Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-07-15

his own also. The meeting between
brother and sister can hardly be de-
scribcd as effusively affectionate. The
fact was that tho recollection of his
abrupt dismissal from England on very
slight grounds. at his sisters instance.
still ranked in Toms mind, which was
further prejudiced by the artless and
touching complaints of Hilda's TYRANNY
and selfishness which his mothers let
tiers to him, for some years past, had
contained. Hilda, on her part, re-
marked with disgust that her brother
hands were not as white and soft as
they might have been, that his manners
were suggestive of the rough life he
had led, and in short, that he was not
quite a presentable member of society.
It seemed to be Toms humor to affect
q Difference and awe of his sister which
he did not feel, and Hilda, throughout
the interview, had an uncomfortable
suspicion he was jesting with her. He
politely but firmly declined to give up
his situation and return to Buenos
Ayres, but he raised no difficulty about
consenting to keep in the background
Don't you fear, Hilda." he said,
giving Ter a brotherly salute as they
parted. Il won't trouble the noble
swell you are going to marry, nor you
either. Only when you are turned of.
l shall emerge from my obscurity and
live with mother. That's understood. :"
Certainly, Tom" said Hilda, smil-
ing graciously, and cndeavoring not to
evince disgust at the odor of tobacco
which his embrace impaired. ''When
am married my husband shall obtain
a post for you."
''Wait till ask, my girl, that's all, :"
said Tom, with an aggressive laugh.
So Miss Hilda Dulcimer was fain to
be content with the terms her brother
voluntarily submitted to. nor did he
give her the slightest cause for uneasi-
ness. Her mother. happy at having
her son near her and seeing him occa-
sionally, acquiesced in the conspiracy
of silence regarding him, and as his
existence was not suspected by any
one, no contrctemps arose. Mean
while five of the six months of the en-
gagged period elapsed. Hllda's trcus-
SCStu w as 0ttS dICCu StdUC VI pICD.
aration, when one afternoon she found
her mother almost fainting in her chair,
with an evening newspaper in her
hand.
Mother: wha. is the matter?" cried
Hilda, with an uncomfortable PRESENT.
ment of evil.
"My dear child, dreadful thing has
hon - mon. Mrc hui
elmer, carefully avoiding her gaze.
"What, mother?"
"YOur poor dear BROTHER
"What has he been doing?" in
quired Hilda. sharply, as she turned
pale.
Nothing! He is innocent, the poor
dear boy is innocent returned Mrs.
Dulcimer, firmly. ''But-but-''
Hilda snatchcd away the paper which
her mother handed to her, and with
outward composure, which dissembled
her dismay and horror, read that her
brother, under his adopted name of
Trower, had that Gay been committed
for trial on charge of robbing his en-
ployers by means of forgery.
..God help us all!'' she calculated.
"What fearfully shocking thingr'
.'He is Innocent" reiterated the poor
mother, in tears.
Innocent" repeated Hilda, with an
expression which, could he have seen
it, would have been a wholesome reve-
lation to Lord Lexicon. cat least, he
is committed for trial. / suppose that
means something more than mere sus-
picion."
There was long and painful pause,
during which Mrs. Duicimer sObbed,
while Hilda bit her lip till the blood
started, rs she reflected with knitted
brOws.
Il knew it would come to this"
Hilda said at length, gloomily. "What
a blessing l never told Lord Lexicon"
81 suppose you must tell him now?"
said her mother. nervous!y.
"What!" cried Hilda, with undis-
guised amazement.
81 think he should be told,'' said
Mrs. Dulcimer, uncasily lit will
come out. OF course, you and l must
support the poor boy through his trou-
bles. We must decline all invitations
for the present"
Mother. are you mad?' cried
Hilda, almost with violence. "Tell
Lord Lexicon! Refuse invitations!
Why, mother, we must do nothing,
either of us, to give any one the least
suspicion of this awful business.
1t was Mrs. Dulcimer's turn to give
way to display of temper now, and
the poor, meek spirited lady astonished
her daughter by her resoiute bearing.
Hilda, she said. could decide for herself
the propriety of concealing the matter
from Lord Lexicon, and for her part
she was determined to be loyal to her
son. Hilda found it necessary to aban-
don vehemence and insistance. and to
adopt plausible arguments to bring
her mother round to her views. She
feigned to believed that her brother was
and pointed out that to draw
attention to his unfortunate position.
from which he would doubtless be hon.
orally acquitted, would be mistaken
policy. 1t cost the astute young lady
an hours serious talk and remOn-
STRANGE to overcome her mothers
scruples. but in the end she triumphed.
Poor old Mrs. Dulcimer was as plastic
as clay in the hands of her beautiful