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

set IN an oudly carved RING IN roman
gold.
OWN YOU please close the door" sho
said. and when came back to the win
dow she began ut once.
at Is not pleasant. as you mus, under
stand, to explain TO stranger an Init
mate and painful family trouble. But
Father Stoddard advised me to be quite
frank with YOU"
THAT is tho best way. n there IL
possibility that may he of service"
said in the gentlest tone ! could COM
mand. "But tell me no more than you
wish. I am wholly at your service with
cut explanations"
ut IL in reference to my brother; he
las caused me great deal OF trouble.
When my father died nearly ton years
ago-hc lived to a great age-hc left
considerable estate. Il largo fortune.
part Of IL was divided at once among my
{ NO brothers and myself. The remainder,
amounting TO one million dollars. was
LETT 60 me, with the stipulation that 7
was to make n further division between
my brothers at the end of ton years. or
at my discretion. | vas Older than my
brothers, much older, and my father left
me with this responsibility, not knowing
what Il would lead to. Henry and Az
thur succeeded to my fathers business.
tn" banking firm of 1Iolbruols brothers.
| in New York. The hanl. continued 20
prosper for time; then 1t collapsed sud
denly. The debts were all paid, but Ar.
thur disappcared--there were unpleasant
rumors-"
She paused n moment. and lookel out
~ the window toward the lake. and |
saw her clasped hands tighten; but she
went en- braVcly.
THAT was seven years ago. Since then
| Henry has insisted on the final division
of the property. My father mad a high
sense of honor and he stipulated that If
either OF his sons should be guilty OF
any dishonorabc act he should forfeit his
half OF the million dollars. Henry In
sists that Arthur has forfeited his rights
and that the amount Withheld should DC
paid to him now; but his conduct has
been such that feel I should serve him
| III 10 pay him SO large SUN of money
Moreover. | owe something to his dauRh-
ter-to Helen. Owing TO her fathers
reckless life have had her make her
home with mo for several years. She IS
a noble girl. and very beautiful you
must have seen, Mr.. Donovan. tina. She
! Is an unuSuul!y beautiful girl
/ yes" I assented.
/ and better than that" she said with
feeling "shc is Il very lovely character"
! nodded, touched to see how complete
| " Helen Holhrook filed and satisfied
her aunt's life Miss Pat continued her
story.
M brother first sought to frshten
me into a settlement by menacing my
own peace; and now he includes Helen
in his anlmosity. My house at stamford
was sel on fire n month age. then thieves
cI tered it AMI | was Obliged to leave.
| We arranged 10 go abroad. but when
wo got to the steamer vc found Henry
waiting with n threat to follow us IL /
did not acccde to his demands 1t WA
Father Stoddard who suggested thia
| place. and we came by a circuitous
route, paus!ng here ana there to SEQ
whether we were followed We were in
the Adirondacks for a week, then We
went into Canada, crossed the lake TO
Cleveland and finally came on here. You
can imagine how distressing how
wretchcd all this he's been.
"Yes; il is q sad story, Mss IIolbrooli
Dut you are not likely to be molestcd
! here. You have lake on one side, n
you to accept me as you near neghbor
and protector. The servants at Mr.. Glen
arms house have been with him for sew
eral years and are undoubtedly trust
| worthy. IT Is not likely that your broth
er Will find you here. but If he should
we will deal with that situation when
the time comes"
you are very reassuring; no doubt we
shall not need 10 call on you. And hope
YOU understand" she continued anxious
ly that it is not to keep the money
that | wish to avoid my brother; that If
1t were wise to make this further division
nj this time and it were for his good. I
should be glad to give him all-evcry
penny of IT,"
pardon me. but the other brother-he
has not made similar demands-you DO
not fear him?" ! inquired with some
hesitation.
"No-no." And trcmulous smile
played about her lips. Poor Arthur.
He must be dead. He ran away after
| from Him since He and Henry were
very unlike. and always felt more
closely attached to Arthur. He was no.
brilliant. like Henry: he was gentle ana
quiet in his ways. and father was often
impatient with him. Henry has been
very bitter toward Arthur and has ap-
pealed 20 me on the score OF Arthurs
ill-do.ny. II took ali his own fortune
he Saws, to save Arthur and tho family