Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-08-20
CHAPTER l.

broken and its pictures askew; the table
was usually covered with a miscellane
Gus assortment of books, tools, and gar
ments of all sorts and conditions; the
carpet in spite of Moyra's efforts, con-
tanned pitfalls for the unwary door
handles had a pleasing habit of coming
of--yet, in spite of all these disadyan-
tages in spite of the fact that there was
a pretty ard comfortable drawing room,
all the Beressords-even the Rector him
self-a nen the spirit of companionship
seized them, graYitated as matter OF
course to the school room, where some
one, was certain to be found.
In the morning il was given up TO
Moyra, and in it she made up her &C
counts. taught Lulu, and stroVe TO lessen
the ever-inc-easing pile Of dilapidated
garments. Moyra was the pretty eldest
Miss Beresford, who had been her faith
er's bousekeeper since Lulu had come into
the world and her mother had gone from
it. During Vacations Terry would often
Join her. Aileen, who was at Newman.
looked with great scorn on Terry's meth
cd of working. She herself read dill
gently, but not in the school room The
very look of the room made her feel lazy,
she used TO declare.
On summer afternoons the school room
was deserted for the open air, but in the
winter "the school room crew." as Terry
called them, were always there-the
twins, Gerald and Geraldine; pretty
Bridget, who lowered on the confines of
the Grew" and the grown-ups, who was
sometimes woman, but oftener child, and
the pride and anxiety of Moyra's heart /;
and small fairy-like Luiu, who, according
to her eldest BROTHER. looked like an
angel and behaved like the other thing
an assertion Indignantly repudiated by
Moyra, whose love for her baby" was
as unbounded and as blind as mother
love.
There were eight Beresfords in ALL but
Patrick, who came between Aileen and
Bride, was usually away, being a naval
sub-lieutenant. The Rev. Terrence Beres-
ford was Rector at Caterham West, and
was possessed of private means as well
as an extraordinary pride of birth; but
that did not prevent times when Moyras
ponderings over her account books were
very harassing. A long pedigree did not
prevent plebeian appetites, and the family
propensity was not towards economy. 1t
was not always easy for Moyra to man
age the bills so that Terry, Aileen and
Patrick could go undisturbed through
their various courses. Yet i never oc-
CURED TO her to demur when one morn
Ing in November, as she sat darning Ger
rvs football stockings, her father entered
the school room with an open letter in
his hand and proposed the addition of
another member TO their family.
What do you meanF Moyra asked
looking up into his handsome face as if
she thought he had become demented
well. my dear, I've had letter from
Alec Robertson-you'v often heard me
speak of him. We were at college to-
gether, but he went abroad, and we lost
sight of each other Now he writes to
me from South America, where he has
married apparently, for he tells me his
wife is dead and he has a son who is
coming TO England, and he asks me to
give him a welcome. He does not men
ton his age" the Rector continued, turn
Ing the fimsy sheets over ''Alec is sure
to have married late in life, so probably
the boy is quite young. But you'd better
read the letter."
Moyra did so in silence. Her first
question when she had finished was hard
ly relevant to the subject.
What does he mean about a loanY'
Mr.. Beresford flushed like a girl.
"Oh, 1t was years ago. my dear-long
before was married He was in low
water, and l had just come of age. 1t
was not much--only about seven hun
bred, my dear. And, you see, he remem-
bers it."
Yes, but he doesn't offer to pay 'it.
/ suppose he has never done so? We
could do with it just now
"Ah, well, we are not so badly of that
II might not be worse with all an
Irishman's easy optimism. II wonder
whom he married"--taking up the letter
81 again. He used to be deeply attached
to a cousin whose people forbade him the
house. They were very strict Scots. and
he was considered too much of a rolling
stone, and so on. But he was not really
a wrong -doer-he had only the faults of
overlooking spirits and an impulsive reek-
lessneSs that used TO make us say he
would end in palace or a workhouse.
You see, he says he could not send the
boy home before, so I'm afraid he is not
overburdened with wealth"
There was a pause. The Rector watch
ed Moyra's needle, but it is to be cues
toned if he really saw it.
IF he left Buenos Ayres on the first
he ought TO be here soon" he continued
Il am going to town this afternoon so
III call at the Office and make inquiries
about the lara. suppose you'll be able
to put him up, dear?"
Il must. l suppose" Moyra answered.
smiling. zone boy more or less does not
make much difference
The Rector was not In for luncheon
and Moyra made no allusion to the COM
ing visitor. When the meal was over
and the twins had gone off 10 school again
Moyra proposed that Bride should ac-
company her in some duty calls. But
Bride shrank from the idea. The color
rose in her cheeks, and the black dashed
gray eyes-true Irish cyl. ehangeable
and beautiful as an Irish sky-gazed at
her sister imploringly.
''Ah, no. Moyra / hate paying calls.
never know what to sayi' she exclainn-
ed.
'You nsver will know unless you go
sometimes" Moyra answered.
Il close observer might have noticed a
deeper shadow in her eyes as they rested
on the lovely young sister who was in
deed what her father so fondly called her
the flower of the flock He was an
indulgent snd loving father TO them all,
bur every one knew that it was Bride
who had the warmest corner in his heart.
lie would often ealk of giving her sea-
son In town under the chaperonage IF an
Old aunt known as Lady Sarah-he was
intensely ambitious for his boys and girls.
Moyrs had at first thrown cold water on
his plans, but there had been ti11es lately
when she hsif wished that Bride was
safe under LADY Ssrah's wing. Bride.
with her lovely face, her chil6ishncss. her
dawning womanhood, her absolute ignor-
ance of the world, was a great responsi-
bility to anxious, conscientious Movra.
who had to be both sister and mother.
II really think you ought to 20. Bride. =
sLet me go instead. Moyra." Lulu put
IA eagerly. Il love calling. and always
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