The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-10-08


you in such haste to blazen your dis
grace to the world?"
Il 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 l don't care
rap about"
81 expected this said Mrs. Saville,
in a 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 tone
of command that his mother obeyed.
You must and shall hear me. Pray
sit down. 1 have good deal to say.
He resumed his walk for a moment,
while he strove to collect himself. Mrs.
Saville was silent, watching him with
cruel, glittering eyes.
"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 l 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, l 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 1 had leave now and again
while we lay off Sicily: You know l
never bother about women, mother;
but before I knew Kate Hilton a week,
| 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 a prima donna, and
she used to let me sing with her, but
the more l 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 1 did. Still
she kept me at arms-length, but some
thing told me that she wasn't as in
different as she seemed"
mo doubt" calculated Mrs. Saville
About six weeks ago, 1 went to
Nice, and found old Hilton very ill
so bad that 1 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,
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 chung to me.
She was friendless, penniless, helpless.
her marrying me-"
Have you done YETI" asked his
mother, harshly.
NEARLY. Have a little patience AS
woman l ask you what opinion you
would have of a man who could have
deserted the girl he loved with all his
heart and soul in such desolation?
Could 1 have helped her, given her
money, protection, anything, save as a
husband? She was not her usual
proud self. or she would have seen
through the thin excuses with which
I yelled your silence. Now, mother. he
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 1 cannot stay
to give. l have left her with the kind
old Frenchwoman in whose house her
father died. / dared not endanger my
career, my reputation, by losing an
hour: so, for her sake as we'll as my
own, tore myself away. don't
think 1 ever asked you favor; now
] pray you, if you ever loved me, take
my wife to your heart; let her live
near you; give her a chance of win
ming your good opinion, your
A scornful laugh interrupted him.
do you imagine l am as weak fool
as my son? such an abject weakling:
No, l shall have nothing to do with
you or your wife. Go; 1 shall not see
you again. You have never asked me
a favor? Have I not paid your debts?
Eyes, at Rawson's request, not mine
nor should have incurred them had
my allowance been measured by the
needs and habits with which I had
been brought up. Did you ever love
my father, that you are so hardened
against the first love of your sons
life?"
Il had a proper affection for my
husband, but should never have for
gotten myself for any man. l repeat
it, you cease to be my son from this
hour You shall have the quarters al
lowance now due to you, but after this
not a penny more. See how you will