The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-10-22
THAT Night IN JUNE.


mamma, SAYS Mr.. Winding, walking
INTO the small morning loom in penwlyn
Road, South kensingioli, and directing
genial glance al the faded remains of
what once wns beauty, reposing IN mn
antiquatNd armchair. u is n charmiro
day. Outside, the sun is beatigc hca,ir
On road and house, and sorl luckIes.
beings rs must walk pbrOad The VIII, H.
earth is buUng heture it's majesty. roiuo
humblN, and imploring with faint gasps
breath vt air. Inside, the blinds are
hil rniivd down as though Ia exclude il,
sh" III the CRATE n tirc-an actual. roar
ing, maddening fire-is burning.
Charming, is IT? says grandmamua.
declining Ia see the gcninlity of her Wis.
u"r. Can nature produce u charming
day III this nge? ! think il chilly -
She Is sitting Will, her knees we'll into
The fire, and with the grim expression
that usually greet, her grumds'n's APP
proach upon her withcred lips.
why not try font-wartGcr and n fur
cloak SAYS Mr.. WillinS, furtiyely win.
ing his brow. "luu don't take half
care of Yourself; and really during ,h,.
present mclemency-"
May / ask What has brought >uu
here today" interrupts she, with nm
!h!rolnlt ul mgraciuusness difficult Ia
combat. But he Is accustomed Ia her
lncnlliiy; and as Hecuba is nothing tn
him. and he Is less to Hecuha, he hardly
fakes 1t To- heart.
An nverpoweriug desire 10 Won. -
ne plies ndolentlv, hut with an AL.
hi'hhir assumption of amiahlity.
iraN spare your gihrS when adj
"rrss'"S me. says the old lady tartly.
h"'p them for Your unfortunate
"h"ds, II Won have any. Something he.
sltrs dutful consideration for my wei.
i'r'' va, brought You here to-day. What
j. II
" im' a' Intelligent person YOU are,
grindinamlna, murmurs he lsagllidlv,
with what ls meant for enthusiasm, hut
ends IN sarcasm. Concealment with
Non II impossible. Auutlcr--but. of
coirse, u very secondary motive has
brought me- here this morning. The fact
Is, har" some stalls for the Opera, and
thought perhaps Brenda might like 10
hear Patti again.
And I" hear hen with Won alone,
Certainly not, Nothing uf the sort, -
SAYS Lady MolyneUN with em;,nasis.
1t that l. your mission, George, it i,
unsuccessful. | >lmll never give mvc,n-
sent.
81 nc'er drramt Nuu would." REPLIES
The prudent George, who had lrealnt il
iondiE, never the less. Josephine will
come with us. Iuu can scarcely object
I" trusting ner with her married sister -
Hump, Jose? always say Jose Is
only I:alf married. that man makes such
fool OF her"
And even if Jose were not in uues-
hom why should she not come with me
alonc?" pursues he, his foot on the fen.
der, hiS eyes on the rrpellent old face,
80 lincd and Scared with age aud qucrl-
luus discomfort. Surely II cousin NAV
count ~ II brother amy day"
May it? don't think 50. rnn',
say how society may regard i; IN tines.
indecent days, but IN my tue, one rr!s.
ilv" VA, never taken Ior another Be.
sides, ther" are cous.lls and cousins"
And which I'm ~" asks lac. with
80 much careless indifference 49, shines
her.
" You erc ynm fathers son. replies
she bitterly. "No one ufthe hlm Il ever
cant: 10 GOOD.
can say NOU are over civil, re-
turns he with n little msulent shrug; an,l
Thcn the door opens, and Brenda her.
self enters quickly, and with the Impre-
medltatod manner Of one lIoanticipateS
an empty room. Seeing George, she
starts perc"piIoly, starts involuntarily,
and bushes beautifully.
She Ii Very pretty girl, of mdll
height, with Large dark eyes shaded by
length; lushcs. Il ri0Hfc mouth, and the
dearest little nose IN the world.
Ha! Brrudu,' SAYS grnndmamma,
looking rlWd--thc blush and ready
smile have faded 10y this time, and are !,
secret between the girl and her cousin
"conIe here.
The girl, having shaken hands with
George In rIl'n, orthodox fashion, goes
mp 10 Lady MulyucuX's chair, and,
standing behind her, leans uu the top OF
#. SO standing, her face Is hidden from
gru!dmammu.
al have som' tickets for t"-uipit.
want Srandm"mma tO let you come and
hear Patti" repeats Willing, coldly.
Miss MOlyncIrN is preparing Ia go into
ccstacIes over this news, when she in
stopped Icy vigorous gesture of tho
hand and It lruWm from her cousin.
Changing her role CA the spot, she says
indiiiercntly:
al have s,.,.n Patti 80 often. II il
good of you, George, Ia think Of me: hui
really -"
"Eh" snys grandimamini,, making Il
praisewOrtlty hut utterly hopeless effort
to turn her neck so M Ia sec the flower
like face bending over her chair. "Whai
II it you say? Not care? | beg, Brendi,,
You will not try to copy the htd:c air.
that distinguish, and render obnoxious,
the youth Of to-day. think you ought
a. 60. The tickets are bought, and oh.
feet Ia extravaganza. Certainly you
should 20, ii il we're not for Disney. l.
IL that YOU think he would object 2" mlx.
iously.
II was NOT thinking of Lord Disney,
says the giIl proudly.
Wilding Is stirring very hard at her,
and she lowers her eyes; and huslIes hot,
ly-shc scarcely knows why. Perhaps
she fears he may see the repugnancc,
and dctestation, and deep grief that dis.
figure Ill" beauty oi her face.
Even If Brenda is to marry Lord
Disney" ,iiya Wilding. calmly, care.
hdly particular about giving him hi
formal title, " 10 not see"
III" interrupts the old dame ficrccly
Ut indeed
"bust thou answer ~" with IFS
.sys Wil,bng ~ u low tone Ia his cousin,
who returns Ia glau"c with - faIiit. vcr,
FAINT smile.
"of rDrIsc she will marry him, goer
un grandmamua, shrilly. "Wbat!
throw even n doubt upon IN, engagement
that has lasted since Brenda was fifteen!
AN engagement soadinirable, 80 suitable,
~ splendid with regard TO settlements
II II like you Grorgc, to disregard its
Importance. \ girl without ii penny;
like father, like sou; reckless reck-
less"
ID" yon think hc will break this suit
able engagement il Brenda goes to the
opera With her sister" asks Wilding in
an lnnpassihlc tone.
don't know, I'm sure, what he may
tlnnh "i it, says giandmammn, per-
pleN"i lyon nee Disney IN many WAYS
is--i---cccentric.
"Ho would naturally be, YOU know, at
his age, says Wilding slowly.
"What do You me. Geurgef"
4" mean ecccntricty generally accom-.
pamirs old ag',' snys Wilding obsti.
natcly.
- lie Is not old. Certainly not oid.
He L. Just IN lis prime,