Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-03-22
CHAPTER VII

CHAPTER VII.
Helen's eyes rested for moment on
her brothers face. With an almost i'm
perceptible movement of lid and eyebrow
he treasured her.
What time is dinner? | told him to
come at o'clock" said he, holding out
his cup for more tea.
That is right" answered Helen.
You would have done BETTER" said
the Admiral, still unpacifed. Ito have
given the man a dinner at your club"
'Oh" ~ replied his son, serenely, Il
wanted you and Helen to make his &C
quaintance; besides, l could not have in
vited Muggins to the club"
"Muggins!" growled the old gentleman,
interrogatively.
The dog"
All. Is he a presentable sort of fell
low, then, that you want your sister to
meet him."
The dog" inquired Grace, with much
innocence.
No" laughed his father, despite him
self; 1.-THE man-Tyre, or Sidon, or what
ever his name is.'
''Tyars. Yes; l think so. Tyars is
distinctly presentable, or else l would not
have suggested his coming to dine with
Helen-and Agnes Winter"
Helen had moved away toward the
window, and was now leaning against the
folded and oId-fashioned shutter. She
turned and looked at her brother as he
spoke, with that gentle, womanly scru-
tiny.
Like her brother, Helen Grace favored
to some extent a gravity of demeanor
when in repose, and her face was of that
refined type which possesses a great mo-
bility. Some faces there are which seem
to have brought from old times a recol
lection of gay knights, full of poetry and
full of fight; of troubadours and patient
women. Oswin and Helen Grace were of
tkis mold. In profile the chiseling of
either face was perfect, for Helen was
but a refined miniature of her brother;
and in smiling their gray eyes lighted up
with the self-same soft merriment.
AS she stood in the soft sunlight look
ing sideways toward her brother her ten
derness was visible. These two were the
only children of a dead mother, who if
she had never quite understood her hus-
band had at all events possessed the pow
er of loving her children. Oswin Grace
had left home early, as all naval men
must, and during the short spells allowed
to him by a grateful country as recrea-
ton he had not learned to know his sis
ter very well-not well enough to forget
that he owed to her the respect due to all
women.
The two men now started conversa-
ton upon very nautical matters employ
ing such technical terms and waxing so
interested that Helen sought a chair near
the window and settled down to listen
with respectful silence. When the Ad-
miral had left the room Oswin crossed
the floor and stood beside his sister, his
scrutinizing glance cast downward.
How is Agnes Winter?" he asked.
"She is very well Did those flowers
remind you of herr
"Ye-es,'' he replied, slowly. 4 wonder
why?"
Because she arranged them. I sup
pose," suggested the GIRL looking up sud-
denly, as il struck at the possibility of
her idea being of some weight.
Perhaps so. She is not engaged YETI"
Helen threaded a needle with some
care anu SlOOpSu over ubT AWOEh.
No; she is just the same as ever. AL
ways busy, always happy. always a IA
vorite. But-one never hears the slight
est rumor of an engagement, or even a
firtation.''
While" added Grace, airily, her dear
friend flirts here and slirts there, but
keeps clear of the serious part of it all
with equal skill
Which friend?'' inquired Helen, in
nocently.
Yourself"
"Oh have my duties. Papa could not
get on without me. Besides, never firt
Marriage and love and all that, my broth
er, have much more to do with conven-
fence than is generally supposed"
"1ndeed?' he inquired with fine -sar
casm.
Yes; have studied the question. You
may know more about the slave trade
than I do, because you have had superior
advantages in that direction; but j also
have had advantages, and from personal
observation beg to state that in nine cases
out of ten convenience is the source of
love-in the tenth case it is propinquity."
Thank you,' he said, fervently. i
VIII make a mental note OF your 0bSerTd-
tons. and when L marry a plain and
stupid heiress perhaps you will Withdraw.
them"
She ignored his pleasantly.
Il often wonder" he said, thoughtfully,
twhy somebody or other does not fall In
love with Agnes Winter"
After a pause he put forward a sug-
gestion.
Because she will not let them, per-
haps."
That may be ss; but surely a sensible
man does not wait to be allowed"
The question" be answered, with
mock gravity, lis rather beyond me. 1t
is hard to say what a sensible man would
do, because in such matters no rule can
be laid down defining where sense begins
and foelishness ends. The man who got
Agnes Winter would be sensible, however
he did it."
Presently the girl went to dress for
dinner, leasing her brother standing at
the window, whistling softly beneath his
breath.