The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-03-11

|. ~ people luOuBMeyfhus 6AVS Hpt ehVu-
ble No doubt she had reason to be
anxious about her son. But, hap
PLY, he was not dependent upon his
own industry, nor was 1t Of very much
Importance to him to do well at COLI
lege A young man with good
estate may SOW his wild oats, and all
be veil. And this was the only rum
pied leaf In her bed Of roses, people
said.
She herself never disclosed to any
body what was in her inmost heart.
She had smile for them all. The
only matter In which she stood for
her own way was that question of
going to Scotlandnot there, not
there. but anywhere else anything
else. She fell into sort Of petite
sante during these years. She said
she was not ill-not i'll at all, only
languid and lazy; but gradually fell
into the Quiescent condition which
might be appropriate to a mother OF
seventy, but not to one of forty.
Tom and Janet did not see much diff
ference between these ages. and as
for Beaufort, the subdued and gentle
charm OF his wife's character was
quite appropriate to cessation from
active ventures. He liked her better
almost upon her sofa, or taking
quiet walk through the garden lean
ing upon his arm, her wishes all con-
fined within that peaceful Enclosure,
happy to watch the moon rise and the
sun set. and apparently caring for
nothing more. He talked to her of
the light and shade, the breadth of
the quiet soft landscape, the stars in
the sky. or about the new books, and
sometimes what was going on-very-
thing he could have said. They were
spectators of the uneasy world, which
rolled on as if they were outside of
1t in some little paradise Of their own,
watching how men .'play pranks be-
fore high heaven as make the angels
weep" He was fond of commenting
on all that, on the futility of effort,
on the way in which people flung
themselves against the impossible,
trying to do what no man could ever
do, to affect the movement of the
spheres. He would smile at states
men and. philanthropists, and all
kinds of restless people, from his
little throne on the lawn, looking out
over the peacefullandscape And Lady
Car would respond with smile, with
a glance that often fingered upon
uim as he talked, and in which he
sometimes felt there was something
which he did not quite understand.
But what should that be- something
that he did not understand? He un-
derstood most things, and talked
beautifully. He was the most perfect
gentleman; his every tone, his every
thought was full of refinement And
Lady Car was well pleased. who could
doubt, to lie back in her deep chair
and listen. What happiness could a
woman-a woman no longer young,
not in very good health, an idealist,
minor poet-what could she desire
more?
There came, however, time when
The claims of the Towers could no
longer be ignored. Tom came OF age,
and Lady Car could no longer combat
The necessity of going back to hold
the necessary festivities and put him
IN possession of his lands and his
home. Tom had come altogether to
olows with his college and all its
sunctionaries by this time, and had
been requested to remove himself
rom the university in a somewhat
nasty manner, which he declared
ioudly was very good fun. but did not
perhaps in his secret heart enjoy the
loke of so much as he made appear,
! ,or he had great deal of that Scotch
bride which cannot bear to fall, even
when ne had done everything to bring
he catastrophe about. He had not
met with many reproaches at home,
s0r Lady Car was so convinced of the
great futility of her own exertions,
that, save for the "Oh, Toni" with
which he was received, and the tear
which made her eyes more lucid than
normal, she made no demonstration
1t all of her distress. Beaufort looked
very grave, but took little notice. "It
was evident that this must have come
sooner or later" he said coldly, with
! tone in which Tom read contempt.
why did you send me there" tho
young man cried, reddening sullenly.
if you knew that. this was what
must Gomez"
Il suppose your mother sent you
because it is considered necessary for
4 gentleman" said Beaufort.
vAnd suppose you mean I'm not
one, !" cried Tom.
Il never said so, his stepfather
answered coldly. Janet seized upon
her brothers arm and drew him
away.
''Oh, what is the good of quarrel
ing with Beau? Did you expect no
body was to say word?" cried Janet.
well. said Tom, they can't pre-
vent me coming nf age newt YEAR