Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-10-17

episode have just one little question
to ask. and only one. Supposing nov,
FOR the sake Of argument, that he won't
marry you-what thenY"
All! this was phase Of the matter that
Esme had never contemplated; but, al
though she made prompt and cheerful an.
swer to herself to her sisters query, she
vouchsafed no reply, beyond what might
be called q superior smile, and loud and
triumphant pOking Of a most offensive
fire.
Gussie's allusion to Mrs. Brabazon was
timely. Esme we'll knew. That lady had
always been antagonistic to her nephew
when he was a mOneyed man, and was
not likely to be any fOnder Of him now
that he was as poor as a church mouse.
Quite lately she had awakened to a due
appreciation of the unusual personal gifts
Of her younger step-daughter, and thor
ough understanding Of her marketable
value-a coronet! Esme's visit to Brigh-
ton. her appearance at all the winter
country balls. had given her quite a rep
utation, and a certain young honorable.
the eldest son Of Lard Mangel-Wurzle.
was constantly finding his way over 10
Baronsford. he was received by Gussie
with open arms, By Esme with smiles, for
he had been one Of what Mrs. Brabazon
would have called Teddy's boon" COM
panious. BE was q pleasant, ruddy faced
young gentleman. with a CHEEKY voice,
frank, unaffected manners, and was real
ly very much enamored Of the beautiful
Miss Braba1on. OF course he heard that
she had been engaged to her cousin, but
it was Ill broken of months ago. and the
dear girl had never really cared about
him; II was q family business" so Mrs.
Braba1on had whispered cOnfdentially TO
Lady Mangel-Wurzle, and she looked for
ward to a double wedding before long, for
Gussie had accepted her long-sunerins
Freddy. who had come in for another
fortune, and already. as she remarked
complacently, "the presents had been both
numerous and costly" Now here was
this odious, tiresome Miles Brabazon
comi-s to the surface again. and writing
Mrs. Brabazon q long letter from some
outlandish camp in South Africa. What
was to be done with him? What worry
and affection he had been from first to
last. What a good thing it would be II
the Beers were to kill him." thought this
amiable lady. Should she answer his
reflection she decided that she would re-
ply, and by the next mail. in friendly
spirit, giving him largely of her forgive
ness and sympathy; but appealing to him,
forcibly, to release Esme from her pres
ent ridiculous engagement. The epistle
took some time to put together, and as
she was sitting biting the end Of her pen
in the throes of composition. Esme came
into the room with her hat on, and said
she was going to the village with the
post-bag.
Il am not quite ready yet; but In ten
minutes time shall have finished. am
writing a rather difficult letter to Miles -
YES" returned Esme, coloring, and
looking at her interrogatively.
"Of course I forgive him freely: but the
engagement must not be talked Of just
at present; as matters are 1t would be toe
imprudent. You see, my dear. although
he Is very nice himself, he has nothing
to marry on now"
But we can wait, Mrs. Brabason."
"Ah, yes, you are only twenty; you
have written 10 him. tool
'sYes," holding mp letter.
''Oh. dear me! you might have inciosed
mine and saved me sixpence: 1t Is moi
stamped. though, see."
"Not yet: I'm taking 1t to the post"
Then give It to me. 1t can 60 In mine
there is plenty Of room in my envelope
and I have a stamp"
Esme handed It over with little reluc'
tance, She would have liked to have post
ed it herself! but she did not one moment
doubt her stepmother's honesty of pur
pose, and was firmly convinced, ten min
utes later, as she walked down to the
village with elastic, springing steps. that
she was carrying it over the first stage OF
its long, long journey, and that in five
weeks II would be in Miles own hands
Deluded young damsel! The instant she
had left the room Mrs. Brabazon had
taken up her epistle, had turned 1t ovel
meditatively, and said to herself: ''This
billet doux will encourage him. and thai
would be fatal to all our hopes; probably
she Is telling him she WIN wait for him
for years." smiling contemptuously. mo
no, we cannot have any Of that kind OF
nonsense;" 80 this right-minded. honorable
lady deliberately walked over to the fire
poked an open place among the Goals, in
to which she carefully dropped the mis-
siye; for a second 1t lay, seemingly star
ing at her like some living thing, with
its clear address confronting her thus:
Captain Brabazon,
"2d Battalion, Royal Marchers.
with the army in the field.
South Africa"
Then 1t became a delicate biscuit color
then It curled at the edges and suddenly
shot up in a bright fame. and in another
moment a few black fragments. lazily
sailing up the chimney, were all that re
nained of Miss Esme Brabazon's foreign
letter.
CTo be continued)