Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-12-03
BURLINGTON FREE PRESS THURSDAY, DECEMBER

sat IN silence, no one WISHING Nv speak
the first word, | saw With deep pity that
Miss Fats eyes ware bright with tears,
and my heart burned hot with self
accusation. Sister Marearet's quick step
died away In tho hall, and stu we Walt
cd white the rain drove against the
house IN sheets AMI the branches Of n
tossing maple scratched spitefullf on enc
OF the panes,
I'VE have been found OUT my brother
Is here" said Miss Pat.
~ am afraid that is true" replied.
"But you must not dlstress yourself
This IL not Sicily, whore murder IL a
polite diversion, Tho Italian wished
merely 10 Brighten US IT'S Case Of
sheorert blackmnll, am ashamed to
hive given him tho opportunity. II was
my fault.-my grievous fault; and am
heartily sorry FOR my stupidity
"Do not accuse your-olfl 1t was In
evitable from the beginning that Henry
should find US. But this place seemed
remote enough, | had really begun to
feel quite secure-but now"
but now." repeated Helen with a
little sigh.
I marvclod ut the gtrls composure--at
her quiet acceptance OF the situation.
when | knew well enough her shameful
dupllcitv Then by one or those intui-
tons OF grace that were 80 Charming In
her she bent forward and took Miss Pats
hand. The emerald rings flashed on both
as though In assertion OF knship.
Dear Aunt Pat! You must not take
that boat affair too seriously. 1t may
not have n-fathei--who did that"
She fatered. dropped her voice as she
mentioned her father | was aware that
Miss Pat put away her necc's hand
with a sudden gesture--I did not know
whether Of Impotence. or whether some
new resolution had taken hold OF her.
she rose and moved nearer to me.
"What have you to propose. Mr. Dono-
van" she asked, and something In her
tone. in the light OF her dear eyes. told
me that she meant to fight. that she
| knew more than she wished TO say and
that she relied on my support; ana
realizing this my heart went out TO her
anew. maid brought in lamp AMI
within the arc OF its soft light I saw
Helen's lovely head as she rested her
arms on the table watching us. II there
was TO be a contest of wits or of arms
on this peaceful lake shore under the
! high aches Of summer, she and | were to
| be foes; and while we waited for the
| maid to withdraw | INDUCED in foolish
specuatons as to whether man could
love a girl and he her enemey at the
| same time.
II thinkwe ought to goaway-at once
the girl broke out suddenly. The place
was ill-chosen; Father Stoddard should
have known better than to send us
| here"
Father Stoddard did the best he could
| FOR us. Helen II is unfair to blame
him" said Miss Pat quietly And M
| Donovan has been much more than kind
in undertaking to care for us at all"
II have blundered badly enough" ]
! confessed penitently.
1T might be better. Aunt Pat" began
Helen slowly, ito yield. What can t
matter, a quarrel over n1oney-it Is sor-
did"
Miss Pat stood up abruptly and said
quietly, without lifting her voice, and
turning from one to the other Of us:
we have prided ourselves for a hun
dred years We American Holbrooks. that
we had good blood in us. and character
and decency and morality, and now that
the men of my house have thrown away
their birthright and made or name d
paything, I am goins to see whether
the general decadence has struck me,
too; and with my brother. Arthur, a
fugitive because of his crimes, and my
brother Henry ready to murder me In
his greed. it is time for M to test what.
ever blood is left in my own poor old
body and I am going to begin now! l
Will not run away another step; l am
not going to be blackguarded and hound
ed about this free country or oriven
across the sea; and l will not give
Henry Holbrook more money to use in
disgrac'ng our name. ! have got to Gle
i have got to die before he gets It.
and she smiled at me SO bravely that
something clutched my throat suddenly
and I have every intention Mr.. Don
ovan, of living very long time"
Helen had risen, and she stood staring
at her aunt in frank establishment. No,
often, probably never before in her life
had anger held sway In the soul OF this
woman; and there was something splen.
did in IT'S manifestation. She had spoken
in almost her usual tone. though with d
passionate tremor toward the close but
hcr very restraint was in itself om.nous
1T shall be as You say Miss Pat"
said, as soon as had got my breath.
, "Certainly, Aunt Pat muImurec
, Helen tamely. I'VE can't he driven round
the world We may as well stay where
r we are
The storm was abating and threw
open the windows to let in the air
~ you haven't wholly lost faith II
+ me. Mss lIolbrooll--'
I Il have every faith in you. Mr.. bono
| van" smiled Miss Pat
u shall hope to take better care Of yo,
Z in the future
0 II am afraid. think that if IIcnr,
finds out that he can not friehfcn me |
\ will have a calming effect upon him"
Z Yes; ! suppose you are right Aun
! Pat" said Helen passivcly.
n went home feeling that my rospon
% slbilties had been greatly Increased b,
$ Miss Pats manifesto; on the Whole
. was relieved that She had not ordered
. retreat, for it would have distressed m
!. sorey to abandon the game at this june
. turo to seek new hdng-place for m.
Y charges.
Long afterward Miss Pats declarat!o
2 Of war rang in my ears. My heart leap
d now as remember it, And should Tx
$ 20 be a poet long enough to write .
r Ballade of All old Ladies' or n Iyri
@ in their honor turned with tho grace O
Colonel Lovelace and biitho with til
2 spirit of Frar llerrick ! slpull Ike +
# inform II with their beautiful tende
= sympathy that is quick with tear, bu
Y reader with strength 70 herp and t