Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1900-05-17
CHAPTER /.


must be some mistake. It's too bad TO
be true"
This reckless assertion came from the
lips of a tall girl of seventeen, who was
leaning her shabby elbows on a wide, old
fashioned window sill, and looking out ON
a steady downpoUr, in an attitude Of the
deepest detection; staring blankly at the
whity-gray sky, the dripping bushes, the
roses like sponges, and the fattened flow
er beds, with her pretty face drowned in
tears.
Behind her, gazing gloomily over her
head, with his hands in the pockets of his
shooting coat, stood a young man. No,
not her lover-for in him we trace a
strong family likeness, and notice the
same very dark blue eyes and crisp,
brown hair-he is merely her youngest
brother, who, FIVE minutes previously, had
burst into the room and abruptly inform
ed her that, Just as he expected, he had
been spun for the army, and it was his
luck all over" On the carpet beside
him lay the Morning Post, containing a
list of the successful candidates, among
whom, alas! the name of Edward Braba-
Zon does not appear.
itdSe yOulSClIy Au9 SOOu SlAA' IL
lieve it or not, as you like" he returned
gruffiy; L don't fancy it will make much
difference at the Horse Guards. | really
wish to goodness, Esme, you would not
20 on like this"
But it was your last chance" she
sobbed, in a muffied tone. And, after
working so hard, and reading for hours
and hours, with wet towel round your
head-it's too hard"
Fine weather for young ducks" sud
denly interrupted gay treble voice; and
another girl, having pushed the door open
with her knee, entered slowly, bearing a
tray covered with jam pots.
She is Miss Brabazon-Augusta, known
as Gussie, in the bosom of her family;
not so tall as Esme, and not nearly SO
pretty; still, as she says herself, ''she is
by no means an unprepOssessing young
person" She has bright, viVacious
a pair of twinkling, mischieVous brown
eyes, a neat little figure, and an impudent
nose.
Tears she exclaimed, carefully de-
posting her tray on the school room ta-
BILE. What has happened? Who is
dead? or is it only one of the dogs?'
The list is out, and I've been spun,"
replied her brother.
''Oh, nonsense!' she cried, with a gasp
of incredulity. You don't mean to say
so," almost snatching the paper out of
his hand in her eagerness to verify the,
fact.
And that odious young Thomas has ac-
tually passed. she exclaimed, at length.
"a miserable little creature in spectacles,
who could never originate one single re-
mark beyond Yes, Miss Brabazon,' No,
Miss Brabazon,' Thank you, Miss Braba-
zon,' that positively dared not say Boo
to the proverbial goose! And talking of
saying Boo to a goose, who is to break
this to Mrs. B.?'
Il am, l SUPPOSED! returned the broth
er, doggedly. 1T is the third occasion L
have had to break the same news to
her, as you call it. There's a kind of
fatal familiarity about the subject by
this timen'
''Mr. Edward, if you please, the mis-
tress wishes to speak to you in the draw
ing room at once" said a grim-looking,
elderly woman from the doorway; a per-
son whose figure resembled a deal board
covered with a tight black alpaca dress.
ITO me! To speak to me, Nokes?"
suddenly sitting upright.
Yes, Mr.. Edward, to speak to you,
she answered in a tone OF decorous decis
ion; a tone which, being interpreted by
these experienced young people, meant,
And won't you just catch it, that's all!''
Then she must have seen it, exclaim-
ed Esme, in an aWestruck voice. "Oh,
Teddy!'
y
table in one of the windows of the draw
ing room as Teddy enters. She is lady
with a very long, upright back, back
that has distinct character and express
sion of its own, and that of an aggres-
sive nature. When we look into her face,
we discover that she is between forty and
fifty, dark and sallow, with thin lips
pinched together in a manner that BODIES
but Ill for Master Teddy; in fact, her
cOuntenance is the embodiment of a thun-
der cloud, as she waits in an attitude of
rigid expectancy, with the Times spread
out before her, her eyes fixed on one par
ticular column, engaged in the amiable
task of nursing her wrath to keep it
warm. She heard the door open and
close, she heard his approaching footsteps
without moving for fully sixty seconds.
AT length she turned her head slightly to-
ward the culprit, and said, in a tone
which had gathered intensity from the
preceding awful pause.
This is a nice business rapping the
paper before her with an impressive fore
finger. Pray what have you got to say
for yourself, sir-eh? l hope you are
ashamed. Only" hastily correcting her.
self, sit is not in your nature to be
ashamed Of anything. Come" with
Jerk of her chair, speak; and don't stand |
there looking like a fool"
What can l say, Mrs. Brabazonw re-
turned Teddy, with heightened color Il
am awfully sorry l failed to pass. l did |
my very best as far as working went. |
am sorry for all the time that has been |
wasted"
And money" interpoIated the lady,
sharply.
And money, as you say, he continued;
'and l am very sorry you should be so
much disappointed; but, after all, it's
rougher on me than anyone else. L shall
be the chief sufferer"
'Chief sufferer! Your she cried, glar
ing at him with her fiery little coffee
colored eyes, ''you a sufferer! you idle,
lazy, good-for- nothing lout! This is the
third time you've come to me with this
same story-failed to- pass! Suffer, in
deed!" charging back &on that unlucky [
word. alt has been my purse that has