The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-04-20
CHAPTER XII.

~ breakfast room, he found Ber-
tina seated il her usual place
behind the silver tea paraphernalla, ana
Mr.. Aston absent; an unusual OCCUR
renee, since he was generally the most
punctual of the party.
"Where is Aston ?" he asked, look
ing round, as though seeking in Her
bert Aston a protector from these two
women. whom he had learned during
the last hour that 1t was rather a.
terrible matter to face.
'Oh, Herbert went out quite early,
before s. He is really at last impressed
with the idea that this sort of mutiny
must be stopped in the works. 1t is a
pity he did not interfere earlier. and
perhaps poor NJ. Brumeau would have
been spared the pain and oY
this last scandal"
Christian began to laugh.
at won't do him any harm. He farS
cies himself to such a degree, it wiz
AXE him down a peg or two; but mus
he not look lovely with two black eyek
You will be quite dis~enchanted, LAD
Muriel."
"Oh, Christian. how can you joke liS
that? An artist of M. Brumeau's cak
bre to be disdgured and rendered IN
capable of attending to his painting!
1t is too dreadful to think of. | hear
from my maid that he is quite ill this
morning"
Poor Brumeau! he is indeed to be
pitied," but Christians tone was a ban
tering one. and Lady Muriel turned
away from him with a toss.
IT mean il: indeed l do, Lady
Muriel,'' he went on, with more gravity.
II pity every MAJ who is a coward,
and therefore, by the same reasoning, I
must respect the plucky dog who has
dared the anger of all Arundale and
punched this F~renchman's head be-
cause he thought he deserved it,
Temper, simply temper and brutal
ity-in all probability he was drunk"
Joe Marks doesn't drink" observed
Bertha very quietly; she was pleased
with Christian for siding with what she
considered the weaker party.
"But he was partially drunk, Bertha;
that he had been drinking has been
proved. In the whole annals of Arun-
dale a brawl has never been recorded
that was not the result of drink"
And what has Aston decided to do?
Telegraph to my uncle or act on his
own responsibility? He seemed unde-
cided last night
"Telegraphing to your uncle would
be folly, as l a made him see at last.
1t is such a good opportunity, too, to
get rid of that little good fo%r-nothinG,
Patty Urske. Then, of course, Joe will
be dismissed. He could not be kept in
the factory after what has happened
what a charming pair of martyrs.
l should think all Arundale would sub
scribe to put up statues to them" said
Christian. as he helped himself to a.
poached egg from a dish in front of
him.
"Really. Christian. you. are too odious
this morning. Pray what sort of treat
ment would you recommend? Would
you like us to pct and spoil Joe Marks
and this girl in order to make an Arun-
dale martyr of NJ Brumeau?"
mo, not exactly. l should leave them
all alone to fight out their quarrels as
best they can. Brumeau has been ham
kering after Joe Marks's sweetheart,
or he would not have hit him on tho
head, and what right has Brumeau to
banker after Joe Marks's sweetheart
Peace must be kept. n the liberty
of the British subject respected. NJ.
Brumeau has just as much right to
make love to this girl as Joe Marks
has"
Exactly; therefore, let them settle
it.. 1t seems to me that it is rather
~derogatory to the dignity of Lady Mu-
riel Aston to mix herself up in these
quarrels."