The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-02-17
Treasures Of
Brookmere
BY MARTHA
MccULLocH-wILLlAMS
o~,s.A. 1901. " M..A. Msc.assA.wsn.~

ebediently, but with q little impatien
sigh her companion. Austin wills
whistled softly. then said:
y "Jessaminel What wax MADAM
Brookmere must be in! You're alway
Sunbeam and Fairy and Bright Eye
q when she's in a good humor."
THAT Is to say when the Beveridg,
: thing Is around" Jezsamine said, witt
. shrug. "She is In a wax-she Away,
d when you come--and she feels II
her bones when you are coming"
~H-m-ml I ought to be tiattered. bu
I'm not the least bit" Austin answer
ID. also rising and catching Jessa
: mines hand. she looked aghast buI
be kept sturSiily at her side until they
were facing Jessamine's dragon. Then
be said. with his best flourish: "oh,
Madam Brookmere, | have brought
this young person to tell you why she
can't possibly come in. She II to "a
rowing with me. We win be back by
late tea time. The afternoon Is too
heavenly to be wasted on land"
"Jessamine. go upstairs and fetch
my embroidery. Be sure you don't for
get my glasses" madam said. us
though the young man had not spo-
ken. Jessamine made to obey, but Wills
held her back. He lifted his hat to
the elder lady. turned and walked of.
saying over his shoulder: ''Send the
maid up. madam. It's bad luck to turn
back. can't allow Miss Jessamine
to risk spelling our cruise"
"oh, what win she do to me?" Jessa.
mine cried as they hurried away.
Madam had been too paralyzed by
Wills audacity to say q word. Austin
drew Jessamine's hand farther over
his arm and smiled down at her, say
ing: II hope 1t win be Out Of my
house, ingrater Then, you see, you
will have to come to my house wheth-
or or no."
Mercy, You do take a lot on your
self!' Jessamine said, pulling away her
hand, her eyes dancing wickedly II
BEGIN to fear. Mr.. Wills, that you have
4 ,en our little affair seriously
Isn't it to be taken seriously? Real
" you lift weight of my conscience"
Willis interrupted In her own tone; then,
after chuckle: Jess, must lecture
you-point out the sinful folly Of your
course Here you might be, by taking
pains and showing yourself properly
devout and submissive, Mrs. BeveridgeI
possibly Mrs. Bishop Beveridge-Il
really believe the gentleman has n In
him to go high enthusiastically, he's so
suave and silken, just the sort to worm
himself into the minds of rich church
men. not to mention their check books.
Yet you are passing him up passing
up the chance Of a lifetfme-for the
sake off,
"a very commonplace sinner" Jessa-
mine broke in.
Wills gave her q look Of panied sur
prise. 'I was going to say for the
sake of having your own willful way
be protested
II was early afternoon, and the long.
smooth river reach, hecked with sun
and shade, mirrored perfectly the sum-
mer world either side. Jessamine hung
over the boat side. staring at her own
image. Austin watched her with hap
py eyes, but after little he drew her
upright, saying softly: vanity, thy ,
name is Jessamine. | can't have an
1ther case of Narcissus and his image !
upon my conscience"
Really. Have you a conscience"
Jessamine retorted.
Pirates even have consceinces-about ,,
ZONE things" Austin answered, ship
ling bis oars and letting the boat drift
oward the other bank. For example,
t goes against their consciences TO let
reasure manifestly within reach go .
o some other fellow. That other pi-1
ate, Beveridge, shan't have the treas.l )
ire Of Brookmere."
eWhat is the treasure OF BrooklnereYI !.
essamine asked deTnnreiy. How much !.
II, worth? And how are you going !,
0 save it from clerical cIutehes?" a
let me see. believe the Brook !,
mere rating Is about three millions,1 !
lustin answered refiectively, but with i
twinkle Of the eye, handy millions i
t that" he went on, "ail in gilt !,
dyed securities. If You were more i
han baby, Jess, you would see lf- h
Ie beyond the end Of your nose. Bish- =
p-to-be Beveridge did want you-iD r.
act he still wants you, being a man y
I taste. for all his sins" n
Thanks Jessamine interrupted n
Wills shook his head at her. y,
'He wanted you rather badly, but IL
OF so badly as he wanted the Brook
lere money. And that he means to ;,
spite Of our teeth. Madam 10 a,
My sixty and young for her years. .,
"You can't mean be is trying to mar a.
7 herr" Jessamine cried, aghast. .,
Wills nodded "Thafs bis present
ludable aim. Therefore he would like q
othing better than to have us openly -
efy madam. Our elopement would be ~
trump card for him. Now, although
re are not mercenary, neither are we =
estitute Of common prudence. Three :"
lillions, or even one or two, might =,
ome in handy heap Of times. More =,
YER, we owe madam a certain duty =