The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-21
! Charles Dickens

| born In Ceylon, Where, as llttie cillluieii'
they had been cruelty treated by their
stepfather. But they had brave f Z, Hplr r.
and four times In six years they mad
run away, only to be brought back each
tino and punished On each Of these
occasions (the first had been when they
were but seven years odd Helena mad
dressed as q boy and had even trled
to cut off her long hair with Neville's
pocketknife. At length their cruel Step
father died, and they were sent to Eng
land, where. for no other reason than
that his name was continually appearing
III the newspapers, Mr. Iioneythunder had
been appointed their guardian.
No wonder the brother and sister had
grown up thinking everybody their en- enc e.
my They were quito prepared to hate
brought them. But by the time Mr..
IIoneythunder had gone (and Mr.. Cri-
sparkle was as glad as they were when
he went home) they liked the young
minister and felt that they would be
happy there. They We're q handsome
pair and Mr.. Crisparkle WIS attracted
to them both. Neville was 1.-THE, and
dark and rich in color; Helena almost
Ikea gypsy, slender supple and quick
Both seemed half shy half defiant, as
thought their blood were untamed.
TO mako them welcome that first
evening Mr.. Crisparllle invited to his
house jasper the choirmaster, with Ed
win brood, who was visiting him, and
Rosebud from the school. Before they
parted Rosebud was asked to sing.
Jasper played her accompaniment, and
while she sang he watched her lips in
tently. All at once, to their great
establishment, Rosebud covered her face
with her ands and, crying out, II can't
bear this! am frightened Take me
nway!'' burst into tears E
Helena, the newcomer, who had liked
Rosebud at first sight, seemed to under
stand her better than any one else. She.
laid her on a sofa, soothed her, and 4 IN
u few moments Rosebud seemed again
as usual. Mr.. Crlsparltle and Edwin
brood thought it only fit Of nervous
ness. TO her relief, they made light OF
tho matter, and so the evening ended.
! But later, at Nuns House, where she
4 and Helena were to be roomlnates, Rose
| bud told her new friend how much she
| dlsiked Jasper and how his eyes terri
| fled her, and how, as she sang, with ms
eyes watching her lips, She felt as If
he had kissed her.
While the two girls were exchanging
condolences Neville and Edwin brood.
who had conc with them to the door OF
the seminary, were walking back to-
ge,her. Mr.. Crisparkle had told Neville
of the others bethothal to Rosebud, and
Neville now spoke OF 1t, brood, who had
felt all along that he and Rosebud did
not get along we'll together and who
was sensitive on the subject was un.
Justly angry that the other should So
soon know what he considered his own
private affair. He answered In surly
|, way and, as both were hot blooded and
quick tempered, they soon came to high
words.
AS it happened Jasper was walking
near and. overhearing. came between
them Ie chidcd them good -naturedly
and took them to his rooms, where he
| insisted they should drink a glass OF vino
with him to their good fellowship. There
he did u dastardly thing. He mixed with
the vino n drug, which, ono drunk,
aroused their angry passions. Their
speech grew thick and the quarrel be-
gan again. Safe now from any specta-
| tor, Jasper did not attempt to soothe
them. He let them so on until they
were about to come to blows, Then,
pretending great indignation, he threw
| himself upon Neville and forced him,
liauess. from the house.
In the cool night aid Neville's strange
dizziness, and with 1t his rage cleared
| away. He realized that tho blame for
tho quarrel had been Jasper's, but he did
not guess the drugging OF the wine and
could not explain tho incident even to
/ himself. Ho went however, manfully
and sorrowfully to Mr.. Crisparkle and
urally Mr.. Crisparkle who had always
found brood peaccable enough, thought
1t the fault of a passionate and re-
vcngeful character.
He was tho more convinced of this
when Jasper came to him. bringing
] Neyilles hat, md told him his own story
OF the meeting. Jasper told him falsely
that Neville had made murderous at
tack on brood, and but for him would
have laid his nephew dead at his feet,
| He warned tho other that Neville had a
I-tigcrsh blood and would yet be guilty
of terrible crime. Mr.. Crisparklo liked
no had not the least suspicion that Jasper
was lying for cruel purpose Or his own.
/ The affair was an unhappy one for
/ Neville. for Jasper took care that tho
story spread abroad, and as 1t went IT
grew. so that almost everybody ingCloist-
erham thought Helen's brother q passions
ate fellow OF furious temper. And
they believed 1t tho more because he
had made no secret Of tho fact that he
had fallen In love- too. with Rosebud
and In this they thought they saw q
reason for his hating Edwin brood.
Mr.. Crisparkle was faithful friend
lie concluded soon that tho fault was
not all on Nevllle's side, But he was
anxious 40 have the two young mer
friends. and no begged his pupil for hi'
. own part to lay aside the III feeling
lille went to the choirmaster also on tll'
same errand, and Jasper assured him tha
, his nephew should do the same, II,
even promised hypocrltically. that L
bring this about no would invite botl
, Edwin brood and Neville TO dine viii
him on Christmas Eve, In his own rooms
, where they might meet and shake hands
Both young men promised to come L
, The dinner. and Mr.. Crlsparkle was nigh
ly pleased at his management. littlt
. dreaming what the outcome would be-
3.--The Choirrnaster's Dinner.