The citizen., 1901-06-21
ana yer ne seemed 70 know 50

about Nora O'Brien and her upeventful
history. Her father. the retired army
otilcer her delicate mother. the old. big
barrack Of house on the Shannon, full
OF out at elbows, happy, hungry girls and
boys. He imagined il as Nora's homesick
eyes saw ii. He knew about her years in
the French convent. He knew the very
names OF the dogs in her Irish home.
And yet so little, SO little, had passed be.
tween them
He was so far from making her con.
spicuous by his attentions that perhaps
only one person was aware of the steady
regard with which the very eyes of his
soul seemed turned on Nora O'Brien. and
that was little person, supposed about
TINS time TO be much engrossed in the
making of dolls trousseau.
1t was about two months after Miss
OBrien's coming to the Cedars that
Standlsh came in upon a perturbed scene
IN the drawing room, where things we're
usually so well ordered He came in un.
announced by way of the garden and the
veranda 10 find Mrs. Lawrence and her
governess confronting each other.
The lady was in high state of wrath
Her check had an added brillance to that
of the rouge pot. and her eyes were mar.
rowing and opening to display a fierce
light in depths that usually looked shal.
low enough. Her voice was raised. her
dramatic right hand pointed to the pale
girl, who stood with one hand resting on
the table, as though for support.
As soon as Mrs. Lawrence caught sight
Of Standish she dropped into chair and
pressed her handkerchief to her eyes.
Il am so ashamed" she began, such
dreadful thing. and to think Of those dear
children. How little | knew
Mrs. Lawrence thinks l stole one of
her jewels said the girl, answering the
question in Standish's face. She was
white to the lips. but stood perfectly up.
right, and something in the pose of her
upifted face suggested an appeal from
an earthly to a heavenly Judge.
Think" echoed Mrs. Lawrence furi-
ously. When it was found hidden away
among your things. you horrid girl! Upon
my word, | think in the interests of jus
lce | shall have to prosecute you. If |
send You back to your father you will he
presently stealing from somebody else"
Nonsense" said Standish, with a
roughne~S he had never before used to
woman. Miss O'Brien has stolen moth
ing of yours. What hallucination is this,
Mrs. Lawrence:"
Mrs. Dolly Sasped for breath, then re-
covered herself, and her next speech had
a slow and cold malice.
''She will have to prove it, then. She
admired it from the beginning my beau
tifuI pink pearl pin. should never have
suspected her. of course, only for my dar-
Ing MllllccntS acuteness. Will you de-
fend Miss o Brcn. Mr. Standish:"
Herbert StandiSh made a step or two
to the girls side and took her cold fingers
in his and raised them to his lips.
'lf she viii permit me-" he said, 81
shall defend her with my life"
There was horrible commotion out
side, and suddenly a struggling little girl
in the midst of mass of boys came as
though from catapult into the middle OF
the drawing room floor.
Here she is, the little sneak!" cried
Guy, Cecil and Arthur with one voice,
pushing their sister NIillicent toward the
astonished group by the mantelshelf.
Millicent was disheveled and looked
cold. Her eyes had frozen tears in them,
and her lips were blue.
what have you been doing to your sis
ter. YOU rough boys?' cried Mrs. Dolly
Indignantly. forgetting her own griev-
ances for the moment.
only holding her head downward over
the pond till she confessed" cried her
brothers triumphantly.
Confessed WHAT"
"Why that she sncaked that old pin of
yours and hid it away in Miss O'Bren's
things"
The miserable Milicent's fears melted
and began to run forlornly down her
cheeks.
Il did do it," she said. "and | don't
know what | did it for, and if it wasn't
for those dreadful boys I'd say now l
didn't do it. But they'd nearly drown
me again"
Mrs. Dolly pushed the sobbing peni-
tent from her
I'm really very much annoyed" she
said. I'm sure | don't know why people
ever have any children to be so horrid |
must apologize. Miss O'Brien. OF course
you won't care to remain in charge of
these children any longer"
Standish had wicked thought of sug-
gesting that Miss O'Brien had a very
good case for damages, but refrained for
Tom Lawrence's sake.
at has only made us understand each
other a little sooner" he said. taking up
ngain the hand which the entrance of the
young Lawrcnces had made him drop
But. of course. in any case | could not
have spared her to you for very long,
Mrs. Lawrence"
Il had no idea began Mrs. Dolly
civilly.
II say, old fellow" shouted the three
hopes of the house in one voice, tits no
end of a shame for you to go sneaking
the very incest Governess we ever had
Mainly About people.