Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1900-05-24
CHAPTER II-(Continued.)

CHAPTER II-(Continued)
Here Esme laughed Historically, and
at once brought the whole storm upon her
unlucky head, and acted as a kind OF
ightning-conductor to Mrs. Brabazons S
wrath.
"You Taught You dare to laugh, miss!
But it is only what I could expect from
yon. I believe you were in his confidence,
and knew all about it. I'm sure you en-
couraged him in his aboninable conduct.
You and he have always been heavy
trial TO me. You had letter this morn
ing; be so good as to hand it over"
Il cannot. Mrs BrabazOn," replied
Esme. tremulously; "it-it-is private"
glancing appealingly at her stepmother.
"And full of abuse of me, no doubt
Well, you may keep it." making virtue of
necessity. "and make much of it, for it
is the last you will receive! Every other
] find in the post bag | shall burn. Mark
my words. into the fire it goes"
'FIorian and Gussie," said Esme, tim
idly, glancing from her brother to her
sister. "are neither of you going to say
ANYTHING? Won't you speak for Teddy 2
she asked, piteously, cor is it to be left
to me? Mrs. Brabazon, surely you can
will always be so as long as he lives. He
is not dead to us-at least, he is not dead
to me-and l hope he will be spared for
the next fifty years. think 1t only rlght
and honorable to tell you that [ will new
er give him up, that l shall write to him
and receive his letters, and meet him
and speak to him whenever l get the
chance! His being a soldier makes no
i. H. h~nt hnIs a
the same. 1t was not his fault he could
not pass; he did try, and he wanted SO
much to be soldier"
''What do you say to this TRADE, Au-
gusta? demanded Mrs. Brabazon, turn
ing on Gussie with a portentous frOwn.
Il think it is all very dreadful about
Ted, of course" she stammered; but he
is my brother" looking hard at Esme,
as though endeavoring to borrow some Of
her spirit.
"And you, Florian?" demanded Mrs.
Brabazon, in an awful, hollow voice.
"Oh, if you want my opinion" returned
that gentleman, carefully stirring his tea,
81 think Ted is a confounded ass, and
has made q regular fool Of himself, and
all that sort of thing, and it's no end of
bore. I would pass him now if l met him
In the street." pulling up his collar as he
spoke, and feeling that he was a very
important, dignifed, illustriOus young
man.
"Oh, Flon' exclaimed his youngest sis
ter, reproachfully.
''NoW, you have your brothers opinion,
Esme, the opinion of the head Of the
house, l hope you are satisfied, said
Mrs. Brabazon, with malicious triumph.
F'You see he is, as usual, quite Of my way
Of thinking! If Teddy had behaved re-
spectfully, 1 know that Florian would
have done something for him, and used
his interest with his influential friends;
he has always been such a good, generous
brother"
Thus Teddy fell into disgrace with his
people; his name was erased from the
family roll, and written down instead in
nearly everyone's black book.
Two years passed by, and during these
two years there have been some little
changes even at Baronsford. Esme was
now nineteen, prettier than ever, but still
and shy in general society. Gussie, on
the contrary, seemed born for the social
circle, was always the center of little
had played havoc with the affections of
several susceptible young men. Mrs.
Brabazon still frequented stately houses
and stately dinner tables, and had saved
a sum of money that would have made
Miss Jane exclaim most unaccountable, !"
had she seen her bankers book. Time
has not stood still with Teddy. Here
Is his last letter. 1t lies on the school
room table beside Esme:
"From Troop Sergeant Brown, York, to
Miss E. Brabazon:
my Dear Esme-Always the culprit!
you need not tell me that. I've written
to you at least ten times in imaginationi
long letters, too, but l suppose that does
not count. l have news for you, good
news. You know that for a long time
was instructor in the riding school, and
now I am promoted to be troop sergeant,
which, by the way. / suppose is Greek
TO you, old lady; but l dare say your
mind can grasp the word promotion
am getting up the ladder at last. The
colonel limited to me the other day that
If I went on as l had commenced he
would be happy to recommend me for q
commission; so we begin to see daylight
I hope to see you early in the autumn
before we embark for foreign service; we
are next on the roster. shall come
down and lie perdue at Mother Swoffer's s.
IL would. paVer do for YOU to be seen
paradlng ABOUT in public with a sergeant
of lancers. 1t will be a case of meet
me by moonlight alone but that will be
better than nothing. Only fancy, ESme
I've not spoken to a lady for two years
Give my love to Gussie and Aunt Jane
Do you know that she sent me f25 lately
IN a very grabbed little letter? Never
mind, she shall be proud of me yet.
''Your affectionate brother,
TEDDY B."
A OTLEP III