Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-05-05
THENEW ISABELLA
By MARGARET LEE.

| see mas she enough LOT present ue-
mands?''
Eyes l think so. -
""Then we can correspond safely.
You will keep this appointment with
Messenger, and let me know what tran
spires"
Eyes hope SO much He would not
have asked me to come again unless he
felt willing to help Us"
Mr.. Howe's gaze was perplexng.
mo doubt he is willing to be kind.
trust so, for your sake. My name is new
to you, l think 1 have known your
brother for long time, but our relations
were entirely business ones 1 suppose
was wrong"
The last sentence was spoken dream
lily.
How do you mean?"
| st would be difficult to explain the
meaning of my remark We often see
our mistake too late to do anything but
regret them Now, if you will get me
! the letter.
Miss Barclay left the room, and Mr..
| Howe looked around him as if taking a
mental inventory of its contents. 1t was
certainly an extensively furnished
apartment, but people are given to ac-
quiring a lot of costly movables and con-
centrating them in limited space, with
a view to appearances, even if other
parts of the house are left bare of ordi-
nary necessaries- Then, again, Mrs Bar
clay might possess some resources, al
though the incident of the diamonds
was against this supposition.
Mr.. Howe was anxious to be chart
table, but any practical person would
wonder how man could expect to sup
port n family in such surroundings upon
salary of So, 900 year and make pro-
vision for that Conundrum called the
future. Barclay also owned country
house, and he belonged to several clubs,
of which he was prominent member.
The inconsistency of his method grew in
proportion as Mr.. Howe considered its
extent 1t was limitless- No doubt the
family had credit and owed all the
neighboring tradespeople. Here were
two women and four children left to
face the situation
Miss Barclay came in with the letter,
and Mr.. Howe took it mechanically and
put it in a pocketbook. Then he looked
at her.
You say there is money in the
house?"
Yes. We had to dispose of the dia-
monds. Several person refused to give
US any more credit
Have you any plans whatever"
NO Mrs Barclay is Frustrated We
are too anxious about her to think of
anything else. She dictated the letter.
If we could only get away from here
with the children.
Have you any resources personally?
mean this kindly, but you need not
answer me
why not, when you are so kind? l
have nothing Jasper has taken care of
me.
DOCS he own this house?"
Yes, but Uncle Charley says that the
bank will take everything. However,
that is only right suppose we are beg
CARS
She looked straight at Mr.. Howe. A
slight flush made him much more at
tractive.
Il wouldn't put it quite SO hard You
must have relatives able to assist you
until you can adopt some method for
taking care of these children"
Relatives! Yes. Not one has offered
TO do single thing for u.s. think they
consider this q we'll deserved punish
ment. 1 cannot explain my own folly,
my blindness. But 1 never dreamed of
such possibility. 1 did not know the
amount of Jasper's salary, and he was
always allading to successful specula-
tionS. -"
Miss Barclay, you must cease think
ing of his folly. No one accuses him of
premeditated crime He yielded to temp
tation. We must be practical if we
would do anything of real benefit to
his wife and children. How about the
country house? Can you remove to it at
once?"
Tho children might go. 1 am afraid
Mrs Barclay is too weak to travel, and
l am anxious to see Mr. Messenger
again. He must have meant to do some
thing.
Have you n trustworthy servant?'
"Yes, the nurse. She is devoted to
us 4"
Let her TAX" the children to the
country house as soon as possible. When
that is done, we shall see clearly what
the next move should be. Can you at
tend to this YOURSELF Are you equal,
mean physically, to taking hold and
managing matters for your brother?"
Il must be able. There is nobody else
to do it. -
Mr.. Howe regarded her slight figure
and white, eager face.
I'VE can't take third person into
our confidence. You must not mention
me to Messenger. See what mercy the
bank will show Now, here is money"
''Oh, indeed it is not right. "
Let me know best. You and Mrs
Barclay cannot dispose Of your trinkets
for n song. That only complicates things
more. This is loan. l can settle with
Barclay hereafter. Now you will get the
children away and keep = good heart
until see you again
Mr.. Howe pressed her hand, gave her
a bright look and hurried out Of the
room.
Miss Barclay sat down qpite overpow
cred by the increasing strangeness Of her
position She gazed about the room, rec
ognizing the familiar objects. She was
not suffering in vivid dream; she was
struggling with realities. Who could
Mr.. Howe be? A business acquaintance.
Well, perhaps men learned to feel for
one another through such an intimacy.
Certainly her brothers. social friends
now held themselves aloof. OF those
whom he had visited and entertained,
not one had even inquired for the family.
The children's voices reused their
aunt to the necessity of prompt meas
ures. There were some purchases to be
made and much packing to be done, and
when Mrs. Barclay was told Of the coun-
try project she begged to be taken along,
even if she had to be carried from her
bed to the carriage
Her physician agreed to her wish; the
L a. IL.