Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1900-07-12
BII IyITgITgINEgyNEElNEg Observation-Disclosures


for the last two hours. And think what
a spectacle you will be when Miles comes
here tomorrow! arrives up the avenue
a penitent, on his bended knees, and prob
ably with peas in his shoes"
And thus Esme was persuaded to be a
good girl.
And poor Ted-what about him?" in
quired Gussie, sitting on the rug and
nursing her knees. You saw him off,
and see how dearly you have paid for it,
you courageous but mistaken young per-
son; you would have your own way"
Esme looked down thoughtfully at her
vivaciOus sister.
Don't 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 a week, and see off half the
army, and I'll venture to bet no one
would ever burst like a 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"
| III SpIle O1 ueF DEdll DeIUS III Il 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 remained
awake. Now it was Teddy's face, pale
and death-like, that came before her and
whispered, with a sobbing sigh, good
by forever" Now it 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 nightmare-M Braba-
zon and an earthquake. This latter vis-
ion was fulfilled on the spot; someone
was violently shaking the foot of the little
brass bed, someone standing there in
slate-colored flannel dressing gown. Esme
opened a pair of startled eyes, and beheld
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 front
teeth? Her face was lemon color, her
eyes lurid, her voice harsh. She held a
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 wave Of half-frozen wat
er. She had had kind Of vague hope,
oe hn fIrc+ Of &ho%
it was all-all a dream; but now she was
reused by the agony Of sharp mental
awakening.
''Sit up at once, and listen to me, miss,
and tell me what this mcans-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 |
marriage between my cousin Esme and |
myself. l 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. lis
he in his right mind? No address, no
date. Postmark, Portsmouth"
Still Esme could not speak; vainly she
tried to articulate. No words would come.
She would have Jared better if she had
been up, standing on her feet; but with
ler furious step-mother towering over her
from the bottom of the bed she was at
her mercy in every way, and speechless.
Gussie, who, already dressed, stood
and quaking in the background,
making unintelligible signals to her sister
behind her step-mother's back, now found
courage to say:
''Tell her, Esme; it's nothing so very
lreadful, after al!'
And Esme, thus adjured, told what had
1T is not quite as bad as l expected
vas Mrs. Brabazon's comment when she
lad heard the story. You had better
tay in your room to-day. l shall write
md telegraph to Miles and Annie and
ell them the truth. There, you can keep
hat" tossing Miles note contemptuously
II the counterpane. "The trouble and
nXiety I've had about this whole busi-
ess 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 {
f the apartment, closing the door with I
bang that made the jugs and basins
attic for two minutes. ,
All that long day Esme remained up :
tairs, while Gussie brought her constant {
ulletins from the lower regions, and 9
Jokes appeared periodically with large I
up of tea on a small tray. I
But no letter, no telegram, no Miles i
ut in an appearance. The day waned p
light came. And so ended Esme's wed
ing day. '
CHAPTER XIII. b
Let us now return to Miles, whom we
1T on the platform at Portsmouth, near