The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-05-04
A GILDED SIN.
BY BERTHA ". CLAY.

IL is nothing OF that kind, said the
politician. "This is a domestic diff
Gritty, about which shall have to ask
your help"
At the word domestic" LADY Bran
don opened her book again-matters of
that description never interested her
The fact is" continued Sir Jasper,
that friend of mine has died lately
in Italy, and has left me a ward"
a WardW cried Lady Brandon.
"How intolerablel What a liberty to
takel'
"A ward" cried Katherine. "IHow
strange, papa ~
Sir Jasper turned quickly to his wife.
He never spoke unkindly or angrily to
her, even when she annoyed him
do not say fntolerable,' Marie We
must make the best of IT."
"But whois it ?" cIied her ladyship.
"Of course, if it be anyone of position,
that would make a difference"
"The young lady-my ward, Veronica
iii Cyntha-is descended from one of
the first families in Italy" he said, "and
she has, or will have, large fortune"
"And is that too placed in your
hands ?" asked his wife.
That also is in my hands," he re-
piled, briefly.
But Jasper" cried her ladyship,
surely you are going to tell us more ?
Who is, or rather who was, your
friend ? Tell me; 1 want to know the
whole history"
He walked to the end of the long
drawing-room and back before he re-
piled; then he said, briefly;
81 have nothing to tell. l met the
Di Cyuthas when / was abroad, and
that accounts for the trust so far as /
can account for it"
Lady Brandon had studied her hus-
band long enough to know that when he
spoke in the tone that he now did it
was quite useless TO persevere IN max
ing inquiries.
"Some friends whom he met in Italy"
she said to herself. Most probably, rs
he is 50 reticent, il was a political friend
indeed, now come TO think OF it,
that solves the mystery. There is a
political secret hidden under the mys-
terry"
Once feeling sure of that, Lady Bran
don resigned herself to circumstances.
a political secret, she knew quite well,
could never be forced from her hus-
bands keeping.
"But what viii you do with a ward in
Italy, papa - asked Katherine.
Sir Jasper turned his care-worn face
to her, and it cleared little as he met
the gaze OF the bright sweet eyes.
That is the difficulty, Katherine"
he replied; "her property will be in
England, and she must come TO live
with US.
Again Lady Brandon looked up
this time there was some little con-
tempt on her face.
THAT is impossible, Sir Jasper" she
said: II could not think of receiving a
stranger into the very heart OF my
home"
He paused for few minutes before
answering her, and then he said, gently:
"You have always been so kind to
me, Marie, so attentive to my interests,
that am sure you viii never refuse
anything that will be of service to me-"
Would it be of service ?' she asked,
quickly.
"Most assuredly it would" he replied.
"You would help me out of real diff
fculty."
Then" said Lady Brandon, eff it
will serve your interests / will do it.
/ withdraw my opposition"
Sir Jasper bent down and kissed the
white jewelled hands.
"You have always studied my inter-
ests," he said, "and am always grdte-
full"
ut will be just as though l had a
sister" said Katherine-and the words
struck Sir Jasper like a blow. 81
wonder what she is Ike, papa ? Dark,
I suppose, IS she is Italian? We shall
contrast well. l need not be jealous if
she is brunette. | will be very kind
TO her Is it her father or her mother
who has Just died, papa?'
Again he shuddered as the careless
words fell on his ear. He made
pretence of not having heard what she
said; and Katherine, with her quick
instinct, seeing that the question was
not agreeable TO him, did not press it.
Both ladies' settled the matter in their
own minds and according to their
lights. Lady Brandon concluded that
that the dead friend had probably been
one who shared her husbands political
secrets, and Katherine thought to her
self that it was probably someone whom
her father had known in his youth.
They were both content, and talked
quite amiaLly aUoutit. Sir Jasper bore
it IS long rs he could; then he quilted
the room and went to his study.
"You see, Katherine" said Lady
Brandon, iii the girl is really noble and
wealthy, it will be an acquisition rather
than otherwise"
Il am r.,Lsed about il, mamma"
cried ;!.S c.rl. 81 have always felt the
want oi s.iter now / shall have one"
IL would not say anything about that,
my dear, until you have seen what she
is like" said prudent Lady Brandon;
it is always better col 10 commit ones
self in any way"
They discussed the matter in all its
bearings; { ere was complete conf
dence between this mother and child.
Katherine laughed at her mothers very
candid worldlincs she teased her about
her worship of Mammon. But she was
very i0n3 of her, white Lady Ersnuuu
worshipped her beautifu! ehiid-she
thought there was no one like her in
the vide worl-all the love OF which