Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-11-19
~ Meredith Nicholson,


was won at once.
mfr. Donovan Mr.. Laufanco Donovan
l am sure OF ~
| Miss Holhrook-I am equally conf
dent" said 81 am sorry to be la,".
but Father stcddnrds message was lie
layed."
You nrc kind to respond at all. she
said. her wonderful eyes upon mo; "but
| rather stoddard said YOU would not fal
me-
"Hc IL man OF GREAT faith! But
have n trap waiting. We cnn talk moro
comfortable nj St Asntha's."
Eyes; We nro to go to tho school.
Father stodderd kindly arranged It. It
is quite excluded RI assured me-
"You Will not he disappointed Miss
T1olbrool # sccl1sion is what you seek"
picked ny tho hrown bag ana turned
away. vat sho waited ead glanced about.
Her I'VE" had puzzled me; perhaps shc
had brought maid, and l followed her
clanc. toward THO window OF the tele-
graph Office
"Oh. Helen; my niece, Helen 1olbrook,
Is with ne, I wish 20 wire some ia
etructons ~ my housekccper at home.
Fathcr stoddar1 may not have explained
that II is partly on Helens account
tina; | am coming here"
mo, he explained nothing-mere'v
gave ire my Instructions" ] laughed.
"lfc gives orders in most militant
| 20 snion."
! In n moment 7 had been presented to
| the niece. and had noted that she was
considerably above her aunt's height:
that she was d1l.:. with eyes that seem
ell quite black IN certain lights and that
she bowed as her aunt presented me-
without offering her hand, and murmur-
| ed my name m n voice musical. deep and
full, and agreeable to hear
She took their checks from her purse
| and called the porter and arranged for
| the transfer Of their luggage to St. Aga
| tha's. We were soon in the trap with
the bays carrying us at n lively Zip
| along the lake road. It was all perfect e
! ~ new 20 them and they expressed their
delight in the freshness Of the young
foliage tho lillowing fields of ripening
wheat. the wild rose. blackberry and
elderberry filing the angles of the stake
and ride: fences and tho flashing waters
Of tho lake that carried tho eye to distant
| wooded shores | turned IN my seat by
the driver to answer their questions.
There's summer resort somewhere
or the lake: how far s thot from tie
| SCHOOL," asked tho girl.
That's Port Annandalc. It's two or
| three miles from ST. Agatha's," ! replied.
"On this side and all the way TO the
| school there are farms. Tho lake looks
| like an oval pond we see II here, but
| there are several long arms that creep
| off into the woods. and there's another
| lake of considera Bile size to the north.
| Port Annandale lies yonder'
"Of course we shall see nothing of IT,
said the younger Miss Holbrook with
| hnality
| | sought in vain for any resemblance
| between the two women: they were ut
terly unlike, The little brown lady was
| Interested and responsive enough. she
turned toward her niece with undis-
| gused affection as We talked but caught
several times look of unhappness in
her face and the brow that Timc had
not touched gathered in lines of anxiety
and care. The girls manner toward her
aunt was wholly kind and sympathetic.
I'm sure It will be delightful here.
Aunt Fat. Wild roses and blue water,
I'm quite in love with the pretty lake
already"
This was my Introduction to the dinin-
utivo of Patricia and it seemed very
fitting, and as delightful as the dear
little woman herself. She must have
caught my smile as the niece 80 ad-
dressed her for the first time and she
smiled back at me in her charming fash
ion.
You are an Irishman, Ny, Donovan,
and Pat must sound natural"
"Oh, all who love Aunt Patricia call
her Aunt Pat" exclaimed the CIR
Then Miss Holhrook undoubtedly
hears 1t often" saidI. md wa at once
sorry for my bit of hlarney, for tie tears
shone suddenly IN the dear brown eyes
and the niece required To tho summer
landscape as a topic, and talked Of the
Glonarm place, whose stone wall we were
now passing, until we drove into the
grounds OF ST. Agathas and up the main
entrance OF the school where Sister in
the brown garb OF her order stood wait
Ing.
first introduced myself to Sister Mar.
Faret. who was IN charge, and then pre-
scented the two ladies who were to be
her guests. 1t was disclosed that Siste,
. Theresa, the head of the school. h1l
wired Instructions from York Harbor
; where she was spending the summer
touching MISS flOIDIpok reception, anL
her own rooms we're al the disposal O.
= the guests. St. ARatha's is, as all whc
arc attentive to such matters know,
famous girls school founded hy Sstel
, Theresa. and one felt its quality in tn,
appointments of tho pretty, cool parlo
[ Where we were received. Sister Nargarc
: said Just the right thing 10 every one
= and | was glad 10 find her go capabl,
- II person, fully abe TO care for these ex
r lies without aid from my a.do of ia,
= wall She was tall, fair volng woman
with q cheerful countonaucc. ard he
= merry eyes seemed always 10 be laugh
; inr at ono from the depths og her brow:
: mood Pleasantly hospitablc, she ran,
= for q maid.
D "IIelen. II YOU will SEQ orr things dis
q posed of Will detain Mr.. Donovan "A fey
= minutes" said Miss HolbrooA
"Or | can come again In an hour-I an
~ your near neighbor" remarked, think
y ing she might wish TO rest from her Jour
+ ney.
Il am quite ready" she replied, and
y bowed to Helen IIolbrooi; and 10 Sistc
@ Margaret, who went out, followed by tn
d maid. Miss Pat-you will pardon me 4
o begin at once TO call her by this nam,
= but It Gts her so capltaiiy, it Is so niue
e a part OF her. tn att cannot rrslst-Mis
d Pat put of her bonnet without fus.
&c placed It on the table and sat down In
= window seat whence the nearer shore q
It the lake was visible across the strip I