The Ely miner., 1930-10-17
The handsome Man
by Margaret 7MvMbuH

The landlady, who had found Lady
Sandison near" but just, had agreed
to this, picturing to herself from
m'lady's condolences some pale, tired
lad of fifteen or sixteen.
The sheets, blankets and pillow
cases were that moment repOsing on
the top shelf of the press In the sitting
room and the shrewd Lady Sandison
was determined they should be used,
though this Sir George did not guess
He was even then, his dinner having
been provided by Providence, wonder
ing where he would lay his head, yet
retain his seven-and-six for breakfast
In the morning, until he could borrow
money enough to start anew.
Again Lady Sandison upset her step
sons calculations, for she faced him
and said:
"You must have often wondered
what made me marry your father"
His fathers son blushed. as he re-
membered that father, and then said
guiltily:
81 never wonder at marriages. The
reasons why are never clear to an
outsider"
81 wouldn't exactly call you an
outsider"
Everybody except the parties to a
marriage is an outsider" Sir George
insisted. He was becoming a little
annoyed with Aggy. He was remem-
bering now that as his nurse, long
years ago. she had ,eeD awfully set
on having her way, and would argue
with the small boy he had been until
she got 1t.
"My father was old enough" he
began again.
"YOur father was an old fool We
both knew that" admitted Aggy with
the awful directness that had always
distinguished her, and using more
markedly plebian terms of expression
than before. Evidently when Aggy
grew excited or emotional, caution left
her. "But what you do not under
stand is that he would have made
far worse fool of himself If | hadn't
interfered. He was fair determined
to marry that young brazen hussy.
Jock Hea:h's daughter, Meggy, if
wouldn't have him. 1t was my thought
that there would be less trouble and
expense for you II he married me,
wiselike woman of sense and middle
age, than a young hussy that would
make the money fly-and what was
left of the estate"
"Aggy!' gasped her stepson.
'That's more like it," Lady Sandison
said, with a satisfied look. keep to
Aggy, Sir Geordie. and you'll not go
far wrong. It's your own old Aggy,
with an eye to your future. that mar
ried your father and, If | do say 1t.
kept him in order for the last of his
days."
Aggy grew solemn. "They were
fewer than ! thought they would be
when l took on the job. He was a
grand man, Sir Steenie was, and was
set up that he should choose me- He
was sober the day we were married.
l saw to that myself she continued
with an air of conscious rectitude.
"My conscience! IT was an awful-like
honeymoon He started in when he
reached Gles'ga, and he was still at
it, when, after running over the city
half the night, got him back to his
hotel and then on the train for San
disbrae. Save us When he got
there!" She shook her head. "Well,
] kept him alive for more than a year
and the doctor himself said it was a
wonder that he had lasted a week.
His end was very peaceful after he got
over the idea he had that he was be-
ing chased by Robert Bruce's spider
and all its family" She looked at Sir
George with kind of triumph in her
eye.
"He was an extraordinary man,
grand even in the d. T's! He couldn't
even have delirium like anybody
else.
She stopped and wiped her eyes.
81 was fond of him." she said simply.
"In spite of all, was proud woman
that he selected me to be his Second,
and however you have felt toward him
and me, Sir Geordie, you must mind
did it for your best interests, and he
was an extraordinary man."
81 think" Sir George told her, ''ft
is you who are an extraordinary
woman" he hesitated and then said
it, LADY Sandison."
CTO BE CONTINUED)