Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-10-03

~ Courageous Out mistaken young per
son; you would have your own way"
Esme looked down thoughtfully at her
vivacious sister.
Ooh you Know, now expOstulating
with one hand. that you, poor dear. are
one OF the people who may never look
over the wall. while others may steal a
dozen horses without the smallest sus
picion! Now l, patting herself compla
Gently, might run down to Portsmouth
three days week, and see off half tn.
army, and I'll venture to bet no one
would ever burst like shell upon me,
as Miles did on you to-day. Poor Esme-
gone only one little day. It's all a matter
OF luck: and you have none"
In spite of her brain being in a per-
feet ferment. Esme fell asleep almost
before her head was on the pillow. The
mind has to give way to the body some
times, and her long railway journey up
to London and down to Portsmouth and
back. had completely worn her out, and
she slept: but her sleep was disturbed
by dreams; better far had she renamed
awake. Now il was Teddy's face, pale
and death like, that came before her and
whispered. with a sobbing sigh, good
by forever Now il was Miles features
dark and threatening. that bent close to
her and hissed into her ear. "good-by.
Then she dreamed of Mrs. Brabazon
whose presence alone was enough to turn
any dream into a nightmare Braba
zon and an earthquake. This latter Wis.
ion was fulfilled on the spot; someone
Nsas violently shaking the foot of the little
brass bed, someone standing there in a
slate-colored flannel dressing gown. Esme
opened-a pair of startled eyes, and beheli
no less person than Mrs. Brabazon her
self. Such visitation was unparalleled.
what awful catastrophe had brought her
there at such an early hour, in slippers
and dressing gown, and without her from
teeth? Her face was lemon color, hsi
eyes lurid, her voice harsh. She held 4
letter clutched in her hand.
Wake up, wake up, Esme," she eX
claimed, once more jolting the bed vio-
lently; and Esme. now thoroughly arous
ed, began to take in the recollection OF
yesterday, recollection which stole over
her mind like a wave Of half-frozen wat
er. She had had kind of vague hope.
as she first looked at Mrs. Brabazon, ths;
it was all-all a dream; but now she was
reused by the agony of a sharp mentai
awakening.
''Sit up at once, and listen to me, miss
and tell me what this means-this letter
from Miles Brabazon," unfolding as she
spoke, the epistle, which literally cracked
In her hand. He says:
"-'Dear Mrs. Brabazon-I think it right
to tell you at once that there will be no
myself. refer you to her for the reason.
and am, yours truly,
MILES BRABAZON'
Now, please to give me the reason this
she proceeded, grasping the
bar at the foot of the bed in both hands.
and glaring at her step-daughter. Is
he in his right mind? No address, No
date. Postmark. Portsmouth"
Still Esme could not speak; vainly sh.
tried to articulate. No words would come.
She would have Jared better If she hat
been up, standing on her feet; but witt.
her furious step-mOther towering over he.
from the bottom of the bed she was al
her mercy in every way, and speeches.
Gussie, who, already dressed, stood
and quaking In the background,
making unintelligible signals to her siste.
behind her step-mother's back, now found
courage to say:
Tell her, Esme; it's nothing SO very
dreadful, after all!'
1T is not quite as bad as l expected,
was Mrs. Brabazon's comment when she
had heard the story. You had better
stay in your room to-day. l shall write
and telegraph to Miles and Annie and
tell them the truth. There, you can keep
hat" tossing Miles note cOntemptuously
IN the counterpane. The trouble and
anxiety I've had about this whole bust
ness has nearly worn me into my grave
What with your scruples and Miles scru
,les, and the fatigue about your trOus-
,eau, and now this"
So saying she trailed majestically out
If the apartment. closing the door with
bang that made the jugs and basin
.attle for two minutes.
All that long day Esme remained up
stairs, while Gussie brought her constan
bulletins from the lower regions. anG
lokes appeared periodically with larg
mp of tea on a small tray.
But no letter. no telegram, no Mile
,ut in an appearance. The day waneG
light came. And so ended Esme's weG |
ling day!