Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-10-23

to that they had never regarded each Other
as anything but friends and cousins But
now-well-an iniudicious word had been
dropped by an injudicious member of the
family to the effect that marriage between
these two cousins would be both romantic
and advisable, and after that civil war
arose within the land. Lady Carysfort is
what Artemus Ward might safely have
termed numerous" aunt, all her broth
ers and sisters having most inconsider-
ately died early in life, and not
before they had left behind them a
child or two. Certainly these some-
what vague parents had left not
only children, but money behind them,
distinct alleviation of the miseries Of
the guardian. But in spite of the fact that
her one nephew and her two nieces were
well lowered, Lady Carysfort is conscious
ings with them. Each sister and her one
brother had all appointed her guardian of
their children. Death had been busy with
Lady Carysfort's people; it had taken away
both Rhoda Verner's parents when she was
but a little thing of 10, and Gerald Ken
rick's when he was 15, and Brenda Bowen's
mother when she was 12-she is now 49,
Never was such mortality known. But
Lady Carysfort, herself a widow at 40 and
childless, had accepted all responsibilities
as they came, the first responsibilitv-the
child Rhoda being given to her when she
was about 27-shortly after her own mar
Rhoda is the responsibility best beloved.
''The fact is, Brenda, we are just discuss
ing poor Rhoda-"
''Oh! Rhoda!' says the girl. The mock
ing, teasing smile fades from her face.
Nothing" anxiously, nothing more?"
"No We were merely saying how in
conceivable it is, the manner in which Sir
CASTOR has made away with his money. He
is now comparatively speaking poor
man."
'Not half SO inconceivable as the speed
with which he has made away with Rhoda's
money!" SAYS Miss Bowen, who could un-
"What has he done with Rhoda's fortune,
eh? They re only married two years, and
now she pauses abruptly.
swell, darling? Do go on, says Lady
Carysfort anxiously.
'She-there is difficulty about her dress
makers BILL" says Brenda, in low tone,
and reluctantly, vet as though she cannot
refrain from telling her sad story.
There is silence for a. moment Kenrick
breaks it.
"And yet," SAYS he ferily, addressing
Lady Carysfort, you would refrain from
Lady Carysfort raises one of her white
hands.
'Even now," she SAYS
"What 1 want to know" saws Brenda,
'fs what has become of the $50, 900 Rnoda
had when she married that-unpleasant
person."
"what, indeed?" echoes Kenrick, with
short laugh
SIS that an answer" demands his cousin;
Greatly, Gerald, that girl of yours will
have bad time of it when she wants to
know anything"
"What girl? You know right well,"
angrily, "there is no girl. !"
'T-I'm afraid he has spent it." inter-
posed Lady Csrysfort hastily.
"Spent it?'' --
''Yes! No wonder you are shocked,
Brenda, darling. 1t is terrible-it is scan
dalous, but am assured he has dissipated
the whole of it. -
Another silence
"And she married for 1ove?" said Miss
Bowen in a solemn tone.
ut is true" says Lady Carysfort ''She
was infatuated. When l heard the news of
her engagement hurried back from Italy,
but l was too late. She would listen to
nothing. She was child and believed the
world perfectly clean, sweet, blank sheet
Of paper on which Sir CASTOR had never yet
written his name. This idea was impressed
upon me by the fact that she used to say to
me: He must enter Parliament-he is so
clever, so charming, it is pity
the world should not hear of him,
and the world all the time laughing in its
sleeve, and knowing him, oh, SO well. You
know, dearest" to Brenda, che is a con-
6rmed gambler on the turf, SO the world
must have heard of him, but the poor child,
'he knew nothing"
"Why didn't you tell her?" asks Miss
Bowen simply.
II tried to-often-but she would not
listen. And, of course, it was hard-to
This with an unhappy
lance at Kenrick. 'Tt-the engagement
nean-made almost breach between my |
Door girl and me. But you know she is SO
generous, SO sweet, her temper is SO per- |
ectly loving, that she forgaye me alter |
sard." Lady Carysfort seems entirely |
'blivious of the fact that her own temper is
o perfect that it would be hardly possible
or anybody to keep up quarrel with
ler
'fShe is like that to one she loves, says
Brenda "But not to all"
''That is her charm Not to all And
he loves me, 1 think"
"You know it, auntie."
"And l." said Lady Carysfort biting her
ips. you know how love her"
I'VE do, indeed, ssys Brenda, lovingly.