.
But | was still more disconnected when
Sir Peter, q short, stout man, with a
eholeric eye, presently bounced into
the room.
"Sir Peter" said her ladyship, here
IL your nephew Toms brat, who wants
q m~idshipman's warrant"
Sir Peter stopped short, looked me
over-I was tall for my age-and
grinned savagely. l thought II was all
up with me and was almost ready to
haul down my flag.
"And Sir Peter" screamed her lady
ship, 'he must have it,"
"Hang me, my LADY," snapped Sir
Peter, but when did you take such
an interest In my nephew Toms brat?'
This very hour" replied Lady
Hawkshaw, tartly, and tossing her
black piumes haughtily. you behaved
like a wretch to the boy after the
death of his father and mother In
America; and God has given you the
chance to make amends, and l say he
shall have his warrant"
Rounds, madam!" bawled Sill
Peter; since you take the liberty OF
disposing of my warrants, l presume
you are the holder of my commission
"a vice-admiral of the White in his
majesty's service. Let me know 1t II
you are-let me know 1t, l say!"
"Stuff!" responded my lady, to
which Sir Peter answered something
that sounded like Damned" and ther
-. alienation utna dlak.aakad f,nYa thts
matrimonial engagement by the sileni
entrance of two young girls. One Of
them was about IL years of age. She
had doVe-like eyes, and her darl
lashes kissed her cheek. She CAM
and stood Familiarity by Lady Hawk
shaw's chair; and the gentle aifec
tionateness Of her toward
that redoubtable person amazed mi
ct the time. This was my first sigh
of Daphne Carmichael; and when sh'
fixed her soft, childish glance upoi
me, 1t was like the sight Of stars on
cloudy night. But the other one,
tall girl OF 16 or thereabouts, dazziet
me so that I am obliged to confess
had no more eyes for Daphne. TIL
older girl was the Lady Arabella StoI
mont, and was then and always b,
far the handsomest creature l eve
heheld. | shall not attempt to describ
her. I will only say that her brillian
face. with such a complexion a
never saw before or since, showed
naughty indifference toward the shat
by boy over whom Sir Peter and Lad
Hawkshaw were %squabbling. and tn
sense OF my ~shabbiness and helpless
ness pierced my heart under Lad
Arabella's calmly scornful gaze,
Both OF these young girls were tn
great-nieces OF Sir Peter Hawkshav
hut not on the ~drysalter's side, .
they were no blood relation TO mi
Sir Peter was their guardian. an
Lady Hakshaw had charge Of then
and was most kind and devoted
them In her way. soon found o,
Xxi - EMUILUW q - LHH KnL-La