The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-04-06
mrs. BRABAZON'S GYMKHANA

up was responsible for several untoward
consequences.
Nab Montague vas 10 and very pretty.
with the most kissable little face in the
world, and a general air of fluffy innocence
that made her look like an overgrown baby.
Her ways were as pretty as her face, and
she managed to charm and beguie all the
men with whom she came in contact, save
and except Gen. Tempest only. Gen. Tenn
pest was her guardian, and he was about
as we'll fitted to occupy that position is
the usual round man to occupy the usual
square hOle-that Is to say, he was not fitted
at all.
The fates that rule our destiny are not
infallible. and when they decreed that the
guardianship Of Nab Montague should fall
to the lot Of Gen. Tempest, they made a
very grave mistake indeed. He did not un-
derstand women, and did not try to; and
his sole idea of dealing with them could be
summed up in one comprehensive word
bullying. He had bullied Nab systematic
cally and conscientiously during the 10 years
that she had lived under his roof, and she
had stood it very well on the whole But
at the end of that time the inevitable climax
came 1t took the shape of two lovers. Nab
loved the one and hated the other. and the
general approved of the one and disap-
proved of the other.
Ihere was scene. Nab pleaded and
protested and expOstulated and went floods
OF passionate tears, but the general was
adamant. She could not touch him any
Where. The fancies Of a love-sick girl
he declared in his most dogmatic manner
were beneath the serious consideration of
any sensible man, and he should not con-
slider them. The choice of a husband was not
matter In which she ought to expect to
nave voice, and he should not allow her
one He did not wish her to marry Jim
Beresford and he did wish her to mar
ry Philip Cunard, and the sooner she made
up her mind to it the better
Then Nab dried her eyes and went no
more tears, but faced the general. holding
her pretty head we'll erect, and told him
that she intended to have a voice in the
matter, whether he allowed her one or not
and to marry the man she loved in spite of
him.
Inc general was man Of action as well
as a man of words, and then after that dav
he installed grim. elderly maiden cousin
at the head of the household, ostensibly to
act as chaperon to Nab, but in reality to be
spy and check upon her actions. Poor
Nab! The state Of things was now very
bad indeed
She had no privacy and no liberty. She
was not allowed to 60 out of the house
alone, and she had no chance of writing or
speaking to Jim Beresford, while philin
Cunards hateful company was forced uron
her constantly. Yet she did not despair.
trusted that in time all would be we'll
Matters had been in this uncomforta bile
state FOR some months when Sir George
Tempest, the generals eldest brother and
the mead OF the family, came to stay at
East Hill. Now, Nab adored Sir Georee
who was always kind to her. and Sir
George was very fond Of Nab. Privately
he took her part in every way and thought
the generals treatment of her little short
OF brutal
When one morning, as he was smoking
a c1garet in the garden Nab Joined him
with tears in her eyes and a most woe-be-
gone expression on her face he was very
much upset
m so miserable, Sir George" said
Nab, lawfully miserable"
Are you my dear?" he said kindly
Il m very sorry to hear it,
Il want to talk to you," she said.
May I?'
But, my dear, objected Sir George.
you're going to cry, ana L can't bear to
see woman cry, you know 1t knocks me-
out of time altogether"
No said Nab, resolutely strangling a
Wild desire to laugh and sob at the same
time Il am not going to cry. L am not
going to make you uncomfortable in any
way. am going to ask you to do some
thing for me, that's all Just one little.
tiny, weny thing. Will you promise to
do it?'
We'll, my DEAR he answered, you must
tell me what you want first, and then if l
can do it for you l will
oh! you can do it," returned Nab: you
can do 1t if you will
well, what is it, my dear?' asked Sir
George.
She casped her hands round his arm, and
rubbed her soft cheek caresSingiy on his
rough tweed shoulder
Il want to ride in Mrs. Brabazon's bicycle
gymkhana,' she said, land I'm afraid the
general won't let me. Do arrange it for
me, you dear old thing
Mrs. Brabazon's bicycle gymkhana," Sir
George repeated. Il don't think l know she
was going to give One.''
"Oh, yeS!' said Nab ut is to be on
the 10Th. They were all talking about it at
Mrs. Robinson's garden party yesterday.
1t Will be no end of fun and I'm simply dy-
Ing to ride. Our invitation came this morn
ing, I know for l saw the card on the
breakfast table,
Sir George shook his head
I'm afraid my brother won't let you
ride, my dear" he said reluctantly, land
don't see what l can do in the NATTER
Nab drew up her tiny figure to it's full
height and faced him with flushed cheeks
and flashing eyes.
THE general is tyrant" she cried pas
sionately. He has no heart, only a stone
He is hard and cruel and unjust He thinks
he can force me to give up the man l love
and compel me to marry the man 1 hate;
but he will find out his mistake. No woman
worth the name was ever forced in matters
of that kind. If he were my father it
would be different, but he is not my father
1t there were anything against Jim it
would be different, but there is nothing
against him. He is the best man in the
world and 1 will never give him up; never:
I will stand by him through everything
and at all COSTS Then suddenly all the
passion died out Of her face, and her eyes
grew dark again with unsned tears. DO
you think me very wcked!' she asked,
in a weary, hopeless tone that went
straight to Sir Georges kind heart Per
haps am. don't know. only know that
! am very. very unhappy"
Sir George took her hand in his and pat
ted it soothingly.
mind. You mustn't cry, or 1 shall have to
run away.
Il won't cry" said Nab, II promised 1
wouldn't, and l won't but-but-Oh! Sir
George, Jim will be at Mrs. Brabazons He
1s going to ride and if could ride, too per-
haps might get word with him-just one
word. You wouldn't grudge me that, would
your
L, my dear?" said Sir George rather
huskily. Il wouldn't grudge you any num-
Der OF words. 1 like Beresford, you know.
consider him a very fine young fellow
ono good enough for you-and that is the
highest praise l can bestow on any man.
TOR only the very best Is good enough for
you"
Map laughed to save sob.
Don t., she said, with a little catch in
ner volce-'don't talk to me like that! am
not used to it, and shall only do someth hing
silly and annoy YOU