The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-12-24

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and a most troubled expression of
countenance.
Dear Miss Dacre, I had no idea I
should find you here" said Lady OIL
via. when she had greeted Mrs. Sa-
Vile. Il am on my way to Contreve-
vile. to try and get rid of my equity
rheumatism; So"
How very unfortunate that Captain
Lumley should just have LETT" inter
rupted Miss Dacre. "He started on
Wednesday-something regimental, I
believe"
Most unfortunate" returned Lady
Olivia, emphatically.
Where are you staying?" asked
Miss Dacre.
AT the Hotel d'Albe."
We'll, / shall call late this after
noon. Now I am obliged to call on
the Comtesse de Suresnes. so good
by for the present, Mrs. Saville. Good
by, dear Lady Olivia"
AS soon as she was gone, Mrs. Ga
Vile, looking very straight at her sis
ter-in-law, asked, What Is the matter
with your"
Matter! Matter enough! II had
not been en- route for Contrexeville I
should have come here on purpose to
to tell you what I think"
And pray what may thatsbs, Lady.
Olivia?"
THAT you have allowed my unfor-
tunate boy George to fall into the
same scrape as your own son, just to
make us suffer as you have done. 1t
Is too bad, that while we were think
ing everything was on the point of be-
ing settled between him and Mary
Dacre (such an excellent marriage),
there is he falling into the trap of
that 1ow-born, designing adventures.
your companion! You are not wom-
an to be blinded by anything, and you
never took the trouble to warn us or
save him, and I who always sympa-
thized with you in your trouble about
Hugh! expected better things from
you, Elizabeth. You are infatuated
about that woman, of whom you really
know nothing"
For a moment Mrs. Saville was 81
lent, too amazed to find words.
II don't understand you. Pray ex-
plain your meaning, If you have any"
she said, at last, bitter little smile
curling up the corners of her mouth.
"Why, our unfortunate mad boy
wrote to his father few days ago
that he was going to make an offer to
that dreadful girl, as she was the sort
Of woman to whom he dared not pro-
pose a private marriage; that we fear
ed we might be vexed at first, but II
we attempted to prevent 1t he would
go straight to the dogs. Oh, it is too
too bad! little thought, when I was
so Mortified at Hugh's conduct last
summer, that before a year was over
I should be afflicted In the same way"
when you gloated over my disap-
pointment, you mean," cried Mrs. Sa-
Vile, her keen black eyes flashing. II
have no doubt you thought to yourself
that your son would never be false to
the instincts of his race, which is aris-
tocratic on both sides, but that mine
was impelled by the plebeian vigor in
herited from his mothers people.
know the amount Of gratitude you all
feel towards me for comforting wealth
for which he never toiled, on your
brother and his sons. But the blood
in my veins has been strong enough to
keep you all in your places. Yes! as
the world we live in chooses to attach
importance to rank and to worship
title, bought what was necessary Of
the valuable article; but I know your
estimate of me and the yelled con-
tempt of your commiseration when
the blow fell upon me. Now | am go
ing to return good for evil, and re-
lieve your mind. Your precious SON Is
perfectly safe. That low-born, design
ing adventures, my companion, has
defiantly and utterly rejected him.
Impossible! Are you. sure? May
this not be some deep-laid scheme?
How do you know"
1t IS quite poSSlulo' GILL poA
sure: it is no deep-laid scheme,
know. because 1 was in that room
there. unsupported, and heard every
word of the proposal and of the dis
tinct. decided rejection. Miss Des-
mond reproached your son with his
perseverance in spite Of her discour-
aeement. and informed him she was
engaged to another-evidently some
humble, struggling man, from whom
your charming, distinguished son was
nowerless to attract her. Miss Des-
mond acted like young woman OF
sense and honor, and In my opinion
she is a great deal too good even for
so high and mighty gentleman as
Captain George Lumley.'
."Thank God!" cried Lady Olivia, too
much relieved to resent the undisguis-
al scorn and anger Of her sister-in-
law "But are you quite sure there IL
no danger Of this-young person
changing her mind?"
"Be under no apprehension. Your
.on q safe enough SO far az my young
= t. a.