New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-17

/ value anywhere"
Faith. that's we'll SAID my dear young lady
! It's pleasant to see purity girl stand UP Tor n
boy that's only her half-brother'
| Not even that Uncle McShane." cried Sarah
! Jane with a deep blush. "Val happens to be
my mothers husbands son. lie is no relation
! to me-"
| Mr. Brooke folded up his napkin precisely and
wished the party good morning.
| There was moments silence. Then Uncle
| McShane rose and handed the paper to Mrs
| Brooke Maybe you'd like to see the news
! I'm Just going into The garden TO say good
morning 10 May and her guardian angel sup
pose they are out by this time"
! lie rose and brushed the crumbs from the
waistcoat or his accurate gray morning suit;
| rose from the table. pattcd a STRENGTHENING
| fox terrier, who fawned upon him. and left the
room. followed by Sam and Elizabcth-a long
| legged, awkward girl Of thirteen or fourteen,
the eldest Of Mrs. Broole's second family
| "WcH.' exclaimed Sarah Jane. soon as she
was tete-a-tete with her mother, "of all the old
| softies I ever came across Uncle McShane is the
softcst, Do you know what he sinks off for
every morning as soon as Mr.. Brooke is gomez
"IIow can tell?"
"To read fairy tales to Nay! And If YOU heard
him. what with his broguc and his queer pro-
nunciation it would make a cat laugh.
"iIe is very kind to poor May" said Mrs.
Brooke. with a sigh. May. her youngest was a
little, crippled weakng. for whose future there
was little hope and Kitty was her attendant-a
second cousin. whom Mrs. Brooke had taken for
an unpaid attache, as the cheaper way of pro-
vldlng for paupcr relation.
ooh. yes kind enough. but say, ma. he can
keep his money tight enough. There is such a
lot Of humbug in people. now amt there?
ooh, l don't know. l have too much to think
Of. Here is Val coming Unexpectedly. and az
he wants to speak to your father, am certain
he is in a scrape."
poor Vel, It's his misfortune: he was born
with princely nature. Show me his note. ma
Mrs Brooke threw it across the table
'If he is in any money trouble, he can soon
get clear of IT," continued the young lady. her
eyes on the paper. IF he had only the courage to
ask"
sarah Jane. you're a FOOL said her mother.
emphatically
perhaps I am. perhaps am not Anyhow.
know what | want. / rather fancy I'll get IT,"
"If We're you, I'd be ashamed to banker after
a man that doesn't want me-
How do you know he doesn't? I am not the
sort of woman men are Indifferent to! Val ana
| understand each other. All he wants Is en-
enlargement Mind. ma, whether he Is In debt
or out of debt, he is the man I fancy. l never
met any one to match him
Sarah Jane was both bright and busy the rest
Of the day She put the flowers on the dinner
table herself. much to the disgust Of the taste
full parlornaid "She always makes 'hobject
of the decorations" observed the aggrieved dam
sci She gathered some flowers for her own
hair. and then she made a ponderous button
hc:. and placed it on "the shrine" J. g.. the
dressing able Of the admired Val That gentle
man was somewhat late and dressed with reck-
less rapidity SO not unnaturally omitted the
"posy" provided for him. This did not prevent
Sarah Jane regarding him with tender pride
She gazed delightfully."- at his wcll-set-up. we'll
proportional figure. his sun-embrowned counte-
nance and short, curly. dark hair. his some
what inpatient handsome hazel eyes. and the !
white teeth which showed under his thick mus
tache when he smiled. But he did not smile |
much on the present occasion. The good-looking
young Captain was not in a good temper. evil
entity. and did not speak much to any one. ex-
cept Uncle McShane with whom he generally
exchanged jokes and good stories. which were
something of an unknown tongue to the rest OF
the company.
Have you renowned buttonholes?' asked
Sarah Jane, with languishing glance.
"Ycs-no! Oh! had something else to think !
Of to-day" he said carelessly
"You might have put it in when 1t was pro-
vdcd for you
"Ah indeed. Did you put that posy on my |
table? Very good. I'm sure. Don't waste your
time on such an unlucky fellow as myself
"Do you think should mind your il-luck?"
cant say. Don't fancy YOU would care for
a failure. What going? We'll. I want to talk |
to my father. See you presently.
And If he proves obstnate?
What do you mean?' interrupted Val. What
should he be obstinate about?"
I'm sure | don't know" returned Sarah Jane, |
a little awed by his stern tone
Il suppose May~and Kitty have gone on to |
the seaside" said VAL as he held the door open !
for his sepmother to pass through.
mo not yet They are upstairs. as usual; !
MAY hates coming into the drawing-room more |
than ever"
Il don't suppose Kitty objects to society.
though"
"Kittys business is to attend to. May" re-
turned Mrs. Brooke shortly
"You may trust Kitty to take care OF herself" |
added Sarah Jane, with a hooking laugh. as she |
followed her mother across the hall-and Val |
closed the door. not too gently.
Arrived in the drawing-room. Mrs. Brooke sat |
down and looked at her daughter.
There will be a row. she said solemnly
Il fancy he is In a scrape; he looks awfully |
glum" replied that young lady.
Yes. Sarah Jane. hope you see what hor- |
rid temper he has. Mr.. Brooke has always been /
too indulgent to him"
"Well. you have nearly cured him Of that !
weakness"
Don't be so dIsagreeable, Sarah Jane
"A right. III bestow my disagreeability on |
Mayor ktty--May will be In bed"
An uncomfortable hour and more passed while /
Mrs. Brooke waited and worked at n huge |
piece of crochet. At last she heard the dining |
room door open. then the front door. and finally |
the outer gate was slammed vigorously. Almost |
Immediately her husband came In. looking as
II all the blood in his veins had turned 10 vine
gar
Careless reckless unprinciplcd young jack !
anapes." he exclaimed. and proceeded To detail |
Val's enormites He had got into debt. he had |
ridden races and bet heavily hoping to retrieve |
one disaster by riSknR another; at last the |