The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-10-15
CHAPTER III.

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 a shrewd, far-seeing man, OF
great experience and undoubted in
tegrity, in whose judgment she had the
greatest coincidence. Then, too, he
was a 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 a 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 woman
TO be a 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 famll
lar terms with Mr.. Rawsons 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 movements made many
steps in the ladder by which his faith
er and himself had climbed TO fortune,
lent something Of a 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 gratif1ed her own
precious SELF She could throw aims,
too, to the needy, as you would a 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 it; no one could do much for
her, or give her anything she had not
already, and amid the splendid sun
shine of her existence one small cloud
mo bigger than a mans hand" cast
deep shadow against which her in
her heart rebelled. She was conscious
that no one loved her, except, indeed
her son Hugh. This it was that made
her so hard; she did not realize that
her manner, her 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, Il can quite understand your dis
pleasure, but suffer me to suggest that
l have right to receive whom l like
IN my own house. l do not defend
your sons fmprudence; but, though
you renounce him, surely you would
not wish to deprive the poor young
fellow of friends as we'll as kindred
To prosecute him is revenge, and to
that l will be no party"
81 do not understand these nice dis
tinctions," cried Mrs. Saville, but |
think your giving shelter toto that
Gisobedient 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 A dupe! fool! an un.
grateful idiot! Can't you see the game
of the adventures all through"
l must say, such a construction
might be put on the disastrous story.
Ii you are right. however" continued
Mr.. Rawson, your son is more sinned
against than SHINING. If Mr.. Hugh
Saville's wife is the sort of a woman
you imagine, she will hardly live for
a year and more away from her bus.
band, and within reach of the crew
with which her father used to asso.
clate, without getting into scrane of
some kind. l propose to have her
carefully watched. If she gives lis inst
reason for action, let her be punished
and your son saved from her clutches
If she proved good woman and tr,,o
why, you must relax something Of von,
severity"
Il can safely promise what Won will
II she proves good and true. How DR.
you propose to find out?"
The lady remains near Nice in The
same rooms occupied by her father
MT. Saville thinks that the owner q,
the house is kind and respectable. his
wife knows little Of English WAYS and
besides, it is cheaper Now, there !.
man already employed in sim,la,
WORK Dy an eminent firm, and he car
quite well accept a second COMMIT.
sion; only he must be warned not !,
md out what does not exist. We wan
facta not condemnation"