Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1900-07-26
CHAPTER xv.-(Continued.)

man." said Teddy, reprovingly. why
did you not take your time? you should
look before you leap. Why did you not
ask?'
''What was there to ask? Had l not
seen for myself? And is not seeing be-
lieying? l never dreamed that she had
another brother; never. In any case you,
or any fellow, would have done just the
same'
Pm awfully sorry" said Teddy, slow
ly, speaking with his eyes meditatiyely
fixed on the ground; sorry for the money.
It's a bad business about that!'
Money! it's not the money I'm think
ing Of" returned Miles, huskily.
'Oh, if you are thinking of Esme, she'll
be all right" rejoined her brother, cheer
fully. "Once the mistake is known, and
you make the amende honorable, you need
not be bit uneasy about her; it will be
all right" which was Teddy's usual way
of summing up most questions.
'All right! How very ikely!" returned
his cousin, sarcastically. "She will never
speak to me again as long as she lives,
never! Do you not understand that we
were within one day and a half of being
married, that the guests were bidden, the
there but the bridegroom? l was, as L
always am when I'm in a rage, mad. L
never stopped to breathe, much less to
reflect or think; all l wanted to do was
to put the seas between us"
..'Have you had any letters?'
''Not one line since l came out. You
are the first who has opened my eyes to
the awful mistake l have made"
81 hope, Miles," said Teddy, humbly,
''that you won't hate the very sight of
me, for 1 was the cause -innocently
enough, but still the cause-of the whole
catastrophe"
mo, no. Why should I? 1t was not
your fault, it was no ones fault, it was
Just sheer bad luck. What evil spirit
induced me to go to Portsmouth that
day, Of all others?" he demanded pas
sionately.
SIT is all chance returned Teddy. DO
you know that once you were actually
within hair of finding it out? 1t all
turned upon such a little thing as the
striking of a match! 1t did indeed. 1
don't know if you remember the last
night you were at Baronsford in August.
Well, was there, too, proving about
the bushes on chance Of seeing Esme.
She came running out about nine o'clock
-o
81 now remember it perfectly" inter
rupted Miles, hastily. 81 suppose every
one within twenty miles Of Baronsford
thinks me the most finished and complete
yscoundrel, and, goodness knows, l cannot
blame them. Appearances are frightful-
" against me. / think the best thing you
can do for me, Teddy" with grim smile,
els to blow my brains out quite accident
ally"
stuff and nonsense! If it is Esme you
are so much afraid of, 1 can tell you that
you need not be uneasy; she will marry
you all the same"
even if she would-which L am sure
she wouldn't-how could 1 marry with
scarcely anything besides my pay?'
Pooh! That's easily answered. Esme
has never been brought up to luxuries.
She'll make a grand poor mans wife.
Why, she used to turn my ties and patch
my coats"
Eyes, all very well for her to do those
things for her brother, but I'm different.
Why should bring her to poverty? What
eight have to ask her to share my pit
tance? Mrs. Brabazon would never listen
to it."
Mrs. B. be bothered" interpolated
Teddy, rudely; "who cares for her"
''And she will marry some rich swell.
A pretty girl like her, face like hers,
will have dozens of suitors; and, Of
course, she will marry one of them, and 1
can't blame her"
mot she!" returned Teddy, stoutly,
sand IN tell you the reason, old fellow"
taking his cousin literally by the button
of his red-serge coat. "She won't look
at a duke, If she's the girl 1 take her to
be, and ought to know her pretty well,
because"-smiling and pausing for a mo-
ment.
'Yes," with feverish eagerness.
Because she likes you. Can't you
grasp that?"
It was about the only pleasant fact that
had been placed before him this morning,
and he seized it with avidity. And he did
grasp it most gratefully.
"Of course, the loss of the money is a
bore" said Teddy; ''but l think you and
Esme would have fancied one another,
anyhow, without that. Old George Bfab-
azon was certainly touched in the top
story, leaving the reversion after six
months to this perfectly unnecessary ma
tive college in Calcutta. / think we all
gre a little queer-Uncle Sandy, Uncle
George, Aunt Jane, myself-and you, with
your rushing out here at three days no.
tice, have certainly qualified for being
called eccentric Hullo! there's the
breakfast bugle, and l must be off. Cheer
up, old man! it will be all right, you'll
see."
Captain Brabazon, sir" said a rich
Milesian accent, breathlessly; "Mr.
MitchelPs compliments, and would We
oblige him with the lind of a tin of
cocoa?"
"Yes, yes, certainly" impatiently; ''go
to White"
HTime for us to be moving, too, to our
morning meal; there's not much to set
before you, Teddy, but cold stew and
black coffee, our rations being of the
least luxurious description"
I'm not particular about quality as
long as l have quantity, and fancy you
are even better off for grub than we are.
You're sure you don't hate the sight Of
Inc, Miles?" he added difidently, as they
once more came near the tents.
That's the second time you've asked