Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1910-03-11
CHAPTER III.

reception than he had anticipated
awaiting him when he presented him
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.
Eaville 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 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
ct 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 will
ling that her sons should be on famll
lar terms with Mr.. Rawson's 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 inducements made many
steps in the ladder by which his faith
or and himself had climbed to fortune,
lent something Of a feudal character
70 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 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.
rnand 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,
"no bigger than mans hand" cast
q deep shadow against which her In
ner 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. ner 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, II can quite understand your dis.
pleasure, but suffer me to suggest that
have a right to receive whom / like
in my own house. 1 do not defend
your sons imprudence; but, though
you renounce him, surely you would
not wish to deprive the poor young
AOAAOW Vi LAlCAOS do vigil as
To prosecute him is revenge, and to
that l will be no party"
II do not understand these nice dis.
tinctions," cried Mrs. Saville, "but /
think your giving shelter toto that
disobedient boy is inconsistent with
loyalty to me-"
''Not In my opinion. Your son is not
fhA fret vnnnp man vuh0 no Iaff
or and mother to cleave unto his wife,
He has been singularly imprudent;
still"
"Imprudent A dupe! fooll an uu.
grateful idiot Can't you see the game
Of the adventures all through"
II must say, such a construction |
might be put on the disastrous story |
If 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
year and more away from her hus-
band, and within reach of the crew
with which her father used to asso,
ciate, without getting into scrape of |
some kind. I propose to have her
carefully watched. If she gives us Just
reason for action, let her be punished |
and your son saved from her clutches
If she proved good woman and true,
why you must relax something of your
severity"
Il can safely promise what you will,
II she proves good and true How do
you propose to find out?"
The lady remains near Nice, in the
same rooms occupied by her father.
Mr.. Saville thinks that the owner of
the house is kind and respectable; his
wife knows little of English ways, and,
besides, it is cheaper. Now, there is
man already employed in similar
work by an eminent firm, and he can
quite yell accept a second commits
sion; only he must be warned not to
md out what does not exist We want
tActA not condemnation"